Teacher: Megan Tulac.

About the class:

The science behind play shows that it is one of the most effective mechanisms for facilitating communication, building camaraderie and fostering creativity. In this course we will be discussing current research findings on the benefits of play - what goes on in our brains and bodies when we play and how we’re not that different from spiky little wood pigs. We’ll also look at the mechanisms involved in perception and other cognitive processes. We'll then jump into a range of activities that illustrate practical, play-based techniques for boosting creativity. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an artist or an accountant, you’re guaranteed to learn and laugh in this class!

About Megan Tulac:

Megan Tulac is the Director of Research at the National Institute for Play and the editor of the Encyclopedia of Play Science. She started the drollery - a creative consultancy - as a way to bring the science of play into the workplace. Megan studied Political Science at U.C. Berkeley before moving to the London School of Economics where she earned a MA in the History of Empires. In London, Megan worked in account management in the dynamic environment of McCann Erickson, an international advertising agency. She saw firsthand how playful attitudes and worldviews could be channeled into innovative business and marketing solutions. Reflecting on the many people she met and worked with internationally, she noted that the ones she most admired most were those who made play an central part of their lives creating compassion, cooperation and creativity in their communities. Megan firmly believes that through play we have the tools to meet the challenges of our time with innovative and enriching solutions – play is what we make of it!