Educators' Gathering for a Board Game Event Proves to be a Successful Strategy
The Pre-ISTELive Board Game meetup, a pre-conference gathering, has become a popular staple among edtech enthusiasts. This casual event, designed to bring together educators, technology enthusiasts, and conference attendees, serves as a fun, interactive, and informal space to connect, network, and engage with educational technology concepts.
Last year, the inaugural event at ISTE was warmly received. Held in a hotel function room, the meetup accommodated around 150 people, offering an alternative to the conference floor. It is a venue for fun and creative communication, fostering relationship building and collaborative exploration of edtech ideas in a relaxed environment.
The meetup is particularly appealing to introverted individuals who may find typical social gatherings overwhelming. It provides a welcoming, playful atmosphere, encouraging collaboration and pedagogical innovation through educational technology.
The Pre-ISTELive Board Game meetup was initiated by Dan Ryder and Eric Curts during an Uber ride after a conference in Utah. Eric Curts, Technology Integration Specialist at Stark Portage Area Computer Consortium, is involved in organizing the event.
Participants are encouraged to bring a game of their choosing to the event, with a list of games provided beforehand to avoid duplicates. This encourages connections and conversations among attendees, helping to break the ice and stimulate creativity.
The board game meetup before ISTELive has attracted participants from various countries, including South Africa, Canada, and Australia. It is seen as a way to foster connections and learning among educators from various backgrounds, bridging and connecting people to learn about each other.
The ISTELive conference, focusing on advancements in edtech and the future of learning, brings together edtech enthusiasts, parents, teachers, and students with solution providers. The board game meetup aims to provide opportunities for people to meet and connect in a relaxed environment, serving as a warm-up activity that fosters community and shared learning before the main conference sessions start.
One attendee of the Pre-ISTE Board Game meetup initially planned to leave early, but ended up staying until 10:30 PM due to the positive atmosphere and connections made. This event truly embodies the spirit of collaboration and learning, making it an essential pre-conference activity for many ISTELive attendees.
- A student's lifestyle might include setting aside time for learning new concepts at home, similar to how a teacher prepares lessons at home, integrating both home-and-garden settings into their educational routine.
- The Pre-ISTELive Board Game meetup, despite taking place outside of a school setting, can still serve as an effective platform for pedagogical innovation, enabling teachers to share ideas and collaborate on educational technology concepts.
- Upon returning home after the Pre-ISTELive Board Game meetup, a participant might reflect on the connections made and the new ideas learned, incorporating these insights into their classroom teaching strategies, thus contributing to the overall improvement of the school's learning environment.
