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You're Invited: Conference explores games and learning
Mon, 19th Jun 2017
FYI, this story is more than a year old

An exciting part of the edtech revolution happening in the education sector is the acceptance and implementation of gaming. Once held as a sign of the decline of civilisation and a pathway to delinquency, gaming is now being seen as the opportunity it is.

The New Zealand Council for Educational Research is hosting an exciting conference this year. They're inviting educators and game developers alike to discuss the future of gaming at Games for Learning.

The conference hopes to ask and answer three key questions about how gaming and education are linked.

  • How can game-based learning enhance equity of educational opportunities and improve the experiences of all learners in Aotearoa New Zealand?

  • How can game-based learning support the development of confident, connected, creative, and digitally fluent learners?

  • How can game-based learning support young people on pathways to further learning, satisfying work, and a decent future?

NZCER are calling all game-curios educators, researchers, innovators, policy makers, game developers and social entrepreneurs to join them this year. Over two days, participants will have the chance to explore the potential of games, game design and game thinking to enrich education.

Taking over Wellington's Te Papa from August 31 - September 1, the conference will be a chance to learn from innovative speakers and share your knowledge with fellow attendees.

Some exciting sessions:

  • World without order - Citizenship through Minecraft
  • Let's make a game -  A learn-how-to-do-it-by-doing-it workshop
  • Whakapapa of fun and layers of learning in an arapū/alphabet minigame app.

As well as expert speakers:

  • Yasmin Kafai - Professor of Learning Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania and author of “Connected Gaming: What Making Video Games Can Teach Us About Learning and Literacy.”
  • Bron Stuckey - Director of Innovative Educational Ideas and Arizona State University Centre for Games and Impact.

NZCER Conference 2017 Games for Learning - August 31 - September 1, Te Papa Wellington.

Register before June 30 for a chance to win - Follow the link to find out more.