Year: 2014
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Problem: Today’s educational leaders are facing more challenges than ever before. State \nand federal mandates make it difficult for leaders to work outside a given framework and \nmany are stretched physically, emotionally and mentally beyond their limits to maintain \nhealth. Play is an important part of a healthy life style. This qualitative study explored \nhow play impacted educational leaders both in their own lived as well as in the culture \nthey created with their followers. \nProcedures: This phenomenological study explored the phenomenon of play as it relates \nto educational leaders. The grand tour question is “How is the phenomenon of play \nimpacting the work of educational leaders?” A semi-structured interview was conducted \nwith eight educational leaders including, superintendents, curriculum directors, and \nprincipals. The questions focused on play history, current forms of play, and playful \nleadership. The educational leaders were selected using purposeful sampling. Data \nanalysis was conducted through the use of open and axial coding and was used to identify \nkey themes or topics. Verification of data will include triangulation and rich, thick \ndescriptions. Findings were written in a phenomenological structure to provide a narrative \ndescription of the experience. \nFindings: This study found that play is impacting the work of the eight educational \nleaders in the way they find relief from stress both on the job and at home, the ways in \nwhich they identify playful leaders and the culture that is created through playful \nleadership. The leaders were not all aware of their own playful nature or habits but all of \nthem identified playful behaviors in others. \nConclusion: Reflection offered an opportunity for the participants to make connections to \nthe playful leadership of others as well as in their own leadership role. Those who saw the \nbenefits of play in their own lives also reported feeling a better sense of balance and were \nmore purposeful in their creation of a playful work culture. \nRecommendations: These data suggest that leaders can benefit from recognizing play as a \npart of the human experience and may be more effective leaders when they create a \nculture of personal connection and play. The data also point to the recommendation that \neducational leaders provide time for playful learning for their students and staff and that \nthey recognize symptoms of a life without play and the detriment it can cause.
Source: BIA (Drake University)
Author: Janette L. Seybert
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1534738221