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Play and the World In 2008, video game sales topped 21 billion dollars, which nearly triples the revenue of the movie industry in 2007. This illustrates the transition of the U.S. from entertainment through observing to entertainment through playing and experiencing. Play is an integral part of society today, due to the fact that so many kids and even adults are hands on learners. This meaning that they learn better by interacting with the subject matter. Critics of this idea would argue that play is only detremental to the learning environment. Teens have been improving their learning ability by playing video games, playing sports, and just laughing to prepare themselves for the right-brained future. In the workplace, play helps improve moral and escalates productivity. It allows workers to feel like they are playing and not working. Even the world is brought together by games and play. Countries will come together to watch their elite athletes compete. In the book __A Whole New Mind__, Daniel Pink outlines similar ideals for play and how it affects the entire world. Pink argues that play is vital for future generations to succeed in the right brained world. Although play may seem like a silly, frivolous subject, in reality it is a very useful tool in the worlds of learning and development, business, and international relations.

A learning environment filled with fun and games can be more helpful than many may think. As a parent watches his child waste time trying to achieve a new high score on his Xbox, he is really being prepared for the struggles he may face in his school work. “The games aren't just hard - they're adaptively hard. They tend to challenge people right at the edge of their abilities; as players get better and score more points, they move up to more demanding levels of play. This adaptive challenge is ‘stunningly powerful’ for learning." (Gabrilelli). The students can experience a much more powerful form of learning than when they’re in the classroom; they’re not as much memorizing the facts as they are connecting and manipulating them. One of the biggest factors in getting the students interested is one that makes them laugh. "When used as a weapon, humor can wound, corrupt and humiliate. Yet when used as a tool, humor can establish rapport, educate audiences and empower people." (McCann). So if it is so powerful and interesting at the same time, then why not use it all the time? Finally, just plain happiness and joy is expressed by the kids when receiving such a different, yet effective teaching style. “All types of arts-infused activity are integrated into the lessons, most often some type of visual art. The school year begins with blank walls on which each class has free rein to paint; one first-grade classroom this year has letters and words painted all over the walls.” (Luib). When you mix activities into a child’s education, his or hers’ smile can be a deadly weapon only being stopped by the big bad principal, who may stupidly disagree with the effective curriculum that brings the kids future success. Such a marvelous idea as putting play into the learning environment can only bring positive effects.

Another area where play is put to use today is in the world of business. Sure it is true that there is much opposition to the use of play in business, but so far the pros have greatly outweighed the cons. It can be said that play is just a distraction and is not worth the hassle of wasting precious time to try to boost productivity and morale of workers, but these nay-sayers are quickly being proven wrong. Many companies around the world are changing the way they operate to be based more around letting their employees have fun in the office. Several companies have even brought in consultants in “Serious Play,” which is a technique in which employees use [|LEGO]building blocks to train corporate executives. Many workplaces have introduced laughter clubs where workers can get together for one sole purpose; to laugh. Play has proved to have a huge effect on morale and productivity in the workplace. Take this line straight from the Southwest Airlines mission statement. “People rarely succeed at anything unless they are having fun doing it.” Large businesses are changing the way that they do things to boost productivity. Take British Airways for example. They have created a position called the [|"corporate jester"] whose job it is to create a greater sense of fun inside the company. These positions not only influence the way that the companies work as is, but they also provide jobs and income to people who otherwise wouldn't have either. It would clearly seem that companies should whole-heartedly buy into play in a modern business setting, but many people still oppose. These companies should look at the state of affairs in our country today and make the adjustment. In today’s floundering economy, play has been the difference in many companies success.

In 2006 thirty six million people tuned in to watch the FIFA World Cup, to see men play (WC, Bob). Play’s advantages are not only limited to small communities such as schools and businesses; it can earn money for, inspire, and bring entire nations together. In the month of the 2006 World Cup, Germany reported four-hundred-million dollars brought in by tourism (Economics). Millions of dollars are made in the professional sports world every year. Something about play naturally attracts nearly everybody. Unsurprisingly, many people take advantage of the revenue created by play. However, when watching sports figures on T.V. people usually like the athletes who compete because they love the game rather than the ones in it for the money. When world class athletes gather, they not only earn money for their country, but they have the ability to inspire a nation or even the world. [] ß The “Miracle” of the 1980 Olympics was a Cold War showdown, which meant more to the American people than an amazing upset. In times upset by communist developments such as the Islamic Revoluion   in Iran, the Nicaraguan Revolution    , and Soviet intervention in Afghanastan , Americans were looking for something to cling to (Cold War). An outstanding upset of the 4 time returning gold medalists, the Soviet Union, provided just that. While only a hockey game, the 60 minutes of play inspired many Americans. For hundreds of years the Shiites and Sunnis have been fighting each other. American involvement in Iraq, the location of much of the fighting, brought more light on to the issue. On June 10th cameras recorded, nothing. Men, women, children, young, old, Shiite, and Sunni, gathered around TV sets to watch their national team [|compete]. Although their World Cup stint was short-lived, peace was observed. The world has shown us time and again how powerful play is.

Play is fundamental for success in the development of youths, the business world, and for international relations. In order to find joy and achievement in life, play must be apparent. Play has grown on society in the last decade due to the fact that technology has been growing and evolving, allowing humans to use it in diverse ways. Video games have ushered in new horizons for simulation of environments, children’s TV shows have allowed kids to interact with their learning, and sports have brought our world together with the spirit of competition. Play may be looked upon by some as foolish and silly; however, when used with self-discipline it can be a very useful tool.

Works Cited

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