Understand What is Involved in Playground Design
Playgrounds are more than places for children to let off steam. Play is an important part of a child's development. Children develop social skills, act out roles, and hone motor and cognitive skills through play. Many of life's important lessons are learned in the playground.
Most people think of playgrounds as places in a park, containing large structures such as climbing frames, swings and slides. These are playgrounds of course; but playgrounds can be much more than this. Any place where children play, can be a playground. It can even be places that were provided unintentionally. Children can often adopt areas that are complementary to play, such as a clump of vegetation for creating a cubby in; or an area of open flat land, for kicking a ball around. Designing playgrounds may to some degree involve simply leaving areas as they already exist; and just protecting them or adding a few amenities (eg. a seat, an access path, some shade). At other times, the task of designing for play can be much more complicated (and costly).
This course examines playgrounds and the art of playground design. Study this course to learn about what materials can and should be used for specific purposes such as underfoot, at the base of jumps, and for climbing equipment. Discover how friendly design can be used for the benefit of all sorts of people to make playgrounds socially inclusive. Find out what legal limitations and regulations are in place in your region and put it all together in a special project.
What is in This Course
There are eight lessons in this unit as follows:
- Overview of Parks & Playgrounds
- Playground Philosophy
- Preparing a Concept Plan
- Materials
- Park & Playground Structures and Materials
- Local and Neighbourhood Parks
- Community Participation In Park Development
- Special Assignment.
Workload
Study when, where and however much you want. For most students, the course can be completed with a total of around 600 hours of study; and a commitment close to that may be needed to achieve desired learning outcomes.
Extra Reading
The following books, available through this web site may be relevant supplementary reading for this course:
- The Environment of Play by John Mason
- How Children Think
- Garden Design I
- What to Plant Where
Assessment
Self Assessment Tests are presented throughout the course. These are essentially an automated quiz. When you undertake a "SAT" or "Self Assessment Test", you will be able to see what you got correct, and what was incorrect; and in that way, you can identify your weaknesses.
Assignments are given at the end of each lesson. You should complete this assignment, paying careful attention to follow what is asked of you. It can be just as important to learn to work to specification, as it is to learn about the topic you are studying. Graduates who develop a habit of working to specification in the field of human behaviour, will impress employers, and will be more efficient when self employed.
A Final Exam is offered upon satisfactory completion of all assignments. This is optional. If you choose to apply for and do this exam, you will have the possibility of obtaining a "formal credit" or "Pass Certification" for this course. A fee applies. The exam may be sat under prearranged conditions anywhere in the world. This college will award you a formal transcript, upon successful completion of the exam, as proof of your results.
Recognition and Ethics
This college is a member of the ACS Affiliates Network; a group of colleges from several countries, affiliated with each other through ACS Distance Education.. Courses are developed with input from all of these colleges, aspiring to reflect internationally accepted standards and needs.
A strict "No Plagiarism" and "No fraud" policy exists. Assignments are checked for plagiarism, and assignments will not be deemed to have been completed, if work is not your own original creation, and is found to have been copied from elsewhere. If the person doing the course is discovered to be different to the name enrolled, the enrolment and any results will be recorded as invalid and any fees paid will be forfeited.
Refund Policy
A full refund less expenses (up to 15% of fees applied) is provided to anyone wishing to withdraw from a course, within 2 weeks of enrolment. This does not apply after the first assignment has been submitted and marked; or after the two weeks has expired.
How This Course Could Help You
Use this course to help you start your own garden design practice, or to help you find employment and experience to build a career in the landscape industry. It will also appeal to those interested in landscape architecture, public spaces, and public parks and gardens.
This course will provide up to date knowledge and skills in how to design and create playgrounds. Study it by itself or along with some of our other landscaping or design modules as part of a certificate or higher level qualification.