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Deep Learning Dialogues

Serious Fun: Why Joy Matters in Modern Education

Season 2, Ep. 15

In this illuminating episode, we sit down with Emmanuel Duplàa from the University of Ottawa, who challenges us to rethink what we know about teaching and learning in the age of AI. Moving beyond the traditional classroom model, Professor Dupla shares his revolutionary perspective on why joy isn't just beneficial for learning—it's essential. From discussing how to embrace chaos in the classroom to exploring why we need to "sell interaction, not content," this conversation offers fresh insights into education's future. Whether you're an educator grappling with AI tools, a parent interested in modern learning approaches, or someone passionate about educational innovation, this episode offers practical wisdom about transforming education through the power of authentic learning and "serious fun." Discover why releasing control might be the key to better learning outcomes and how embracing uncertainty could be the antidote to teacher burnout.

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Emmanuel Duplàa is the Director of Professional Development at the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa. He is a professor specialized in information and communication technology (ICT) for learning. After completing a BA in mathematics and a master's degree in cognitive sciences and artificial intelligence, he completed a PhD in education on the unconscious dimensions of online relationships in the context of e-Learning. He participated in different projects on ergonomic design and planning (Institut de Recherche en Informatique et Automatique), on e-learning (Télécom-Paristech and Centre d'Études Supérieures Industrielles) and training aspects of e-Health (TÉLUQ). He is currently conducting research at the Faculty of Education on educational video games, on intergenerational learning, on digital literacies and on design processes in e-learning. Professor Duplàa is a Learning Committe Lead with the LIFE Research Institute.


You can find Emmanuel at:

LinkedIn

Email: eduplaa@uottawa.ca


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Want to know more? You can check out our: WCDSB GenAI Guidelines, infographics, and Innovation website: https://innovate.wcdsb.ca/

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