Ryerson University's G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education has set out to explore the idea that learning can be fun and games through 2018's ChangSchoolTalks event focusing on Serious Games.
The May 3 professional development and networking event features nine internationally renowned keynote speakers from diverse backgrounds. Each will share insights on design, development, and implementation of game-based learning as it relates to higher education, healthcare and the corporate world.
"Game-based learning is a fascinating concept that is starting to gain momentum across a variety of industries," says Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, Dean of The Chang School. "It's helping shape not only how we approach continuing education at The Chang School, but how businesses attract and retain talent, solve problems and deliver against objectives. We're also seeing gamification being used in healthcare settings, helping to improve quality of life for communities such as people with disabilities and older adults."
When applied to the real world, gamification has changed the way experts approach long-standing challenges. "By applying game design techniques and rewards, today's digital therapeutics can engage patients and their care teams by appealing to a broad range of emotions, drivers and motivators," says Beth Rogozinski, Chief Product Officer for Pear Therapeutics. "These engagement techniques, coupled with the always on/always available nature of digital treatments helps us to enhance patient outcomes, improve clinical productivity and decrease costs for treating serious mental and behavioral health conditions."
The ticketed event, open to the public, will be of particular interest to researchers, healthcare professionals, game developers, HR professionals, investors, instructional designers, project managers, and training and development practitioners. Attendees will leave knowing how to:
- Understand and apply serious game techniques in training and development programs
- Incorporate game-based learning strategies into course design
- Identify game-based learning approaches that help engage and motivate employees
Each of the day's three sessions will feature concurrent talks by experts from the healthcare, corporate and continuing education realms, followed by a panel debate looking at whether serious learning can happen through play. Speakers include:
- Deborah Fels - Director of Inclusive Media and Design Centre, Professor in the Ted Rogers School of Information Technology Management, Ryerson University. Fels holds a P.Eng and a PhD in Human Factors, currently focusing her research on inclusive design, access to media and technology for people with disabilities and older adults, and inclusive video game design.
- Beth Rogozinski - Entrepreneur, technology professional and business strategist. Rogozinski has helped produce over 30 games and apps and over a dozen for health and wellness and led the development of Pear Therapeutics' first clinical product, reSET, cleared by the FDA as the first-ever prescription digital therapeutic designed to leverage gamification to treat substance abuse disorders.
- Pete Jenkins - International speaker, adviser and trainer in gamification. Jenkins' work focuses on advising and training companies on the use of gamification. As chair of the International Gamification Confederation, he shares gamification best practices to benefit individuals and businesses alike.
Past installments of ChangSchoolTalks explored Digital Learning Reimagined and Experiential Learning in Action, each event drawing more than 300 attendees. Tickets and additional information are available at changschooltalks.ryerson.ca.
