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Background A recent dialogue in the field of play, learn, and teach outdoors (referred to as “PLaTO” hereafter) demonstrated the need for developing harmonized and consensus-based terminology, taxonomy, and ontology for PLaTO. This is important as the field evolves and diversifies in its approaches, contents, and contexts over time and in different countries, cultures, and settings. Within this paper, we report the systematic and iterative processes undertaken to achieve this objective, which has built on the creation of the global PLaTO-Network (PLaTO-Net). Methods This project comprised of four major methodological phases. First, a systematic scoping review was conducted to identify common terms and definitions used pertaining to PLaTO. Second, based on the results of the scoping review, a draft set of key terms, taxonomy, and ontology were developed, and shared with PLaTO members, who provided feedback via four rounds of consultation. Third, PLaTO terminology, taxonomy, and ontology were then finalized based on the feedback received from 50 international PLaTO member participants who responded to ≥ 3 rounds of the consultation survey and dialogue. Finally, efforts to share and disseminate project outcomes were made through different online platforms. Results This paper presents the final definitions and taxonomy of 31 PLaTO terms along with the PLaTO-Net ontology model. The model incorporates other relevant concepts in recognition that all the aspects of the model are interrelated and interconnected. The final terminology, taxonomy, and ontology are intended to be applicable to, and relevant for, all people encompassing various identities (e.g., age, gender, culture, ethnicity, ability). Conclusions This project contributes to advancing PLaTO-based research and facilitating intersectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration, with the long-term goal of fostering and strengthening PLaTO’s synergistic linkages with healthy living, environmental stewardship, climate action, and planetary health agendas. Notably, PLaTO terminology, taxonomy and ontology will continue to evolve, and PLaTO-Net is committed to advancing and periodically updating harmonized knowledge and understanding in the vast and interrelated areas of PLaTO.

My STS research and technical work are connected because they focus on the impacts of playgrounds. However, the STS research is more narrowly focused on the political aspect of playgrounds and how the current design of playgrounds within the City of Charlottesville, Virginia exclude select users. Whereas, my technical work investigates the needs of playground users ages 12-24, to fill the gap of knowledge in the design of playgrounds. Additionally, this portion of the project determines which playground surface material is most conducive to users of all-abilities, particularly those with disabilities. Overall, my STS research and technical work center around how playground design shapes user participation and activity. My technical report focuses on two crucial components that aid in designing an inclusive playground. First, my team conducted a needs assessment of the demographic group ages 12-24, as these stakeholders typically have little to no representation in playground design. Through conducting and analyzing surveys and interviews, it was demonstrated that participants value playgrounds that are conducive to relaxation and provide a sense of community. Additionally, there was an expressed desire for open, flexible-use spaces and features that included handrails, seating, shaded areas, natural features, and swings. Specific undesirable features included metal structures, loose surfacing materials, and loud or unmaintained settings. The second component of the technical work determined the optimal inclusive playground surface material. Surface material selection is a key component in exclusion as it can hinder users from entering or traversing the playground. Through a life cycle assessment and research, poured-in-place rubber (PIP) was determined to be the best playground surfacing material to maximize inclusivity. PIP rubber is a unitary surface that is smooth and accessible for users of all abilities, it is extremely durable, has a long life expectancy, and requires minimal maintenance. The technical report provides design considerations and guidance that will enhance inclusion of users of all-abilities at playgrounds. For my STS research, I argued through the framework technological politics, that Charlottesville playgrounds are both technical and political in nature. Further, through 2 design elements, ground surface material and play features, users with disabilities are excluded from these communal spaces. After analyzing 13 Charlottesville playgrounds, it was demonstrated that the common selection of loose filling ground surface material and the limited, a few or less, number of inclusive play features exclude users with mobility impairments and disabilities from accessing and utilizing these spaces. As a result, these users cannot reap the mental, physical, social, and developmental benefits provided by Charlottesville playgrounds and are consequently alienated from society and lack the ability to connect and grow with the community. My STS research exemplified the political power of playgrounds through the Charlottesville case study. Simultaneously working on the technical and STS projects made me realize that technologies are invariably socio-technical in nature. For my project, it was clear how playground design can physically exclude playground users. However, I did not understand the larger user exclusion, which was shown through the social lens. For example, I did not understand the developmental impact playgrounds have on users, as they are social spaces where individuals can expand relationship building skills. Marginalized playground users have a disadvantaged opportunity to strengthen such skills and interact with other community members, which the technical perspective does not consider. Understanding the social function of playgrounds can help explain why exclusion created by playground design is so powerful and important to understand. This project has opened my mind to the complex nature of technologies and how they should always be viewed with a socio-technical perspective.

International Transaction Journal of Engineering, Management, & Applied Sciences & Technologies, 12, 7, 12A7K: 1-15

YÖK Tez No: 630457 İlkokullarda öğrenciler teneffüslerde verimli zaman geçirdiklerinde, öğrenci sınıfına öğrenmeye hazır halde geri döner. Okulda teneffüs zamanlarının geçirileceği uygun ortamların olması, öğrencilerin fiziksel ve duygusal gelişimine katkı sağlamanın yanında teneffüslerde yapılan etkinlikler onların arkadaşları ile olumlu ilişkiler kurmasını güçlendirir, öğrenmeye destek ve teşvik sağlar. Teneffüsler eğitim-öğretim için çok önemli bir yere sahiptir bu yüzden teneffüslerin daha verimli geçirilebilmesi için bu mekanların öğrenciler için cazip hale getirilmesi gerekmektedir. Yapılan bu çalışmada araştırma için seçilen bir okulda öğrencilerin teneffüs saatleri ve öğle aralarında geçirdikleri zaman ve yaptıkları faaliyetlerin daha verimli olması için araştırmacı tarafından geliştirilen oyun alanlarının mevcut okul donatıları ile kıyaslanması amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma Batı Karadeniz Bölgesi'nde bir ilkokulda Ekim-Aralık 2019 aylarında eğitim gören 662 öğrenci ile yapılmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında öncelikle okuldaki oyun alanları ve faaliyet alanları geliştirilmeden önceki durumda, öğrencilerin okul koridorlarında ve okul bahçesinde teneffüsleri nasıl geçirdikleri incelenmiş ve bu mekânlarda teneffüs saatlerindeki gürültü düzeylerinin ne olduğu saptanmıştır. Daha sonra okulda araştırmacı tarafından çalışma amacına uygun olarak oyun alanı tasarımları, okul koridorları ve okul bahçesine çizilerek, bu alanlar öğrencilerin kullanımı açısından daha işlevsel hale getirilmiştir. Öğrencilerin hazırlanan oyun alanlarını etkin kullanabilmeleri için oyun alanları ile ilgili eğitimler verilerek kolay adapte olmaları sağlanmıştır. Son olarak öğrencilerin bu oyun alanlarını kullanma durumları ölçülmüştür. Çalışmanın bu aşamasında öğrencilerin okul koridorlarında ve okul bahçesinde teneffüsleri nasıl geçirdikleri ve bu mekânlarda teneffüs saatlerindeki gürültü düzeylerinin ölçümü tekrar yapılmıştır. Bu sayede yeni uygulanan oyun alanlarının öğrenci davranışlarına yönelik katkıları araştırılmıştır. Deneysel ve betimsel bir desene sahip bu araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak anket ve gözlem tekniklerinden yararlanılmıştır. Anket uygulaması esnasında önceki durum ile sonraki durumun kıyaslanabilmesi için aynı öğretmenlerden veriler elde edilmiştir. Elde edilen verilerin analizinde nicel veriler için betimsel istatistiklerden frekans, yüzde değerleri, ön ve son gürültü düzeylerinin tespiti için fark testlerinden yararlanılmıştır. Nitel verilerin analizinde ise içerik analizi yapılmıştır. Bu çalışma kapsamında tasarlanmış oyun alanları ve oyun ekipmanları ile öğrencilerin, teneffüs zaman dilimlerini daha verimli geçirdikleri görülmüştür. Ayrıca eğitimi verilmiş bir oyun türü ile öğrencilerin, teneffüs zaman dilimlerinin daha sakin ve disiplinli geçirdiği görülmüştür. Çalışma sonucunda yapılan oyun alanlarındaki iyileştirmelerin okul ortamlarını daha sessiz ve sakin bir ortama dönüştürmüş, öğretmenlerin teneffüslerde daha az öğrenci odaklı sorunla karşılaşmasına ve okuldaki eğitim-öğretim faaliyetlerinde olumlu bir etkinin gerçekleşmesine katkı sağladığı belirlenmiştir. Anahtar kavramlar: İlkokulda teneffüs, oyun alanları tasarımı, teneffüslerde gürültü, öğrenci oyunları When primary school students spend productive time in breaktime periods, the students returns to their class ready to learn. In addition to contributing to the physical and emotional development of the students, having suitable environments for the breaktime in the school establishes and strengthens positive relationships with their friends, supports and encourages learning. Breaktime has a very important role on education, so in order to have a more efficient break, breaktime areas should be made attractive for students. In this study, it was aimed to compare the playgrounds developed by researcher with the existing school equipment in order to make the time spent during the breaktime and lunch break more efficient at a school selected for the research. The study was carried out with 662 students who were educated in a Primary School in the West Black Sea Region between October and December 2019. within the scope of the study, it was determined how the students spent their breaks in the school corridors and the schoolyard before the playgrounds and activity areas were improved, and the level of noise during the break times in these areas. Later, in accordance with the purpose of the study by the researcher, playground designs were drawn to the school corridors and the schoolyard, and these areas were made more functional for the use of students. In order for the students to use the prepared playgrounds effectively, trainings about the playgrounds were provided to adapt students more easily. Finally, students' state of the use of these playgrounds was measured. At this stage of the study, the measurement of how students spend their breaktime in the school corridors and the schoolyard and the level of noise was measured during the breaktime. Thus, the contribution of newly applied playgrounds to student behavior was investigated. In this research, which has a descriptive and experimental design, survey and observation techniques were used as a data collection tool. In order to compare the previous situation and the current situation during the survey application, data were obtained from the same subjects. In the analysis of the data obtained, difference tests were used to determine the frequency, percentage values, pre and post noise levels from descriptive statistics for quantitative data. In the analysis of qualitative data, content analysis was conducted. With the playgrounds and playground equipment designed within the scope of this study, it was seen that the students spent their breaktime time more efficiently. In addition, it was observed that students spent time more calm and disciplined during the breaktime with a trained play type. The improvements in the playgrounds as a result of the study have turned the school environment into a quieter and calmer environment and it has been determined that it contributes to less student-focused problems in breaktime and a positive effect on educational activities at school.

This paper focuses on the ideological dualism of playgrounds and aims to show cross-generational differences between parents’ and children’s perceptions of playgrounds in Bulgaria, where children play on both communistic and western designed playground equipment. Such a political conception of playgrounds evokes and also matches up with Winner’s theory and his work, “Do artifacts have politics?” Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used, and a Mosaic approach was adopted to bring together a range of techniques for listening to young children talk about extant playground models. The findings of this descriptive research provide evidence that both children and their parents welcome the western playground designs in Bulgaria because of their superior functionality. However, children’s and parents’ perceptions differ on functional playground dimensions such as Joy, Safety, Nature, Socialization, and Design. Significantly, the communistic playground designs were praised for their superior affordance of children’s socialization.

Introduction: Injuries due to accidents are an underlying cause for a large proportion of the number of health care visits in Sweden every year. According to statistics from the National Board of Health and Welfare in Sweden (socialstyrelsen.se) between 1308,25 and 1405,66 health care visits per 100.000 residents are generated each year for the period 2001-2014 due to accidents, and falling is the largest underlying category. Falling can in turn be studied through a number of subcategories, where fall from equipment on playground is one of them, and this is the subcategory studied in this paper. Statistics from the National Board of Health and Welfare show an increase of the number of health care visits per 100.000 residents in Sweden due to this category during the period 2001-2014, despite the fact that since 1999 there are European standards with the purpose of raising the safety of playgrounds. The statistics also show that in Sweden there are large regional differences in injury prevalence for this category of accidents, which is the reason why this became the focus of this study. One of the reasons this is an important area for injury prevention work is that it’s a shared societal responsibility, another reason is that the studied population has the largest statistical life expectancy left, so injuries that affect their health can also affect the future wellbeing of the society. The municipalities’ work regarding this area is dictated by European Standards to ensure the safety of playgrounds. Beyond the specifications for the equipment itself, the standards dictate that a series of inspections of varying degrees are preformed throughout the year to ensure the standards are met. Aim: The aim of this study is to examine if there are any identifiable and differing factors in the way that municipalities work with playgrounds and playground safety, both practically and theoretically, based on if they are located in a region with high injury prevalence or in a region with low injury prevalence of this type of injury. Method: The study was designed as a qualitative interview study where representatives of 11 different municipalities were interviewed with the purpose to map out how they worked with playgrounds and playground safety within their municipality. The data collected was then analysed using thematically/ phenomenological content analysis to see if any differing factors between the two groups could be detected. Results: No major unambiguous differences were discovered between the two compared groups included in the study, but certain tendencies could be found in the material. Four themes were uncovered, enabling factors for the practical work, hindering factors for the practical work, enabling factors for the theoretical work and hindering factors for the theoretical work. These themes in turn produce a number of categories and subcategories. The results show a wider range of both hindering and enabling factors of both the practical and theoretical work in the municipalities from regions with high injury prevalence, compared to the municipalities from regions with low injury prevalence. Conclusion: The result indicates that there are differences in how the municipalities from regions with low injury prevalence work regarding playground safety compared to municipalities from regions with high injury prevalence. However, further research will be required to fully uncover and explore which these factors are. Inledning: Skador till följd av olyckor ligger bakom en ansenlig andel av vårdtillfällen i Sverige varje år. Enligt Patientregistret (Socialstyrelsen.se) uppgår dessa skador till mellan 1308,25 till 1405,66 vårdtillfällen per 100 000 invånare och år, under åren 2001–2014. Den olyckstyp som är orsaken till att högst antal personen uppsöker vård är fallolyckor. Fallolyckor delas i sin tur in i flera underkategorier, varav en är fall från lekredskap på lekplats, vilket är vad denna studie kom att fokusera på. Orsaken till att denna kategori är intressant är att det i statistiken i Patientregistret går att se en ökning av antalet vårdtillfällen per 100 000 invånare för åren 2001–2014, detta trots att det sedan 1999 finns europeiska standarder med syfte att höja säkerheten på lekplatser. I statistiken går också att utläsa att det finns stora regionala variationer i skadeprevalensen för denna olyckskategori i Sverige, vilket är huvudområdet för denna studie. Något som gör detta till ett viktigt område för skadeprevention är dels att det är ett samhällsansvar, ansvaret för barnens hälsa och välmående kan inte läggas varken på barnen själva eller uteslutande på deras föräldrar; dels på grund av att skador i denna population kan få stora effekter på sikt då barn är den grupp som statistiskt sett har flest levnadsår kvar och i framtiden kommer bära ansvaret för det gemensamma samhället. Kommunerna idag är ålagda enligt de europeiska standarderna att se till att lekplatser följer vissa standarder för att lekplatserna ska anses säkra. Utöver de specifikationer som finns för själva utrustningen så utförs uppdraget genom att ett antal inspektioner och besiktningar görs för att säkerställa att standarden på lekplatserna löpande efterses. Syfte: Målet med studien är således att undersöka och försöka kartlägga om det finns skillnader i arbetssätt, både praktiskt och teoretiskt, mellan kommuner som ligger i län med hög skadeprevalens inom denna olyckskategori jämfört med kommuner som ligger i län med låg dito som kan förklara skillnaderna i fallskadeprevalens mellan de båda grupperna. Metod: Studien utfördes som en kvalitativ intervjustudie där representanter för totalt 11 kommuner intervjuades kring hur de inom den egna kommunen arbetade med lekplatser och lekplatssäkerhet. Insamlade data analyserades sedan med tematisk/ fenomenologisk innehållsanalys för att se om några skillnader kunde upptäckas. Resultat: Inga större, konkreta skillnader kunde upptäckas mellan de två grupperna som jämfördes i studien, däremot kunde vissa tendenser skönjas. Fyra teman vaskades fram genom analysen, vilka var goda förutsättningar för det praktiska arbetet, faktorer som hindrar det praktiska arbetet, goda förutsättningar för det teoretiska arbetet samt faktorer som hindrar det teoretiska arbetet. Dessa teman är i sin tur indelade i ett antal kategorier och underkategorier. Resultatet visar att bland kommuner som ligger i län med hög skadeprevalens är en större spridning på hindrande och underlättande faktorer för såväl det praktiska som det teoretiska arbetet med lekplatssäkerhet, jämfört med kommuner från län med låg skadeprevalens. Slutsats: Resultatet indikerar att det finns faktorer kring arbetet med lekplatssäkerhet som skiljer sig åt i hur kommuner från län med hög skadeprevalens arbetar kring lekplatssäkerhet, kontra kommuner från län med låg skadeprevalens. Dock krävs vidare forskning för att se en tydlig kartläggning av dessa faktorer.

The prevalence of obesity among young children has markedly increased over the past two decades, with more than one-third of American preschoolers now overweight or obese and at risk for lifelong health problems. Physical activity is a recommended obesity prevention strategy, yet preschoolers typically fail to meet recommended daily physical activity guidelines, spending just 15 minutes engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity, compared to six sedentary hours daily. Unstructured play in settings with varied features, such as childcare center playgrounds, potentially plays a significant role in increasing the amount of time preschoolers spend in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The purposes of this study were first, to compare the intensity and type of preschoolers' physical activity across four distinctly different outdoor play settings; second, to identify particular features in each play setting associated with MVPA and sedentary behavior; and, third, to identify, test, and evaluate environmental modifications to increase preschoolers' MVPA in outdoor play settings. Seventeen 3-5 year-old children participated in repeated unstructured play sessions featuring 16 min of play in each of 4 novel settings: a traditional climber, a wooded natural area, a garden, and an adventure, or "loose parts" playground. Interventions to increase physical activity were introduced to the adventure playground during the first two phases, and to all four settings during the third phase. Physical activity intensity was measured using ActiGraph GT3x+ activity monitors and contextual information concerning motor skills was obtained by trained observers using the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC), adapted to the age and environment of the study. Results show that both play setting design theme and the composition of specific play features within the setting impact the type of motor skills children perform and the amount of MVPA young children accumulate during unstructured play. Findings additionally demonstrate that simple, low-cost modifications to play settings can increase MVPA for targeted subgroups and individual children; outcomes were setting-specific. Study results may be useful to public health and medical workers, parents, educators, playground designers, community planners, and policy makers who focus on increasing preschool children's daily MVPA and decreasing childhood obesity.

Children are imaginative, creative, and active. Children of all age groups are influenced by their surroundings, particularly school-aged children (Frost, 2010). School-aged children's physical, emotional, social, and intellectual developmental characteristics are influenced by their surrounding environments. Today, uniform playgrounds are diminishing the opportunities for youth to develop their personal creativity and imagination through play (Thompson 2007, Solomon 2005). By integrating art into playgrounds, these environments will offer children greater opportunity for developmental enrichment through their interactions with the site. Researched cases of art and play have inspired the development of a typology. The typology is a collection of quintessential ways that settings for play can be visually and experientially enriched by art. This process began with three critical questions; 1) What constitutes a playground? 2) What is art? and 3) How can art be integrated into playgrounds? More than 30 precedents that demonstrate art in a play setting were examined. Noting differences and similarities between the precedents, 12 types were identified. Next, analysis matrices identifying primary and, if applicable, secondary placement of each of the precedents in the 12 developed types, including sub-types, giving art in playgrounds a place. Also classified was type of art, high or vernacular, for each precedent. The research methodology was an iterative process of literature and precedent research followed by the distillation of types, further research, and refinement of the typology framework.