GAME MTS PD Day - Revenge of the Sixth

Event is FULL - Currently not accepting registrations

FULL - GAME Social Evening

Join us for a social evening of gaming, pizza, and drinks.

Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024

Time: 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Cost: $5.00

FULL - Keynote: Designing Games for Change: A Game Plan for Educators

Presenters: Mary Elizabeth Pearson & Brendon Trombley

Mary Elizabeth Pearson - Director of Curriculum and Professional Development, G4C Learn

Mary Elizabeth is the Director of Curriculum and Professional Development for G4C Learn, bringing over 25 years of experience in education. She began her career as an elementary educator and has since taught at various levels, including middle school, high school, and university, both in Washington State and internationally. Mary Elizabeth has lived and worked in Athens, Greece, and Merida, Mexico, and has trained educators globally in technology and game-based learning. Her career includes roles as an instructional coach, where she developed programs to enhance instructional technology and build skills and confidence among students and staff. As the Director of Technology for the Marysville School District, she led initiatives that integrated technology within a large educational system. Mary Elizabeth’s recent focus is on creating learning opportunities that integrate gaming into classrooms, particularly through Minecraft Education. She excels at fostering instructional conversations around game-based learning design, driving pedagogical shifts, and achieving deeper learning outcomes for students.

Brendon Trombley - Lead Game Designer, Games for Change

Brendon is the Lead Game Designer at Games for Change. He is a seasoned designer of learning games and interactive educational experiences. Harnessing the power of play, he creates work that engages and inspires, making learning natural and joyful for users of all ages. He graduated from the New Media Design program at Rochester Institute of Technology in 2008 and has been in playful education since. He has produced many innovative learning experiences for the classroom and beyond alongside leading organizations such as Games for Change, Institute of Play, Quest to Learn, BrainPOP, and Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Games and game design can help build critical skills like collaboration, systems thinking, creative problem solving, and design thinking. This keynote will introduce educators to the global work of Games for Change (G4C), its flagship game design program for students, and the G4C Learn curricula and professional development opportunities. Educators will practice using tools and mindsets game designers use, and will walk away with tools and strategies to teach students how to design analog and digital games for social change. This keynote will inspire the audience to integrate play, design, and game-based learning experiences to empower students as agents of change and drivers of their own learning.

Time: 8:45 am - 10:15 am

FULL - AM01 - A Curriculum of Cards - How Trading Card Games Engage with Learning

Since Magic: The Gathering's release over 30 years ago, many Trading Card Games have grown to become staples across the gaming landscape. In this presentation, I showcase the creative ways TCGs encourage students to engage further with classroom subjects including mental math, complex reading comprehension, and more!

Presenter: Cayleigh Kitchur

Theme: Trading Card Games

Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Participant Max: 25

FULL - AM02 - Green New World (a climate change simulation game for the whole classroom)

Participants will play Green New World, a game designed by me with the help of my middle school students, in which teams communicate with each other to balance short- and long-term goals of saving humanity from climate change.

Presenter: Josh Bergmann

Theme: Gamification

Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Participant Max: 25

FULL - AM03 - Establishing a School Tabletop Club

Are you interested in starting a Tabletop Club at your school might not know where to start? In this session, we will discuss different aspects of implementing and managing a Tabletop Club in any school, from organizing meetings and events, deciding on what games to play, offering competitive play via tournaments, obtaining free resources from companies, establishing connections with local suppliers, creating club-themed merchandise, and more. Learn about ways to encourage participation and awareness of your school Tabletop Club (or D&D, or Magic, etc.) by creating an identity for your club that will make students eager to attend!

Presenters: Kay Wojnarksi & Sarah Wojnarski

Theme: Board Games

Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Participant Max: 25

FULL - AM04 - E-sports 101: Getting Started

The Manitoba School E-sports Association’s (MSEA) introductory session is designed to educate current and future e-sports coaches about the world of scholastic e-sports. Participants will learn about the basics of e-sports, including popular games, the structure of tournaments in MB, and the skills required to succeed. The session aims to foster a supportive community, encourage teamwork, and highlight the educational and career opportunities within the e-sports industry.

Presenter: Nathan Koblun

Theme: E-sports

Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Participant Max: 25

FULL - AM05 - Gaslands

Gaslands is a post-apocalyptic tabletop game that uses fast cars and various strategies to achieve victory. Players create and control cars (Mad Max, Death Race 2000, Twisted Metal, etc.) and race them along a course fending off other players. This game can be played as a one off or as a larger campaign.

Skills practiced: Measurements, vehicle physics - momentum, velocity, vehicle control and strategy.

Presenter: Jim Alexander

Theme: Miniature Gaming

Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Participant Max: 25

FULL - AM06 - Introduction to Magic: The Gathering

Come learn the basics of how to play Magic: The Gathering and the benefits of the game in a middle years setting.

Presenter: Pat Koslowsky-Wiebe

Theme: Trading Card Games

Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Participant Max: 25

FULL - AM07 - Learning and Running a Rocket League Team

Rocket League is a growing E-sport with tons of interest in the MSEA. If you're interested in starting up a school team or wanting to learn more about coaching a Rocket League team, this is the session for you. Come learn how to play, develop an appreciation for the game, and see strategies that you can bring back to your group. Both beginner and experienced players are welcome to join.

Presenters: Benchmen Trieu with students: John D, Jordan K, Rance C, Jaime P

Theme: E-sports

Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Participant Max: 25

FULL - AM08 - Life is but a game

Looking at the value of role-playing to students and how to integrate it into both our curriculums and classroom management.

With the demise of Classcraft, I have been working on a system of using RPG mechanics for classroom motivation and organization. I will share what I have come up with so far and there will be time to brainstorm and discuss how to best implement it. I will also talk about which TTRPG systems are easiest to adapt for classroom use (Hint: It's not Dungeons and Dragons.)

Presenter: Jared Thorklakson

Theme: Roleplaying Games

Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Participant Max: 25

FULL - AM09 - Make your own Game - from Publisher to PUBLISHED

Do you have great game ideas and would like to get them professionally published? This workshop will show you how to design and publish your own game for school or personal use. The presentation will show you how to design and prepare a game for professional-grade publish-on-demand through the Game Crafter. This workshop is best-suited for educators who already have game ideas that they'd use in their classrooms.

Presenter: Barrette Plett

Theme: Game Design

Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Participant Max: 25

FULL - AM10 - Open GAMEing

Take an hour in the gym to explore games with other participants.

Presenter: Self-Directed

Theme: Board Games

Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Participant Max: 150

FULL - AM11 - Social Emotional Learning for Students with Additional Needs using E-Sports

Student Services, Elementary, Middle, and High School Teachers, THIS IS FOR YOU.

Learn about how I used my passion for E-sports to help set up and run after-school programs, lunch time exploration, and in class learning with students who have a cognitive disability.

In this presentation I will talk about how I used real life interests to give students a safe place to practice their social emotional skills. Learn to deal with winning, losing, taking turns, game selection, overstimulating environments, communicating with others, and so much more. I will also give real life examples, share my struggles, successes, and how you can get started in your own school the very next day, or how to convince your admin to let you spend money on video games to help benefit school.

Presenter: Tyler Muntain

Theme: E-sports

Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Participant Max: 25

FULL - AM12 - The Neighborhood: Roleplaying a Community

Budget for life in The Neighborhood! The Neighborhood is an RPG-lite designed to engage students in Essential Math with the basic skills needed to properly budget for their lives while also letting you raise the challenge level as needed in the moment for each individual student. Nothing particularly revolutionary but come and grab some free materials, roleplay as a nature preserve owner, and maybe commit some light fraud while you’re at it.

Note: though it is designed for Essential Math, it could be utilized at any level.

Presenter: Scott Plantje

Theme: Gamification

Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Participant Max: 25

FULL - AM13 - Using Roleplaying Games to Explore the ELA Curriculum

Using games like The Quiet Year, Dialect, Alice is Missing and Coyote and Crow, teachers can explore the 4 categories of the ELA curriculum by looking at how language is created, used and interpreted in these collaborative tabletop games and, by extension, the world we live in.

Presenter: Mark Lebar

Theme: Roleplaying Games

Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Participant Max: 25

FULL - AM14 - What is the Hidden Curriculum in Poverty Simulators?

The United Way’s Make the Month and Kosha Bramesfeld’s C’est la Vie are online poverty simulators. Teachers use such simulators in various educational contexts to challenge students’ perspectives about living with low-income. By comparing the two simulators, this session will explore discrete messages about equity that may or may not be helpful when discussing poverty through simulators. This session will also feature a hands-on experience with C’est La Vie.

Presenter: Andrew Brown

Theme: Diversity and Inclusion

Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Participant Max: 25

FULL - B01 - How to Start a School Miniature Painting Club

I had been painting miniatures for several years, and often had miniatures around my classroom. Two years ago, some of my students asked me to teach them how. So I tracked down figures, paints, and started up the club. In this session, you will get a chance to paint and take home miniatures of your own along with ideas and resources to get a club started up at your school.

$5.00 additional charge to cover costs

Presenter: Leif Doerksen

Theme: Board Games

Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am; break for lunch and back for 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 20

FULL - B02 - I Know How to Roll, Role, and Play. Now What?

If you are a gamer, know how to play D&D and role-play, or love board games, but struggle with how use these implement these in the classroom, this session is for you! Learn how to use what you already know and are passionate about to create amazing learning experiences for your students. But after the fun, what can you do with it?

Often this engagement can lead to inquiry, project-based learning, and events to showcase what students create. Come learn in this hands-on workshop about how to use story to drive your lessons, weave in the gameplay elements YOU want, and maybe even come up with an amazing classroom project where students are active co-creators in their learning.

Presenter: Brent Schmidt

Theme: Gamification

Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am; break for lunch and back for 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - AD1 - Create Your Own Video Game

Using simple block coding, participants will learn how to code an 8-bit retro style video game. The sessions will go over creating a main character, enemies, level design, music and art using the website Makecode Arcade. Block coding will be the primary tool which is an easy introduction to coding. This link will give participants an idea as to what a finished project can look like: https://arcade.makecode.com/S74183-03181-61155-40799

The goal is to leave with the skills necessary to teach students how to make their own video game and present it to the class.

*** Participants MUST bring their own laptop with a charger since we'll be using computers all day. ***

Presenter: Fabrice Siaux

Theme: Game Design

Time: All Day Session - spans all three breakout session sessions

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM1 01 - Assessing Learning Outcomes and Ungrading Through Game Design

This session examines concrete ways to rework assessment and learning strategies for a neurodivergent classroom using learning outcomes and ungrading that will make the experience more successful for all students. Ezra will be using the framework of his 2D platformer game design project to show how each adaptation is implemented and how it addresses specific learning challenges.

Presenter: Ezra Reimer

Theme: Diversity and Inclusion

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM1 02 - Coaches Guide to Fortnite and Valorant

Coaching Valorant and Fortnite with the Manitoba School Esports Association is a dynamic session tailored for educators eager to learn or enhance their skills in these popular games. Explore game mechanics, strategies, and teamwork while delving into essential aspects such as map awareness, communication, and role-specific tactics. Learn to analyze gameplay to identify areas for improvement and develop training routines for your teams. This coaching experience aims to build your knowledge and confidence in these dynamic e-sports titles.

Presenter: Melissa Burns

Theme: E-sports

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM1 04 - Coyote & Crow

Introduction to the Roleplaying game Coyote & Crow - a game where the world is untouched by colonization. I like this game as a way of introducing indigenous ways of being to my students while still covering all the outcomes that a role-playing game covers. We will look at how a non-indigenous teacher can respectfully share this game with students and where it can connect with curriculum outcomes.

Presenter: Jared Thorlakson

Theme: Roleplaying Games

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM1 05 - Fortnite in the Classroom

You have probably heard of Fortnite, the worldwide video game sensation developed by Epic Games and released in 2017. Since that time, Fortnite has evolved into a massive platform that offers a vast array of free learning tools for students to use in a classroom setting, including the vast and inspiring Creative Mode, the Unreal Engine for Fortnite for game coding, and LEGO Fortnite’s all-ages sandbox mode. We will discuss the benefits of using Fortnite as a classroom tool and how to connect students to Fortnite on nearly any device before jumping into Fortnite Creative together on provided devices for some hands-on experience.

Presenters: Kay Wojnarski & Alison Adachi

Theme: Gamification

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM1 06 - Gaslands

Gaslands is a post-apocalyptic tabletop game that uses fast cars and various strategies to achieve victory. Players create and control cars (Mad Max, Death Race 2000, Twisted Metal, etc.) and race them along a course fending off other players. This game can be played as a one off or as a larger campaign.

Skills practiced: Measurements, vehicle physics - momentum, velocity, vehicle control and strategy.

Presenter: Jim Alexander

Theme: Miniature Gaming

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM1 07 - Introduction to Magic the Gathering

Come learn the basics of how to play Magic the Gathering and the benefits of the game in a middle years setting.

Presenter: Pat Koslowsky-Wiebe

Theme: Trading Card Games

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM1 08 - Learning and Running a Rocket League Team

Rocket League is a growing E-sport with tons of interest in the MSEA. If you're interested in starting up a school team or wanting to learn more about coaching a Rocket League team, this is the session for you. Come learn how to play, develop an appreciation for the game, and see strategies that you can bring back to your group. Both beginner and experienced players are welcome to join.

Presenters: Benchmen Trieu with students: John D, Jordan K, Rance C, Jaime P

Theme: E-sports

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM1 09 - Make your own Game - from Publisher to PUBLISHED

Do you have great game ideas and would like to get them professionally published? This workshop will show you how to design and publish your own game for school or personal use. The presentation will show you how to design and prepare a game for professional-grade publish-on-demand through the Game Crafter. This workshop is best-suited for educators who already have game ideas that they'd use in their classrooms.

Presenter: Barrette Plett

Theme: Game Design

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM1 10 - Open GAMEing

Take an hour in the gym to explore games with other participants.

Presenter: Self-Directed

Theme: Board Games

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 150

FULL - PM1 11 - Passages: an Awareness Game Confronting the Plight of Refugees

Passages is a simulation game that was created by the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees.
This simulation game is designed to foster a better understanding of the problems that refugees face in everyday life. Teachers will be given the tools and resources to run this simulation in their own classrooms. This is perfect for any classroom that is discussing human rights, global interdependence, current issues with historical connections. Great for Social Studies and English outcomes.

Presenters: Norm Froemel, Paul Connor and Neil Klassen

Theme: Simulation Game

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM1 14 - Tabletop Minis and School Clubs

Running clubs in school based around tabletop miniature games has given students the opportunity to be involved in the school community without having to be on a sports team or in the school drama. The session will talk about the benefits of the school club, which game might be best for you, and tips for getting your own students painting and playing.

Presenter: Bud Kehler

Theme: Tabletop Miniatures

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM1 15 - Using Roleplaying Games to Explore the ELA Curriculum

Using games like The Quiet Year, Dialect, Alice is Missing and Coyote and Crow, teachers can explore the 4 categories of the ELA curriculum by looking at how language is created, used and interpreted in these collaborative tabletop games and, by extension, the world we live in.

Presenter: Mark Lebar

Theme: Roleplaying Games

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - B03 - Game Design Speed Dating

The session begins with demonstrating the different ways that we have designed and applied game-based learning in grade 5 - 12 classrooms. These include cross-curricular simulations where students create a character and write about the obstacles they face, board games created with specific essential outcomes in mind as well as card collection games. After quickly demonstrating the games we have created, participants will have the time to work on a game-based learning activity on their own or with a group.

Presenters: Shannon Mulvey and Brett Geisel

Theme: Game Design

Time: 1:00 pm - 3:15 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - B04 - Werewolf as a Debate

Looking for engagement in your classroom? This game allows for passive and active student participation all while teaching skills on negotiation, debate, and persuasion. Ideas for journal entries, exit slips, different debate options and creative role-playing will be discussed.

Presenter: Analee Pangan

Theme: Roleplaying Games

Time: 1:00 pm - 3:15 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM2 01 - A Curriculum of Cards - How Trading Card Games Engage with Learning

Since Magic: The Gathering's release over 30 years ago, many Trading Card Games have grown to become staples across the gaming landscape. In this presentation, I showcase the creative ways TCGs encourage students to engage further with classroom subjects including mental math, complex reading comprehension, and more!

Presenter: Cayleigh Kitchur

Theme: Trading Card Games

Time: 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM2 02 - Assessing Learning Outcomes and Ungrading Through Game Design

This session examines concrete ways to rework assessment and learning strategies for a neurodivergent classroom using learning outcomes and ungrading that will make the experience more successful for all students. Ezra will be using the framework of his 2D platformer game design project to show how each adaptation is implemented and how it addresses specific learning challenges.

Presenter: Ezra Reimer

Theme: Diversity and Inclusion

Time: 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM2 03 - Bringing Magic: The Gathering to School

Magic the Gathering, the world’s first collectible card game and international phenomenon, has hooked over 50 million players worldwide for over 30 years. In this session, we will discuss the benefits of bringing Magic: the Gathering to your school by talking about how to introduce Magic to your students, the basic rules and colour wheel, different styles of play from Standard to Commander, finding resources to help your club get started, organizing tournaments, connecting with other schools, and more. We will also offer a hands-on play session for newcomers to the game using beginner-friendly Welcome Decks, and lists of resources to encourage your playgroup to grow and thrive. Experienced players are welcome to continue ramping up their knowledge as well!

Presenters: Kay Wojnarski & Sarah Wojnarski

Theme: Trading Card Games

Time: 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM2 04 - Collaborative Dungeons and Dragons Experiences from the Manitoba Educator’s Roleplaying Council

This session will relay the accomplishments of MERC from our event last year and attempt to build our membership. New ideas will be pitched as well as discussion on how to improve previous programming to reach a wider student base.

Presenter: Jonah Simmonds

Theme: Roleplaying Games

Time: 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM2 05 - E-sports 101: Getting Started

The Manitoba School E-sports Association’s (MSEA) introductory session is designed to educate current and future e-sports coaches about the world of scholastic e-sports. Participants will learn about the basics of e-sports, including popular games, the structure of tournaments in MB, and the skills required to succeed. The session aims to foster a supportive community, encourage teamwork, and highlight the educational and career opportunities within the e-sports industry.

Presenter: Nathan Koblun

Theme: E-sports

Time: 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM2 07 - Green New World (a climate change simulation game for the whole classroom)

Participants will play Green New World, a game designed by me with the help of my middle school students, in which teams communicate with each other to balance short- and long-term goals of saving humanity from climate change.

Presenter: Josh Bergmann

Theme: Gamification

Time: 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM2 08 - Open GAMEing

Take an hour in the gym to explore games with other participants.

Presenter: Self-Directed

Theme: Board Games

Time: 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm

Participant Max: 150

FULL - PM2 09 - Passages: an Awareness Game Confronting the Plight of Refugees

Passages is a simulation game that was created by the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees.
This simulation game is designed to foster a better understanding of the problems that refugees face in everyday life. Teachers will be given the tools and resources to run this simulation in their own classrooms. This is perfect for any classroom that is discussing human rights, global interdependence, current issues with historical connections. Great for Social Studies and English outcomes.

Presenters: Norm Froemel, Paul Connor and Neil Klassen

Theme: Simulation Game

Time: 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM2 13 - Tabletop Minis and School Clubs

Running clubs in school based around tabletop miniature games has given students the opportunity to be involved in the school community without having to be on a sports team or in the school drama. The session will talk about the benefits of the school club, which game might be best for you, and tips for getting your own students painting and playing.

Presenter: Bud Kehler

Theme: Tabletop Miniatures

Time: 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm

Participant Max: 25

FULL - PM2 14 - What is the Hidden Curriculum in Poverty Simulators?

The United Way’s Make the Month and Kosha Bramesfeld’s C’est la Vie are online poverty simulators. Teachers use such simulators in various educational contexts to challenge students’ perspectives about living with low-income. By comparing the two simulators, this session will explore discrete messages about equity that may or may not be helpful when discussing poverty through simulators. This session will also feature a hands-on experience with C’est La Vie.

Presenter: Andrew Brown

Theme: Diversity and Inclusion

Time: 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm

Participant Max: 25