Disenchanting Narratives: Using Doctor Who To Teach Empathy & The Importance Of "Who's Voice?"
Summary:
An exploration of how racialized historic figures are represented in social narratives. What are the impacts? How can we use an episode of Doctor Who in the classroom to deconstruct false narratives?
Description:
This session will compare the Rosa Parks episode of Doctor Who with children's literature and common understanding of the figure as a historic hero. It will look at how stories often gloss over people who have affected social change, forgoing their struggles and lived experiences in order to romanticise them. It will examine a lesson that uses said Doctor Who episode as a centrepiece to foster discussion and understanding.
Double Trouble: Navigating The Game Of Relationships And Connection
Summary:
Games are much more than an entertaining hobby. Tabletop games have the potential as tools for mental health and relationship enhancement.
Description:
Who Taught You That? Join us for an enlightening journey into the world of Floodgate Games and beyond, where we explore the transformative power of the two-player experience through the lens of Queer Theory and adult play therapy. Dr. Josh Littleton, an esteemed psychotherapist, researcher, and founder of Board with Sex, guides us in understanding how tabletop gaming fosters neuroplasticity, encouraging diverse and inclusive thinking. This session will not only showcase Floodgate Games' enriching titles but also delve into how gaming serves as a bridge to meaningful connections, pleasure, and inclusion, resonating with pleasure principles according to clinical sexology. Prepare for an interactive experience with tabletop demonstrations and insightful pre-post debriefs designed to enlighten students, laypeople, and clinicians on creating spaces of belonging.
Join us as we share and learn about running an Educational Based RPG in your classroom. Use character sheets, Battles, Monsters, XP, and Gold to drive engagement in your classroom.
Description:
I have ran an EduRPG for 6 years and counting. I will share my Crit Hits and Crit Fails. I will share all documents I have created and encourage you to make it your own.
Educational Standards In Afterschool Board Game Clubs
Summary:
Afterschool board game clubs can support school day learning by tying gaming back to educational standards.
Description:
Besides being engaging and fun, board games can also meet many educational standards. Most games inherently include some basic math and reading, and its not hard to find a science or history-themed game. Well discuss how to support school-day learning during afterschool, board game clubs. Board game club pilot-sites (Elementary and Middle School) will share how they incorporated new curriculum tied to State Standards and the effects they saw with their students.
The biggest issue with the corporate and industrial training environment is the short amount of time you have. What if you could use games to inspire learning outside of the classroom?
Description:
Teaching in a corporate or industrial environment often involves a short amount of time, often no more than 3-days. As if that wasn't enough, you also have students that don't want to be there and usually question the material that is being offered. I've effectively used several techniques I've learned playing RPGs that have not only increased the retention rate of my teams classes but also inspired students to want to continue to learn long after the class has ended.
Equity Is Not A Bolt-On - Universal Design For All!
Summary:
Designing for equity should be intrinsic in everything, so why is this usually an afterthought? Learn simple Universal Design techniques to make your next game day, event, or exhibit more inclusive!
Description:
So often, the process of ensuring equity for people with disabilities or a neurodiverse audience is done as a checklist at the very end. Universal Design is a process where this is turned around, with consideration to a variety of physical, cognitive and emotional limitations from the beginning. This goes way beyond ensuring that one of your tables has a place you can pull up to in a wheelchair. Learn simple things that you can use immediately to remove physical barriers, making your game room, function space or event more inclusive and inviting. Well review best practices, discuss code v/s whats right, and do some role-play and small group activities. This will just scratch the surface, but you will come away with a list of resources to help you when you get back to your home site.
NSDM team discusses their 30 years using LARP techniques to teach geopolitics, history and culture, presenting their tools and approaches that can be used in the classroom.
Description:
Experiential learning can provide insights that no amount of books or lectures can. The NSDM team discusses their use of live action role-play to help students comprehend complex relationships, to teach history and impart insights into historical circumstance, choice and culture. The team will relay their experiences with their simulations of the lead-up to the US Civil War, Cold War dramas in Europe, Asia and the Americas, the US Revolutionary movement, the Cuban Missile Crisis and World War I. These are lessons from 30 years of NSDM and other related professional and/or related educational games. We will also discuss some tools and approaches any teacher can use in the classroom. Presented by Merle Robinson, NSDM lead simulation designer and retired DoD analyst, Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., and Jason Corner, of the National Security Decision Making Game staff.
Exploring Game Design & The Invention Process Through Analog, Digital, & AI Resources
Summary:
Explore resources for engaging students & patrons with design, including Design Your Destiny: Running Out of Time, The Curious Kids Story-Game Adventure, & AIs place supporting design & iteration.
Description:
Game design & the invention process are crucial tools for fostering creativity, critical thinking, & problem-solving among students. Libraries & teachers play a vital role in guiding and supporting through this innovative journey, serving as indispensable partners in cultivating the next generation of game designers & inventors. By providing access to resources, creating conducive learning environments, & offering mentorship, libraries & classrooms significantly contribute to developing skills beyond game design, preparing students for success. Join Gaming, Learning, & Library Specialist Brian Mayer, creator of the award-winning Freedom: The Underground Railroad, to explore resources for engaging with design, including Design Your Destiny: Running Out of Time, The Curious Kids Story-Game Adventure, and AI's place supporting design & iteration.
WizKids dives into new products for Dungeons & Dragons, Critical Role, Pathfinder & WarLock Tiles, including exciting plans & products celebrating the Dungeon & Dragons 50th Anniversary!
Description:
Saddle up with the WizKids team as we journey through a variety of topics across our RPG catalog! Well dive into new products and categories for Dungeons & Dragons, Critical Role, Pathfinder, and WarLock Tiles, including our exciting plans & products celebrating the Dungeon & Dragons 50th Anniversary! From new adventurers to dedicated collectors, weve got something for everyone who steps into your storeoffer the complete RPG experience with WizKids!
Numbers matter - the longest standing seminar from Witten Financial. We talk you through the basics of financial statements to help you manage your business.
Description:
We will use actual game industry financial statements (names withheld :-)) to walk you through how financial statements work. this seminar will give you the basics to help you look closer at your business performance so you can better identify your strengths and areas of opportunity.