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2024 Play Make Learn Conference Draws Global Experts to Madison

Monday, July 29, 2024
A group of 9 smiling people, many wearing a pink play make learn conference t-shirt, poses happily together in an outdoor event tent
2024 Play Make Learn planning committee  Photo: Chris Baker.


By DPI Intern Dennis Ekwemnachukwu Okeke

Educators, researchers, developers, and leaders from diverse fields across the nation gathered earlier this month at the 2024 Play Make Learn Conference to explore the latest innovations in making, gaming, and playful learning.

Participants of the conference, which took place on July 18-19 at Memorial Union in Madison, engaged in a variety of interactive sessions, showcasing state-of-the-art designs and technologies, and collaborated to advance education and research in playful learning, STEAM education, and arts integration.

Chris Baker, Public Library Consultant, Games and Learning Consultant, welcomes attendees. He's seen standing behind a podium on a stage in front of a large screen displaying the play make learn conference logo and the words "thank you for joining us"
Chris Baker, Public Library Consultant, Games and Learning Consultant, welcomes attendees.

In addition to the collaborative sessions, Aaron Trammell, an associate professor of informatics at UC Irvine, and Dr. Rilla Khaled, an associate professor of design and computation arts at Concordia University in Tiohtià:ke / Montréal, each provided keynote addresses.

Chris Baker, Dr. Williams, day two's keynote speaker Dr. Rilla Khaled, and some attendees taking a fun picture onstage before the morning's breakout sessions. Participants are standing in front of a screen where the powerpoint presentation is being projected, and they're making goofy poses, smiling, and doing jazz hands.
Chris Baker, Dr. Williams, day two's keynote speaker Dr. Rilla Khaled, and some attendees taking a fun picture onstage before the morning's breakout sessions.

Maura Flanagan, who was attending the annual conference for her second time, said Trammell’s insights on tabletop gaming and cultural impact resonated with her, adding that Dr. Khaled’s exploration of playful media's potential in daily life was captivating

“I cannot recommend this conference enough,” Flanagan said. “I got to learn and experience different ways educators, librarians, game designers and researchers use play and making to learn themselves and help those around them as well. And all of that can sound intimidating to a younger professional or someone just out of grad school like I am. However, that could not be more wrong.”

Additional information and resources on the Play Make Learn Conference can be found on the DPI’s website.

Poster Presentation session on the evening of July 18th in a large room teeming with people. There are posters in stations throughout the room, and participants can be seen congregating in front of the posters and having animated conversations with one another.
Poster Presentation session on the evening of July 18th.