Update

A Game Developer’s Guide to SXSW Edu in Austin

The SXSW Edu site has a full rundown of the hundred of panels planned for next week.

The SXSW Edu site has a full rundown of the hundred of panels planned for next week.

Are you headed to Austin to learn about how technology, policy and teaching are colliding? Well, if you will be at SXSW Edu next week you probably have noticed there are a load of sessions spread out across the downtown area — running from Monday morning through late Thursday.

So what is a savvy learning game developer to do to make sure they are talking to the right people and getting the good seats to get the most out of South-By?

Well, we have your answer right here. We have culled through the 109-page guide (really? 109 pages) and some of the most interesting game-related sessions out for you.

Over in Hilton’s Salon C on Tuesday at noon Education Week will be moderating a panel discussion on privacy and its impact on innovation. The panel includes Microsoft, the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the California Department of Ed. It could be good to pop in and hear the latest on policy concerns and the state of policy debates.

Tuesday afternoon (5:30-7:30) Edmodo, the social media network that promotes tools to teachers from other teachers is hosting a “Developer Meet Up” in Salon D at the Hilton. This could be a good opportunity to hear from those working with teachers to see what is getting used. Later that night from 7:30-10:30, #SharkTankEdu is a session that aims to “enable thoughtful dialogue between education stakeholders and early-stage EdTech companies.”

On Thursday, March 12 Sal Khan, founder and Executive Director of the Khan Academy will have a quick 30-minute session on Tuesday from 2:25-2:55. His Academy has made a name for itself by providing digital tools for global use and have incorporated games into their curriculum. His session is focused on re-imagining educational systems, but could offer some provocative takes for game developers.

Throughout Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will be hosting a lounge at the JW Marriott Room 301/302. The Foundation has been reorienting its focus on education and the role of personalization (re: games) and so this is a chance to schedule some time with one of the major foundations supporting learning games and what their priorities are for the coming years.

There are also some really intriguing sounding sessions that drew our attention.

Quest to Learn: Seven Years Later

Monday, March 9

3:00PM – 4:00PM

Hilton Austin Downtown Room 400/402

In 2007, a team of designers and educators set out to build a public school based on the principles of games and game design. As the world’s first game-like school, Quest to Learn has challenged the New York City public school system with an innovative model that puts student engagement, design thinking and failure and iteration at the center of learning. Join the founders of Quest to Learn as they share insights, reflections and lessons learned, and explore possibilities for the future. – See more at: http://schedule.sxswedu.com/events/event_EDUP36978

Is School Just a Game to You? Yes (And Then Some)!

Monday, March 9

1:30PM – 2:30PM

Hilton Austin Downtown Salon D

There are two tremendous challenges: making the curriculum relevant and making it appeal to students. This is daunting with just 44% of high school students described as engaged. One proven way to increase engagement is Gamification. This panel of education thought leaders will discuss transformations in student performance and engagement through gamified courses. – See more at: http://schedule.sxswedu.com/events/event_EDUP41555#sthash.kJI0ZuUp.dpuf

Enough Talk! Come Experience a Game-Based Class

Tuesday, March 10

3:00PM – 3:30PM

Austin Convention Center Ballroom EFG

As innovative educators, we criticize the “sage on the stage,” yet our conferences are dominated by these presentations. I say “Enough Talk!” Bring your tablet or laptop to this session and come experience for yourself what it is like to be a student in Professor Jason Seitz’s game-based American Government class at Georgia Perimeter College. The entire audience can take an active role in the class as they play as members of Congress in the learning game “Government in Action.” – See more at: http://schedule.sxswedu.com/events/event_EDUP36946#sthash.TR4qmT62.dpuf

Motivation and Virtual Learning

Tuesday, March 10

10:30AM – 11:30AM

Hilton Austin Downtown Salon G

Recent research findings reveal the promise of motivational strategies as a mechanism for improving completion and other key virtual learning outcomes. These interventions, intended to boost mindsets and other noncognitive factors, can be rapidly prototyped, studied and refined for placement in virtual learning environments. Participants will be introduced to the science, architecture and data associated with motivational interventions, as well as ongoing design and prototyping considerations. – See more at: http://schedule.sxswedu.com/events/event_EDUP40168#sthash.nDBxfMGN.dpuf

Can Authentic Practice with Games Make SEL Stick?

Tuesday, March 10

1:30PM – 2:30PM

Austin Convention Center Room 16AB

Building social-emotional learning (SEL) skills leads to improved behavior and academic success, but how can we create change that lasts? 70% of teachers report that games build cooperation and collaboration, key SEL competencies. Put yourself in your students’ shoes during a live SEL skill-building game, followed by a lively discussion on the ways games are used in schools, including examples of how the authentic practice of games can aid in the transfer of SEL skills into real-world behaviors. – See more at: http://schedule.sxswedu.com/events/event_EDUP34761#sthash.dwhWmBOS.dpuf

Using In-Game Data to Enhance Learning

Wednesday, March 11

10:30AM – 11:30AM

Hilton Austin Downtown Salon E

There is enormous potential value for students, educators, researchers and developers in using in-game data. At the same time, important questions remain: How can we transform raw data into actionable insights? How can we make learning more visible and provide feedback in real-time? How can we maximize social impact while respecting individual learners’ privacy? Join us for a discussion about how Learning Games Network, GlassLab and co.lab are working together to address these challenges. – See more at: http://schedule.sxswedu.com/events/event_EDUP37298#sthash.8HcoEWkA.dpuf

Visualizing Educational Data: Do’s and Don’ts

Thursday, March 12

9:00AM – 10:00AM

Hilton Austin Downtown Salon G

The growth of blended and online learning environments, as well as the range and complexity of data now available, generates an unprecedented amount of educational data. Data visualization offers a range of powerful tools to help educators make sense of these complex data sets. The panel of experts will discuss the challenges and strategies in developing visualizations of educational data that are timely, useable, meaningful and actionable by teachers, students, administrators and parents. – See more at: http://schedule.sxswedu.com/events/event_EDUP33094#sthash.jZgcWs9N.dpuf