Browsing by Subject "Caillois"

The objective in this study was to describe play with media devices and scrutinize how media and play intertwine in Mediaplay in Kirkkonummi. The two research questions were how Caillois's core charasteristics of play were found in Mediaplay and what kind of relation between media and play is composed in Mediaplay. Media is significant developmental environment for our children, thus setting a challenge to child-centered media education. The aim of Mediaplay is to enable child-centered media education through play. In Mediaplay children operate with cameras and videocameras freely, produce media and play with and within media. It is important to understand what kind of play is constructed when children are playing with media devices. Video data was produced by filming 4-5 years old children's Mediaplay in two Kirkkonummi municipal daycare centers during 2012. Data was analyzed by video analysis. Play episodes were recognised and analyzed deductively from Caillois's play theory. The relationship between play and media was analyzed abductively. Core characteristics of play were recognised in mediacontexted and mediafacilitated play. Fourteen play episodes were divided to mimicry and ilinx categories. Some of the play episodes did not fit any of Caillois's categories of play. Those episodes consisted of strong physical activity without vertigo element. Mimicry episodes consisted of roleplay. In ilinx episodes vertigo was produced virtually by media. Agon characteristics of Mediaplay were recognised only when analyzing all operational episodes. Media and play had multiple simultaneous relations to each other. Media was a play topic, and same time a toy. Media was expansed from a toy to context of play when children were playing with an inside of visual elements. Mediacontexted and mediafacilitated play can be creative, rich in imagination and encourage to physical activity. Conducting adult's orientation in Mediaplay has an influence how actual activities are constructed; under strong adult conduction Mediaplay can turn into pedagogical play. Further research should be made of the meaning that children give to their play within media and how aims of small children's media education are attained by Mediaplay method.