CfP: Practicing Ludic Pedagogy in Higher Education

[T. Keith Edmunds]

CALL FOR CHAPTER PROPOSALS

Practicing Ludic Pedagogy in Higher Education

Proposal Submission Deadline:  31 May 2025
A book edited by T. Keith Edmunds and Sharon Lauricella

Introduction
Ludic Pedagogy is a teaching philosophy that embraces the importance of fun, play, playfulness, and positivity -- without sacrificing academic or intellectual rigor (Lauricella and Edmunds, 2023).  In this model, fun (the intrinsic motivator) is supported by the elements of play (action), playfulness (attitude), and positivity (affect or state).  While research has examined the impact of individual elements of this model of learning, problems exist in that (1) each element is often examined in isolation and (2) there is a dearth of research on these elements in the context of higher education.  There exists a need to further develop both research and practice that addresses the elements of Ludic Pedagogy in the university and college environment.  This open-access, edited volume will present successful activities and cases that employ the Ludic Pedagogy model.


Objective of the Book
We seek research-based practices, case studies, activities, reflections, thought pieces, and conceptual pieces, among other contexts, that apply the Ludic Pedagogy model in higher education.  The book will identify  specific instances and/or contexts in which fun, play, playfulness, and/or positivity have been employed in higher education courses and classrooms. It will be consulted by professionals who want to improve their teaching practice through the development of a pedagogy that is inviting and exciting for both students and faculty.  The book will be a resource that outlines classroom activities and practices as supported by research.  Case studies and examples provided in the book will be presented so that they can be adopted or adapted by readers.


Target Audience
The target audience of this book is higher education faculty, staff, and administrators.  Instructors wishing to change, redevelop, or refine their pedagogical practice to maximize student well-being and learning will find this book a practical guide to implementing some or all of the elements of Ludic Pedagogy.  Faculty and staff in Centers for Teaching and Learning will find this book a valuable resource for evidence of and inspiration for the successful implementation of fun, play, playfulness, and positivity in college and university courses.


Recommended topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Encouraging fun in the classroom
• Dealing with the subjectivity of fun
• Ludic use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education
• Developing intrinsic motivation for learning in undergraduates
• Defining “fun” in a higher education context
• Impact of gamification on learning outcomes
• Incorporating games into the higher education classroom
• Higher education play beyond games
• Structured versus unstructured play in the higher education classroom
• Modelling playfulness
• Specific activities incorporating fun, play, playfulness, or positivity
• Cases or instances in which fun, play, playfulness, or positivity was successful
• Humor in the classroom
• Determining appropriateness of humor in the higher education context
• Integrating humor into coursework
• Encouraging creativity
• Fostering curiosity
• Nurturing an environment of positivity
• Avoiding toxic positivity

We welcome contributions from any discipline or academic area of study.

Submission Procedure
Interested parties are invited to submit on or before 31 May 2025 a chapter proposal of 500-1,000 words which clearly explains the focus and content of their proposed chapter.  All proposals should articulate the connection to the Ludic Pedagogy model and should cite academic research that supports the proposed activities or cases.  Chapters that outline a specific activity or case should include a rationale, objective, step-by-step instructions/account, potential caveats, and possible adjustments to the activity or case.  Please cite in APA format.  Authors will be notified of acceptance by 25 June 2025 about the status of their proposal.  Full chapters are expected to be submitted by 30 November 2025.  All chapters will undergo double-blind peer review and authors will be expected to contribute to the review process.  Final chapters are expected to be between or around 5,000 - 6,000 words.  The book will be produced in Pressbooks and will be available in open-access format.

Abstracts should be submitted via the following form:  https://tinyurl.com/2xjescs4