A Behavioural Intention Analysis of Kurdish Teachers’ Perspectives on Play-Based Learning in Kindergarten Schools during COVID-19

COVID-19 presents a completely new educational setting requiring teachers and students to adapt psychologically, emotionally, and physically. In kindergarten schools, this impacted teachers’ perspectives and intentions to implement play-based learning. Through a mixed approach involving 216 teacher responses and seven face-to-face interviews with school administrators, the study examines Kurdish teachers’ views on play-based learning in kindergarten schools. According to the findings, teachers’ perspectives on students’ trust in their peers, instructional leadership, and self-efficacy positively influence their behavioural intentions to implement play at kindergarten. A crucial finding of the study is validation of the positive moderating effects of teachers’ self-efficacy perspectives of students’ trust in their peers on the interactive connection between instructional leadership and play-based learning. Using classroom-based PBL, we describe play as a means of educational learning, play as a means of emotional and social development, and play as an integral aspect of learning. In the context of education changes caused by the pandemic, the findings underscore the importance of teachers assuming a leading role under learning and teaching circumstances, an enabling role in fostering associations among students and an afforded role when focusing on learning processes. Consequently, the possibilities of developing teachers’ critical feedback and reflective practices on their teaching methods are conceivable. Based on these findings, teacher education programs should emphasize theoretical understanding of play and learning as well as modelling playful teaching and play within the classroom to develop teachers’ psychological and pedagogical thinking.