gie 2013: Full Schedule

8:30am EDT

Breakfast Reception and Registration

Tuesday August 6, 2013 8:30am - 9:00am EDT
-

Open

9:00am EDT

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Tuesday August 6, 2013 9:00am - 9:15am EDT
Main Auditorium

Open

9:15am EDT

It's Gonna Be The Future Soon: Science Fiction, Games, and the Future of Learning

Rod Serling, creator of The Twilight Zone, once said "Fantasy is the impossible made probable. Science fiction is the improbable made possible." The unlikely technology we see in science fiction films and books from just a few years ago is a reality today. Likewise, gaming technology can take us to far off places, or better yet, worlds that spring from our students' imaginations! What are the possibilities? In this session we'll imagine what's right around the corner.

Speakers

Lucas Gillispie

Director of Digital Learning, Media, Virtual Learning, & AIG, Surry County Schools

Lucas Gillispie is Director of Technology and Media for Surry County Schools in North Carolina. A passionate gamer and educator, Lucas explores the intersection of games and learning. He is the creator of the WoWinSchool Project, exploring the educational potential of online games... Read More →

Tuesday August 6, 2013 9:15am - 10:00am EDT
Main Auditorium

Session

9:15am EDT

Keynote Session

Tuesday August 6, 2013 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
Main Auditorium

Keynote

10:15am EDT

Beyond the Multiplayer Classroom: Story

Limited Capacity seats available

There are many examples in the literature on the benefits of storytelling to teach. More recently scholarly study has centered on using games to teach. There has been next to nothing about combining multiplayer gameplay and an ongoing story. This is the story of my journey to explore how the most ancient of human experiences, gameplay and storytelling, can be used to recapture, captivate and teach students of all ages.

Speakers

Lee Sheldon

Associate Professor, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Associate Professor Department of Communication and Media Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Principal Investigator: Emergent Reality Lab Author: Character Development and Storytelling for Games Author: The Multiplayer Classroom: Designing... Read More →

Tuesday August 6, 2013 10:15am - 11:00am EDT
Geothermal Lab

10:15am EDT

The Use of Minecraft in the Classroom: A Qualitative Study

Have folks like Joel Levin inspired you to try using Minecraft in the classroom? Are you looking for ideas on how to do that and what methods are working for other teachers? This session provides an overview of seventeen teachers that have successfully used Minecraft for learning, their stories, and what they collectively identify as 'best practices' toward classroom use. Whew, we have a lot to cover!

Speakers

Seann Dikkers

Associate Professor, Bethel University

Built forts with neighborhood friends. Married my best friend. Two playful adult children. Games in Learning author, researcher, and trainer. Long time Civ and TW geek.

Lucas Gillispie

Director of Digital Learning, Media, Virtual Learning, & AIG, Surry County Schools

Tuesday August 6, 2013 10:15am - 11:00am EDT
Main Auditorium

Minecraft

10:15am EDT

Using Commercially Successful Video Games to Enhance Learning

Limited Capacity seats available

Video games in the classroom are not useful unless they can actually enhance and augment the curriculum, but the good news is, even commercially successful games can! We will look at how regular video games improve the everyday classroom and enable your students to experience things that just would not be possible without them. A variety of games and apps will be explored within the classroom context. In addition, we will discuss practical suggestions for implementing games effectively in the classroom. (Lisa taught for ten years in grades K-8 and is a firm believer in the power of video games for learning.)

Speakers

Lisa Castaneda

Founder of a non-profit educational foundation in SeattleLisa was a teacher for ten years in grades K-8. She has a Masters degree in Education and a Bachelors degree in Psychology. She has been a strong advocate for gaming in the classroom and was recently asked to head a non-profit... Read More →

Tuesday August 6, 2013 10:15am - 11:00am EDT
Room 206

Session

10:15am EDT

Screencasting: Strategies to engage and motivate learners of all ages.

Limited Capacity seats available

This hands-on workshop will show you a variety of tools (screenr, screencast-o-matic, jing) and strategies that work well with students. Bring your own device or use the mac provided. The presenter will also bring several microphones for your use.

Speakers

Kathleen Gormley

Tuesday August 6, 2013 10:15am - 12:00pm EDT
Room 205

Tutorial Workshop

Tags Audio&Video

10:15am EDT

Start Teaching with SketchUp

Limited Capacity seats available

In this workshop, participants will build a simple room using SketchUp, a free 3D drawing program available for Mac and Windows. The workshop will also highlight how SketchUp projects are used to teach students Software Decoding skills. Finally, a brief discussion will highlight how SketchUp has been used by students to create awesome animations.

Speakers

Mark Eisenhardt

Director of Technology, The Albany Academies

After a long career as a business software developer, I am happily teaching kids how to decode and dominate software! I focus on projects that use a Design Process to to guide research, 3D modeling, video editing and ultimately website publishing. All projects use free, platform independent... Read More →

Tuesday August 6, 2013 10:15am - 12:00pm EDT
Alternative Fuel Lab

Tutorial Workshop

Tags Everyone, Tutorial

10:15am EDT

Using ARIS to Create Your Own Mobile Augmented Reality Experiences

Limited Capacity seats available

This workshop will introduce participants to ARIS, a free web-based programming environment for creating mobile augmented reality games and activities. ARIS can be used to create outdoor activities that use GPS trigger points or indoor activities that use QR codes to trigger game-related information. It's intuitive feel and minimal programming makes it a great tool for non-programmers and students. Plus, games made on the website are instantly available through the free iOS app, also called ARIS. Participants will leave the workshop with a working knowledge strong enough to create their own games.

Speakers

Denise Bressler

Education Researcher, Stevens Institute of Technology

Denise is passionate about the potential for learning with mobile technologies. Formerly, Denise worked as an Exhibit Developer and Project Manager at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ. She developed the mobile learning initiative called Science Now, Science Everywhere. Recently... Read More →

Tuesday August 6, 2013 10:15am - 12:00pm EDT
Room 201

Tutorial Workshop ARG

Tags Audio&Video, Everyone, iOS, Tutorial

11:15am EDT

3by3by3 Three Educators, Three Grade Levels, Three Experiences

This panel of three committed gamers, learners and teachers will share their experiences of incorporating game worlds into their teaching.

Mike Beardsley, 4th Grade Teacher, Putney Central School with show you how he incorporate game content to engage young learners, what he calls Game Access for Motivating Every Student (GAMES).

Sally Bisaccio, Technology Integrationist-Trainer for Bennington School District will show video and tell the stories of middle school students in their 2013 Minecraft afterschool and summer programs.

Jane Wilde, faculty member in the MAT program at Marlboro College Graduate School, will describe her journey, incorporating virtual worlds, games and gamification into her graduate courses for teachers over the past 6 years.

Presentation materials will be available through this link: http://tinyurl.com/gie3by3by3

Speakers

Mike Beardsley

Putney Central School, Putney VT

Sally Bisaccio

Technology Coach, Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union

I love games and using games in education. I have spent the last couple of years promoting MinecraftEdu as an important tool for learning and student engagement.

Jane Wilde

Teacher, Technology support, University/college personnel, Marlboro College Graduate and Professional Studies (and SUNY Albany)

Use address: http://tinyurl.com/wildedl14 for Dynamic Landscapes 2014 presentation materials Use address: http://tinyurl.com/gie3by3by3 for Games In Education 2013 symposium presentation material. Jane Wilde is a passionate gamer, learner, teacher and flat water kayaker. A... Read More →

Tuesday August 6, 2013 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT
Main Auditorium

Panel

11:15am EDT

MISSION US: Understanding History Through Interactive Gaming

MISSION US is a series of free online games developed by WNET to engage upper elementary and middle school students in American History. Since the debut of the first game in September 2010, hundreds of thousands of educators and students have explored the past through the eyes of young people living it. This session will orient teachers to the games and accompanying classroom materials.

Speakers

Janice Fuld

Outreach Producer, WNET

Janice Fuld is an Outreach Producer at WNET, New York Public Media, where she develops and manages educational outreach projects associated with WNET’s national productions. She has developed educational materials and conducted teacher training sessions for a variety of productions... Read More →

Tuesday August 6, 2013 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT
Room 206

Session

11:15am EDT

WoWinSchool: The Hero's Journey Continues...

Limited Capacity seats available

Are you trying to close the rift between traditional classroom practice and the hyper “click, tap and swipe” learning innate in your students? Even once we grasp the inherent value in these tools, it can be difficult to find connections to the curriculum, classroom management advice, and examples of what the learning looks like. In this session, Peggy Sheehy shares about using WoW in School as an arena for quest-based learning. Peggy tells us about her journey with Lucas Gillispie of Pender County Schools hosting a hybrid, collaborative literacy program using World of Warcraft to engage youth in learning. After one year as an after-school program, their WoW in School project was refined, aligned to core standards for English language arts (ELA), and introduced into the regular academic day. We hear the steps taken to bring massively multiplayer online games into the classroom and how the “hidden curriculum” in games has provided opportunities for students to master real world skills that often elude traditional leaning environments. Peggy also provide practical ideas for leveraging the unique properties of video games for your teaching and a step-by-step protocol to establish a similar program in your school.

Speakers

Peggy Sheehy

Teacher on a Mission, EPIC Learners

6th Grade Humanities Teacher, Suffern Middle School, Ramapo Central School District. After an exciting first career as a professional musician, Peggy Sheehy shifted her spotlight to the classroom, and to awakening dreams through education. For the past sixteen years, she has served... Read More →

Tuesday August 6, 2013 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT
Geothermal Lab

Session

12:00pm EDT

Lunch

Tuesday August 6, 2013 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
-

Open

1:15pm EDT

Games and Violence: Perspectives from the Inside and Outside

In February 2013, game designer Dr. Carla Fisher authored “I’m a Victim of Gun Violence. I’m Also a Game Developer.” on Slate.com, explaining her personal experience as well as her perspectives for moving past the games and violence debate to a place of helping players gain critical thinking skills about the content they use. In this session, she’ll continue the conversation, not to debate violence and games, but to discuss media literacy, partnerships with developers, dialogic play, and other ways to help kids situate all of the content they encounter.

Speakers

Carla Fisher

Founder & President, No Crusts Interactive

Carla Engelbrecht Fisher, Ed.D., is a game designer with a data obsession and the founder of No Crusts Interactive. Her work blends progressive educational philosophies, innovative game mechanics, and children’s curricular needs to create engaging interactive entertainment. Under... Read More →

Tuesday August 6, 2013 1:15pm - 2:00pm EDT
Room 206

1:15pm EDT

Mindfulness in Games

Come download from technology in this interactive workshop of ice-breakers, mindfulness games and meditation practice. This workshop will provide participants a chance to release, recharge and bring something new back to the classroom. These activities are great for educators' own sustainability and are fun to share with their students.

Speakers

Leslie Booker

Tuesday August 6, 2013 1:15pm - 2:00pm EDT
Main Auditorium

1:15pm EDT

Minecraft Workshop

Limited Capacity seats available

In this workshop, you will explore two different MinecraftEDU worlds that include math and CS/physics concepts. One world requires students to navigate to different locations in the world using coordinates to gather materials to collectively build a village. The other world teaches students how to use Redstone to complete basic tasks that enhance their houses. Both worlds include tutorials and NPCs that help students learn the skills they need to complete different challenges. The workshop will highlight the features of MinecraftEDU and we will go through the creation of a new world. For those interested, instruction on the development of NPCs will also be offered.

Speakers

Michele McColgan

Associate Professor, Siena College

Dr. Michele McColgan is an Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Siena College. She has developed augmented reality models for students learning abstract and 3D concepts in physics, engineering and astronomy. Her MARVLS apps are available for download on the Apple Store... Read More →

Tuesday August 6, 2013 1:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
Alternative Fuel Lab

Minecraft

1:15pm EDT

Radix in your classroom: Implementing a multiplayer online game for STEM learning

From the Education Arcade at MIT comes The Radix Endeavor, a multiplayer online game targeted at improving mathematics and science understandings and engagement in high school students. In the game, players take on the roles of scientists and mathematicians to explore and explain a virtual game world. Tasks in the game are designed for a diverse group of learners and emphasize inquiry and exploration. In this workshop participants will play the game and learn about how it can be implemented in various classroom settings. The workshop will begin with an overview of the project and detail how in-game tasks are aligned with the Common Core State Standards for math and the Next Generation Science Standards for biology. Participants will then have a chance to play through a demo version of the game, ask questions and learn about participating in the pilot study for the upcoming school year.

Speakers

Susannah Gordon-Messer

Education Content Manager, The Education Arcade, MIT

The Radix Endeavor, a multiplayer online game for high school STEM learning. radixendeavor.org

Mark Knapp

Tuesday August 6, 2013 1:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
Room 201

Workshop Educational Gaming

1:15pm EDT

Playful Learning: Join a Network of Teachers Helping Teachers Implement More Effective Game-Based Learning Strategies

Limited Capacity seats available

Learning Games Network recently launched Playful Learning, an online knowledge base where teachers can find and share information about games to use in the classroom, as well as best practices on implementation and student assessment strategies. This workshop will review key issues in game-based learning lesson planning, introduce the knowledge base, and provide participants an opportunity to collaborate with others to explore resources and begin creating new implementation strategies.

Speakers

Alex Chisholm

Executive Director, Learning Games Network

Alex Chisholm is a media research and development practitioner who is passionate about transforming education for learners of all ages. As Executive Director and a founding member of the Learning Games Network, a non-profit spin-off of the MIT Education Arcade, he oversees the organization's... Read More →

Tuesday August 6, 2013 1:15pm - 4:00pm EDT
Room 205

Lab

Tags workshop

2:15pm EDT

"The Game Plan: I HAVE NO TIME FOR GAMES, MY KIDS NEED TO WORK & ACE THESE TESTS! "

Limited Capacity seats available

In the last few years, education has finally noticed gaming and virtual worlds, but this gaming attention has been characterized by two very different perspectives. Some see engagement, concentration and collaboration, while others see isolation, social dysfunction and addiction. Often, educators have difficulty seeing the relevance of a particular game to some portion of their curriculum. Central to this theme, is that the ideas and attitudes one associates with "play" are clearly disconnected from those we associate with "learning". As David Warlick said, "Most people still see games as play and learning as work — and although many of us have become convinced of the learning potentials of video games and begun to promote their use, the game is still what happens after the teaching ... What if curriculum was an adventure, and learning was the reward?" This presentation will dispel the myths surrounding gaming, draw clear connections between games and learning and give attendees practical examples and resources to begin using these powerful learning platforms and reintroduce the concept of playful learning.
David Warlick's Blog can be found at: http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/?tag=video-games

Speakers

Peggy Sheehy

Teacher on a Mission, EPIC Learners

Tuesday August 6, 2013 2:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
Geothermal Lab

Session

2:15pm EDT

Building Digital Portfolios Using Google Sites

This presentation will cover how Google products are used to guide students to create their own Digital Portfolio. The discussion will highlight best practices for Google Drive organization and Spreadsheet driven assignments. The Design Process used to collect student work, plan the website and build the portfolio will also be shown. Finally, an overview of the on-line self-guided course to create student portfolios will be given.

Speakers

Mark Eisenhardt

Director of Technology, The Albany Academies

Tuesday August 6, 2013 2:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
Room 206

Session

2:15pm EDT

Design. Create. Play. Game Design and Coding in the Classroom.

Our students are spending a lot of time playing games. When given the opportunity, they are excited to put this energy to work in creating their own interactive projects and games. Game Design and Development help students learn computational reasoning, iterative design, problem solving, collaboration, and other 21st century skills. This presentation will provide an overview of tools that can be used with students in grades 3 through 8 (and beyond) to construct digital stories, projects and games. Tools and resources for the computer as well as handheld devices will be presented.

Speakers

Steven Isaacs

Education Program Manager, Bernards Township Schools

Steve Isaacs has been teaching since 1992. In 1998 began teaching in Bernards Township, NJ where he developed an internationally recognized middle and high school game development program. Steve is a pioneer in using VR and AR in the classroom. He is a champion for student choice... Read More →

Tuesday August 6, 2013 2:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
Main Auditorium

Session

Tags Elementary, Everyone

3:15pm EDT

Horror on the Ridges: A design-based research study of linking mobile gaming to emotive responses.

Place-based or augmented reality (AR) games have yet to become part of the common media buffet. If AR games are ever going to be mainstream, first they must engage players and cause excitement in the same ways that all media first motivate as entertainment venues. This session walks you through the basic elements and story line of a local AR game that highlights the history and fictions of the Athens Lunatic Asylum. Oh yes, it's educational too.

Speakers

Seann Dikkers

Associate Professor, Bethel University

Built forts with neighborhood friends. Married my best friend. Two playful adult children. Games in Learning author, researcher, and trainer. Long time Civ and TW geek.

Tuesday August 6, 2013 3:15pm - 4:00pm EDT
Main Auditorium

ARG

3:15pm EDT

Badges, Gamification, and Education

Limited Capacity seats available

What are badges? Do we want to gamify education? Does gamifying education just mean slapping a badge on every homework assignment, or is there something more to it? Games are a powerful motivator, but what is it about them that is motivating, and is that motivation something that belongs in education?

These are all challenging questions that are being brought to light in recent discussions about education. At this point, I can't say I have the answers to these questions, but I can bring my perspective as a long-time gamer, practiced scientist, and after-school educator. I will discuss the history of badges in games, what makes games good learning tools, and some guidelines for good and bad ways to gamify education.

Speakers

Kevin Miklasz

Director of Digital Learning, Iridescent

The science research interests of Kevin Miklasz are using physics and engineering to understand why organisms look the way they do. His PhD dissertation is on how size and shape effect the physics of small algae. He currently works for Iridescent as Director of Digital Learning... Read More →

Tuesday August 6, 2013 3:15pm - 4:00pm EDT
Geothermal Lab

Session

3:15pm EDT

Girls Got Game: Teaching Basic Computer Programming Making Video Games with Scratch

Limited Capacity seats available

Scratch from MIT is a great tool for teaching basic concepts in computer programming without the need for writing code in proper syntax. This web-based animation and gaming development tool is accessible to students as young as 8, and requires no computer science background on the part of the instructor. At the Albany Public Library, a librarian and two library school interns presented a week-long full-day camp for girls that encouraged exploration and creativity alongside computer science curriculum. Learn how you can implement your own classroom or after-school video game development course with Scratch.

Speakers

Melissa Wasilewski

Youth Services Librarian, Albany Public Library

Melissa Wasilewski has served as youth services librarian at Albany Public Library (APL) for more than seven years. She specializes in programs and services to patrons ages 11 to 18 and is a winner of the Excellence in Service to Young Adults award from the American Library Association... Read More →

Tuesday August 6, 2013 3:15pm - 4:00pm EDT
Room 206

Session

3:15pm EDT

Introduction to the Portal 2 Puzzlemaker

Limited Capacity seats available

In this hands-on workshop we will play around with (and learn to effectively use) the level-building tool for Portal 2 called the Puzzle Maker. In an easy point/click/drag/drop setting students have limitless options with which to design challenging puzzle-based rooms. The design tool is free for schools and is a great addition to the STEM classroom. Come play around with this brilliantly designed level editor.

Speakers

Lisa Castaneda

Steven Isaacs

Education Program Manager, Bernards Township Schools

Tuesday August 6, 2013 3:15pm - 5:00pm EDT
Alternative Fuel Lab

Lab

Tags Everyone, workshop

3:15pm EDT

Turtles, Coon Cats, and Scratch: Oh My!

Limited Capacity seats available

Join Kathy for an interactive, hands-on Scratch programming workshop. Developed at MIT by Mitch Resnick and colleagues, Scratch is grant sponsored and available FREE. Learn how kids of all ages apply computational thinking in order to create and share their own interactive stories, games, music, and art using Scratch.

Speakers

Kathy Perry

Tuesday August 6, 2013 3:15pm - 5:00pm EDT
Room 201

Tutorial Workshop

Tags Everyone, Tutorial

4:15pm EDT

Reimagining education on Microsoft platform

In this session we will discuss Cool technology tools to enhance teaching and learning. The session will focus on some of the Free Microsoft tools for teachers, How teachers can use them to engage with their students inside and outside the classroom. We will also show where to get the tools and become part of Partners in Learning.

Speakers

Ashish Jaiman

Director, Startup Strategy, Microsoft

Ashish Jaiman is Director, Startup Strategy with Microsoft. Ashish has more than 16 years of experience designing, developing and selling software. In his role Ashish enables startups, activates them on business, technology, go to market strategy and accelerates the adoption... Read More →

Tuesday August 6, 2013 4:15pm - 5:00pm EDT
Main Auditorium

8:30am EDT

Breakfast Reception and Registration

Wednesday August 7, 2013 8:30am - 9:00am EDT
TBA

Open

9:00am EDT

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Wednesday August 7, 2013 9:00am - 9:15am EDT
TBA

Open

9:15am EDT

Building Happiness, Meaning and Engagement

Acclaimed leadership thinker and million-selling author Marshall Goldsmith will share effective strategies on how to develop yourself to the next level, and why understanding the challenges that come with increased success in leadership are crucial to the success of education.

Speakers

Marshall Goldsmith

Ph.D., Author and Leadership Thinker

Wednesday August 7, 2013 9:15am - 10:00am EDT
Main Auditorium

Keynote

9:15am EDT

Keynote Session

Wednesday August 7, 2013 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
TBA

Keynote

10:15am EDT

Finding the Journal of Odysseus: Alternate Reality Games in English Class

I've always sought to incorporate more elements of games and gaming into my curriculums. Students are constantly using critical thinking and teamwork skills in the games they play, whether on the athletic field or on their Xbox. Why not leverage that for the classroom?

Inspired by "alternate reality games" – a form of interactive storytelling that uses online puzzles and challenges – I designed a game for my 7th graders to play in conjunction with their reading of Homer's Odyssey. They are tasked with recovering a recently discovered (and stolen) "journal of Odysseus" by solving a variety of puzzles and riddles: everything from ancient Roman ciphers to manipulating computer files to discover hidden information. As they progress through the challenges, they receive another piece of the "journal" (in reality, excerpts from Zachary Mason's The Lost Books of the Odyssey). The puzzles require working together, critical and creative thinking skills, and, most of all, a tenacity to keep trying in the face of a difficult problem.

The game takes various shapes and exists in various formats: Youtube videos, articles, email, and more.

Speakers

John Fallon

English Teacher, Fairfield Country Day School

John Fallon is a 7th & 9th grade English teacher at Fairfield Country Day School, a Prek-9 all boys school in Connecticut. His first game based learning project was a pervasive Alternate Reality Game to support the teaching of Homer's Odyssey in his 7th grade class. John also co-designed... Read More →

Wednesday August 7, 2013 10:15am - 11:00am EDT
Room 206

ARG Literacy Tutorial

10:15am EDT

An Introduction to Flipped Learning

Limited Capacity seats available

This presentation will introduce participants to the basic principles of Flipped Learning and its practical applications in the classroom. So, what is “Flipped Learning?” Although there is no single definition, the basic concept proposes that educators utilize technology to time-shift direct instruction in a way that maximizes student learning. This is typically achieved by archiving some of the educator’s direct instruction online through screencast videos, therefore freeing up class time for engagement in high-order learning experiences. Shifting direct instruction out of the group setting also creates greater opportunities for remediation, differentiation, skills-mastery, and one-on-one interactions between student and teacher. After tracing the brief history of the movement, we will explore the many ways that educators have effectively leveraged technology to improve learning in flipped classroom settings. The presentation will conclude with a discussion about how flipped learning has enabled educators to experiment with games and gamification in their curriculum.

Speakers

Tom Driscoll

Director of Digital Learning, Bristol Warren Regional School District

Tom Driscoll is the Director of Digital Learning for the Bristol Warren Regional School District in Rhode Island. Previously, Tom taught high school social studies for eight years in northeastern Connecticut. Tom also speaks at conferences, consults with school districts, and has... Read More →

Wednesday August 7, 2013 10:15am - 11:00am EDT
Geothermal Lab

Flipped Learning

10:15am EDT

Games for Competence: How Game Mechanics can Foster Autonomous Learning

Games are designed to get people to understand and complete new, complex and potentially difficult tasks. And to enjoy it!

In this presentation, Alex Sarlin describes how the mechanics of games can be applied to learning environments to allow students to get the feedback and structure they need to become autonomous learners.

This presentation is designed for classroom teachers, principals, school technologists or anyone interested in games and learning.

Speakers

Alex Sarlin

Wednesday August 7, 2013 10:15am - 11:00am EDT
Main Auditorium

Session

10:15am EDT

Leveling Up - Leveraging the power of games to enhance science learning

What happens when game mechanics = the laws of nature? You get Leveling Up, a set of free, publically available games that are based on standards-based high school science and developed by professional game designers together with educators from TERC.

This hands on workshop involves playing a selection of physics based games, discussing the science connections and then working in small groups to develop classroom activities that bridge this type of informal game based learning with the learning that happens in the classroom. Experience what it takes to connect the real world of a teenager to the real world of science learning in the classroom. Bring your tablets!
EdGE at TERC is conducting a research study to test our hypothesis that the games and bridge activities we are developing will lead to improved knowledge of high school standards-based science content and skills among a diverse teen audience. We are actively looking for teachers who would be excited about joining this innovative study.

Speakers

Barbara MacEachern

Outreach Coordinator/Facilitator of Fun, EdGE at TERC

My EdGE role includes leading outreach efforts and communications, actively and enthusiastically engaging young people and teachers in game testing, basically, I get to facilitate FUN. I have a background in facilitation and community-based work, as well as activity design and implementation... Read More →

Wednesday August 7, 2013 10:15am - 12:00pm EDT
Alternative Fuel Lab

Lab

Tags High School, Middle School, workshop

10:15am EDT

VITAL NY PBS Learning Media

Limited Capacity seats available

Explore innovative multimedia content for learners of all ages on the new VITAL NY PBS Learning Media platform with over 30,000 free, online classroom – ready resources across subject areas. You’ll have access to content from PBS Teachers, the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and NASA, among many others.

Speakers

Katherine Jetter

Wednesday August 7, 2013 10:15am - 12:00pm EDT
Room 205

Lab

Tags Everyone, workshop

11:15am EDT

Latin, Flipped: A case of the Blended Classroom

I will share my experiences in teaching Latin at Emma Willard School as a blended course. I have Schoology (our learning managment system), WebEx and Audacity to deliver content to students outside of the classroom. Students have completed most of the assignments for the course online, and have engaged in highly effective online discussions. I have examples of what works, what has not worked, and seek feedback from other educators.

Speakers

Diane McCorkle

Latin Instructor, Emma Willard School

I have been a Spanish, Latin and German teacher in Independent Schools since 1986. I knew I wanted to incorporate technology into my teaching as soon as I saw the first Broderbund "Living Book" in 1993. I have been honored with the task of reviving Latin at Emma Willard, thanks... Read More →

Wednesday August 7, 2013 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT
Geothermal Lab

Flipped Learning

11:15am EDT

Future City Competition - A Creative Way for Students to Imagine the Future

Limited Capacity seats available

The Future City Competition is an annual competition for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students. There are approximately 35 regional competitions held in January of every year throughout the U.S., one of which is held in the Capital District. Winners of each regional competition go on to compete for the national title in Washington D.C. during Engineers Week. The Competition is unique in that it is multi-faceted with various tasks the students need to complete. These tasks include planning and designing a virtual city using SimCity 4 software, building a physical model with recycled materials, researching and writing a solution to an engineering problem, writing a narrative describing their city, and presenting their ideas before a panel of judges.

Speakers

Diane Bertok

Project Manager for the Existing Facilities Program, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

Diane Bertok is a Project Manager for the Existing Facilities Program at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). At NYSERDA, she is responsible for managing energy efficiency projects implemented throughout New York State. Prior to joining NYSERDA... Read More →

Wednesday August 7, 2013 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT
Room 206

Games for Learning

11:15am EDT

Minecraft Open Forum - Getting a handle on the game that's taking over living rooms, classrooms, and imaginations worldwide!

Do you play Minecraft? Is there a young person in your life who does? Are you trying to understand how this milestone sandbox game can be used in schools, libraries, museums, and more? Then this session is for you! Come share your experiences with Minecraft both at school and elsewhere. Ask questions about the potentials, the process, and hear stories about what has worked. This is intended to be a true open forum to help us all better understand the Minecraft phenomenon.

Moderators

Joel Levin

Wednesday August 7, 2013 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT
Main Auditorium

Minecraft Open Forum

Tags Minecraft

12:00pm EDT

Lunch

Wednesday August 7, 2013 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
-

Open

1:15pm EDT

Building Hands-on Tech Centers in Small Towns

At Station082 we have a mission to combine gaming and makerspaces to bring put technology into the hands of kids in rural towns. Our challenge is to make it cheap enough and easy enough to be replicate on a limited budget with non-technical activity leaders. This a presentation about what we do, and how we do it.

Speakers

Erynn Petersen

VP, Zimbra

Wednesday August 7, 2013 1:15pm - 2:00pm EDT
Geothermal Lab

Games for Learning

1:15pm EDT

Escaping the Asylum: The Art of Transforming Your Class into a Living Video Game.

Limited Capacity seats available

The exciting possibilities for embodied learning will be explored through an examination of The Ward Game, a pervasive game designed to teach Ken Kesey’s classic novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. For 30 days, players were immersed in the world of the novel through a modular combination of video game mechanics, social media, interactive tools and locative activities. In the end, most players displayed notably high levels of engagement, collaboration and productivity. The presentation will open a window to the logistical considerations and pedagogical value of this unique dynamic, which can ultimately be applied to any subject or grade.

Speakers

Paul Darvasi

Educator, Royal St. George's College

Paul Darvasi teaches at Royal St. George's College in Toronto, Canada, and he's a PhD candidate in York University's Faculty of Education, with a focus on digital and pervasive games in educational environments. He experiments with video games and interactive technology in his classes... Read More →

Wednesday August 7, 2013 1:15pm - 2:00pm EDT
Room 206

Literacy

Tags Games & Lit, High School, Middle School

1:15pm EDT

Sim City Workshop

Limited Capacity seats available

TBA

Speakers

Diane Bertok

Project Manager for the Existing Facilities Program, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

Wednesday August 7, 2013 1:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
Alternative Fuel Lab

1:15pm EDT

Somebody Come and Play! Integrating Game-Based Learning Into Your Classroom

Limited Capacity seats available

You've heard about the impact of games in education, but how can you make them a reality in your own classroom? Join us to play, plan, and prepare for integrating game-based learning into next year’s curriculum and classroom. You’ll walk away familiar with top quality games that tie into curriculum and align to CCSS, easy-to-implement strategies and access to support materials.

Speakers

Allisyn Levy

VP, Product Lead, BrainPOP

Since joining BrainPOP in 2007, Allisyn Levy has played an integral role in the creation, launch, and continued development of BrainPOP Educators, our online professional community. Now, as Vice President, GameUp, she leads outreach efforts for BrainPOP's online learning games portal... Read More →

Anne Richards

Vice President of Product Development, Classroom Inc.

Games, storytelling and the intersection of play and learning

Wednesday August 7, 2013 1:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
Room 201

Lab

1:15pm EDT

TBD Lab

Limited Capacity seats available

TBA

Wednesday August 7, 2013 1:15pm - 3:00pm EDT

Lab

1:15pm EDT

Flipped Learning Workshop

Limited Capacity seats available

This interactive, hands-on workshop will guide teachers through the process of developing their own flipped videos using screencasting software. Participants will also discover effective ways to render, upload and share instructional videos across a variety of platforms. Beyond video creation, participants will have the opportunity to collaboratively develop lessons that incorporate flipped learning principles.

***There will be various options and for educators in this workshop depending upon their interests and needs.

Speakers

Tom Driscoll

Director of Digital Learning, Bristol Warren Regional School District

Wednesday August 7, 2013 1:15pm - 4:00pm EDT
Room 205

Flipped Learning Workshop

Tags Audio&Video, Everyone, workshop

2:15pm EDT

Playmaker School: A report on year 1 and plans for year 2

We will report on curricular development and implementation at PlayMaker School @ New Roads after year one. What were the highs and lows of playful and student driven instruction. We will explore ways we implemented our maker space, adventure room, and dream lab.

Speakers

Kevin Keating

Joe Wise

Wednesday August 7, 2013 2:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
Room 206

Educational Gaming

2:15pm EDT

Working Session: Building Hands-on Tech Centers in Small Towns

At Station082 we have a mission to combine gaming and makerspaces to bring put technology into the hands of kids in rural towns. Our challenge is to make it cheap enough and easy enough to be replicate on a limited budget with non-technical activity leaders. in this workshop we'll share several of our favorite activities, showing how we combine popular games kids play everyday with hands on building and learning.

Speakers

Erynn Petersen

VP, Zimbra

Wednesday August 7, 2013 2:15pm - 4:00pm EDT
Geothermal Lab

Games for Learning Workshop

2:30pm EDT

The Story of Aoyagi: a Machinima Theater Piece by EK Theater

Characters from Minecraft will be projected on a large screen in front of the audience and manipulated by gamers to retell this traditional Japanese ghost story from Lafcadio Hearn's collection, Kwaidan, which was originally published in 1904.

Speakers

EK Theater

Director/Founder, EK Theater

EK Theater was founded by director and gamer, Eddie Kim, in 2007. The company’s mission is to bring classics to modern audiences through live works of video game puppetry. EK Theater is made up of students and is based out of the Pierrepont School in Westport, CT. Their work has... Read More →

Wednesday August 7, 2013 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT
Main Auditorium

Minecraft Performance Literacy

Tags Everyone, Games & Lit

3:15pm EDT

The Curiosity Machine: a tool for flipped classrooms and inquiry learning in science and engineering

Limited Capacity seats available

Iridescent has worked with professional scientists and engineers over the past seven years to develop innovative, project-based activities based on the research interests of those scientists. With 100+ such activities in it's catalog, Iridescent has developed a website called the Curiosity Machine to share those activities with others. The website has three components: 1) videos of scientists discussing their work in everyday language, 2) an open-ended design challenge, inspired by the scientist's videos, and 3) questions for students to answer as they build their response to the design challenge. As students answer questions on the website, they receive feedback on their answers from our community of scientists and engineers about the science in the design that they have built.

In this workshop, you will be introduced to Iridescent's style of inquiry-based learning, you will get to experience one of our design challenges from the Curiosity Machine, and you will practice some facilitation techniques for leading an open-ended design challenge. We will end with a opportunity for you to plan use of the Curiosity Machine in your schools, as well as discuss issues surrounding the use of the website in the classroom.

Speakers

Kevin Miklasz

Director of Digital Learning, Iridescent

Wednesday August 7, 2013 3:15pm - 5:00pm EDT
Room 201

Flipped Learning Workshop

3:15pm EDT

Introduction to Teaching Programming Using Alice

Limited Capacity seats available

Computer programming serves as a stimulating and challenging practical skill that draws from traditional subject areas. Learn to teach programming with Alice, a freeware educational programming tool from Carnegie Mellon. Alice serves as a tool not only to inspire all students to a wider array of careers, but particularly to interest girls in scientific and technical fields, where women are underrepresented. Computer programming can be taught by itself, or integrated as skill enrichment supporting existing curricula.

Speakers

Heather Bigelow

Computer Technology Teacher, Capital Region Career & Technical School

During her four years teaching at Capital Region Career & Technical School, Heather Bigelow developed the courses “Gaming, Multimedia, & Web Design” and “Internet Application Design”. These courses cover the topics Video Game Design, Computer Programming, Digital Art & 3D... Read More →

Wednesday August 7, 2013 3:15pm - 5:00pm EDT
Alternative Fuel Lab

Lab

3:15pm EDT

Social Robotics Workshop: Meet them where they are

Limited Capacity seats available

Using Lego NXT robots, attendees will learn basic programming skills to program a mood or personality for a social robot. This is a preview of an outreach program we can bring to your location!

Speakers

Jen Goodall

College of Computing and Information - University at Albany

I am an Assistant Dean in the College of Computing and Information at the University at Albany.

Wednesday August 7, 2013 3:15pm - 5:00pm EDT
Room 206

Tutorial Workshop

Tags workshop

3:30pm EDT

When The Internet Chooses You - Memes, Viral Videos, and Gamer Culture - A Primer for Educators

Ermahgerd! How often have you heard excited chatter in the hall about the latest hit on YouTube? Ever wunder what's funny about cats and why they haz bad English skillz? Well, hide your kids, hide your wife and stahp QQ-ing. Come have a laugh with this primer on the best and worst of the Internet and gaming culture!

Speakers

Lucas Gillispie

Director of Digital Learning, Media, Virtual Learning, & AIG, Surry County Schools

Wednesday August 7, 2013 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT
Main Auditorium

4:15pm EDT

Educade: Find, create, and share lesson plans and teaching tools to empower your classroom.

Limited Capacity seats available

We will present the recently launched Educade web portal. The portal was funded by AT&T and developed by GameDesk. Participants will be able to explore and ask questions after a brief introduction to the features and content.

Speakers

Kevin Keating

Joe Wise

Wednesday August 7, 2013 4:15pm - 5:00pm EDT
Geothermal Lab

Educational Gaming

4:30pm EDT

Local Educators use games in the classroom

This exciting panel focuses on experiences supporting implementation of games in classrooms and the changes it's caused, and how 4 local educators have utilized it in their classroom! Be sure to join us for this uplifting finale to the conference and learn ways to better utilize and implement games in your classroom.

Speakers