The Power of Play - Dr. Julie P. Jones

Humanity Chats with Marjy

Dr. Julie Jones is an Associate Professor at Converse University, where she also received her BA degree. An innovative educational development professional, Dr. Jones has had an exceptional journey since starting her teaching career in 1999 and has taught various grades, both in general and special education.

Dr. Jones maintains an active research agenda with interests that blend instructional technology and pedagogy with creativity and play. She directs the capstone course in child and family studies, empowering Converse seniors to apply the skills they've acquired into health and community work across the upstate.

At the height of the pandemic, Dr. Jones and her colleague, Jed Dearybury, published a bestselling book, The Playful Classroom (Wiley Jossey Bass), which continues to have a profound impact on classrooms worldwide. In November 2022, Dr. Jones expanded on the concept to a broader audience with her book The Playful Life: The Power of Play in our Every Day.

Dr. Jones' conversation on Humanity Chats revolved around the power of play and how it can be harnessed in our everyday lives. She emphasized the importance of being intentional friends and reminded us to treat every day as a gift. Encouraging us all to find joy in everything we do, she urged us to say yes to opportunities that bring us happiness and be decisive with our refusals. This philosophy also extends into her work, where she uses play as a tool to help facilitate a transition from traditional classrooms to a digital, one-to-one educational experience.

Aside from her research on play, Dr. Jones has contributed significantly to the field of education through numerous articles in instructional technology, school leadership, and instructional practices for at-risk students. She also served as the editor of the Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina and presided over the South Carolina Association of Teacher Educators.

In her own words, Dr. Jones describes her life's work as an answer to God's question, "What did you do with all that I have given to you?" We are happy to have had the opportunity to learn from her and look forward to her future contributions in the education field. To delve deeper into Dr. Jones' philosophy on the power of play, and to catch more insights, check out her podcast, We are Playful, available on all major podcast platforms.

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We are humans.
From all around the world.
One kind only.
And that is humankind.
Your friend, Marjy Marj