Play as a Classroom Tool
Play in Education (PIE) Conference
one of the events at the
Chicago Toy and Game Fair
Saturday, Nov. 9th, 9am-2pm
Rosemont Convention Center
Here is a Floor Plan!
From games to manipulatives, learning-based play has an unmistakably large impact in the classroom.
In addition to great content (see below), participants will receive:
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Free entry for you and your family to the Chicago Toy and Game Fair
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$25 lunch concession voucher included with registration
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CPDU/CE Credits*
First 50 educators to register receive a giftbag of toys and games!
One Attendee Will Win the Golden Game Award and a big bag of toys & games!
Joyce Hemphill, PhD - Moderator
Welcome and a review of the various benefits one receives when engaged in playful learning activities
Joyce Hemphill
Joyce is the 2021 recipient of the Youth Development Practitioner Award given by the Youth
Learning Institute at Clemson University holds a doctorate in developmental psychology
from The Ohio State University and has 30 years of experience teaching infant-child
development, cognition, and learning. She retired from the University of Wisconsin-
Madison in 2012. Presently, she organizes community play events and gives
workshops to educators, youth groups, families, and social-service agencies on the
benefits of play and the ways to play using common recyclable materials. The book,
The Power of Playful Learning (2015, Capstone Publishing) and her “Playing from
Scratch” column for the US Play Coalition newsletter highlight these activities. Her
activities have also been published in Highlights for Children magazine. The presenter
has 30 years of experience giving workshops and presentations at state, national, and
international conferences, and professional development seminars.
We're in a Youth Mental Health Crisis. M.E.S.H. Can Help
Speaker Jamie Gallagher
Jaime will be sharing information about M.E.S.H. and using a set of skills to develop resilience through play. Attendees will discuss and share classroom ideas.
After growing up in Pittsburgh, PA and graduating from the University of Notre Dame,
Jamie embarked upon a 40-year career in the toy industry working for LEGO, Playmobil
and Faber-Castell.
In addition to his role as Executive Board Member of MESH Helps, Jamie makes regular
stops at college campuses to speak on a variety of topics including, “The Importance of
Creativity in Business and in Life”. Upon his semi-retirement in 2023, Jamie formed a
company “4 the Win Partners” whose mission is to enrich lives and accelerate success by
intentionally integrating Purpose, Culture, Creativity and Clarity into strategy.
Jamie and his wife, Mindy reside in Traverse City, Michigan. MESHhelps.org
Building Stronger Teams: Empowering Administrators and Staff to Leverage Play in Professional Development
Sandra Harrison
Sandra Harrison is a corporate leadership team development trainer. She is the founder and CEO of DVA Leadership & Development Training Consultants, a learning and human development organization dedicated to non-traditional education.
As a corporate trainer, Harrison aims to improve the skills, capabilities, and effectiveness of an organization's leadership group. The goal is to create a cohesive team that can drive the business forward by making informed decisions, inspiring employees, and navigating challenges. Sandra is proficient in audience engagement and draws the best out of her participants. With over 25 years training experience, she designs learning solutions for diverse workgroups. She understands the complexities of today’s high performance teams and uses that knowledge to grow her audience. Harrison is known to turns any learning atmosphere into a playground, where the toughest subject matters are discussed with respect and inclusion. DVA creates safe learning environments that promote growth, workplace wellness and improved team performance.
Sandra is a lifelong learner and Roosevelt University alumni, where she earned a Master of Arts Degree in Training and Development.
Sandra and her husband of 40 years, call Aurora, IL home.
Playing with Words
Becky Hanafin
During this session, there will be two main foci: found poetry and writing marathons. We will explore blackout poetry and how to use environment and movement to inspire writing. You will need paper, a pencil, and a highlighter/marker to fully immerse yourself in this session.
Becky Hanafin has been an educator for 17 years in Illinois and Idaho. She has her Bachelor's degree in English Teaching from Boise State University and her Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors University. While she has mostly taught high school English, she was the coordinator and teacher of the Gifted and Talented program for Kimberly School District in Kimberly, ID for 5 years. She is a part of the National Writing Project through the Boise State Writing Project site as well as the Chicago Area Writing Project site. She is currently seeking to expand her horizons into the Learning and Development sector.
Game On! Leveraging Group Think:
Designing Camps, Clubs and Programs
Kym Kramer
Kym Kramer is Director of School Library Media Education, Lecturer, Library and Information Science at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering.
In 2015 during a family vacation to Chicago, Kym Kramer googled “free things to do in Chicago” and the Chicago Toy and Game Fair™ popped up in the list. While attending and marveling at all things CHITAG™, she discovered the Young Inventor Challenge™. After finding the free resources to design a Young Inventor Challenge™, she wrote her first camp for her own daughter which ran as a 10-day summer enrichment camp ~2017. From that year until now, she has been honing and perfecting the summer camp design, growing from the original Game On! Project Game Design camp and adding a camp for primary age children called All I Wanna Do is Play! Play! Play! She currently runs both summer enrichment camps in two different school districts. This year she connected her summer elementary-age campers with her
colleague’s college-age Advanced Game Development and Design students to create a multi-age experience beyond camp. You can see one of her 2024 camper’s original game designs in this year’s Young Inventor Challenge™! Kym is currently a full-time Library and Information Science lecturer and
the Director of School Library Education for the IU Luddy School--Indianapolis. She also supervises interns and student teachers completing their MLIS and school library certificate work. After teaching
second and third grades for six years, she worked as a certified school librarian for 20 years in MSD Pike Township in Indianapolis and has performed both the adjunct and lecturer roles in the LIS department since 2007. She plans to retire within the decade and move on to her dream encore career running her game design camp experiences, preferably while working a side gig at Disney World!
K-12 teachers, SLMS, and public librarians: Join this think-tank session to discuss, envision and design ideas for local programming centered around game play, game design, and play in general.
Engage and Explore: The Power of Learning Games
Kenneth Joslin
In Galactic Conquest, students lead diverse space empires in a dynamic universe, applying classroom skills to conquer the galaxy. They earn resource points by completing assignments, which can be invested in advanced technologies, battle robots, and exploration missions. Territory can be gained through exploration, combat, or alliances, enhancing collaboration and negotiation skills. Challenging content offers bonus resource points, pushing students to excel. The game includes random events and unpredictable developments, keeping players engaged and adaptable as they strategize. This immersive experience reinforces academic skills while fostering leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities in an interactive setting.
Kenneth Joslin is an accomplished educator with 23 years of experience teaching grades 2 through 6. A graduate of Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor’s in Education and a Master’s from National Louis University. He also holds certifications in Gifted and Talented Education, as well as Bilingual and ESL instruction. He currently works in Yorkville, IL as a fifth grade dual language teacher and is dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment that encourages all students to thrive.
Unlocking Creativity: The Power of Nature Play and Loose Parts
Emily Shanahan and Morgan Brown
This session will explore the significance of nature play and loose parts in fostering creativity and development in children. Participants will explore how unstructured outdoor play with natural materials enhances problem-solving skills, teamwork, and environmental awareness. Through interactive activities and real-world examples, we will discuss effective strategies for incorporating loose parts into play environments!
Emily Shanahan is the Nature Programs Supervisor for the St. Charles Park District. She graduated in 2015 with her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to working for St. Charles Park District, Emily worked for the Kendall County Forest Preserve District for 12 years. Emily enjoys teaching children and adults about the natural world, especially taking pleasure in their excitement and enthusiasm as they explore and learn. As a lifelong learner herself, she is always excited to discover more about the wonders of nature. In her free time, Emily enjoys yoga, cooking, and exploring new places with her husband, Mike and Bernedoodle, Bogey.
Morgan Brown is the School and Camp Coordinator at the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center. She graduated from North Central College with her bachelor’s degree in Biology and a minor in Environmental Studies in May of 2020, and began working with the St. Charles Park District later that year. Morgan enjoys getting to help people of all ages explore and learn about nature around them. She loves seeing the spark of interest develop into a lifelong passion and care for the natural world. When not working Morgan enjoys exploring natural areas, cross stitching, taking dance classes, or hanging out with her bearded dragon Toothless.
PIE CONFERENCE AGENDA
Please note minor schedule change due to Young Inventor Challenge, many of our participants have students in the event!
Saturday, November 9th
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You are welcome to leave your family (if applicable) at the Chicago Toy and Game Fair an hour before it officially opens so you can attend this Conference! To get tickets, visit this webpage, click on Tickets and use the promo code PIE to comp your tickets. The Fair is just across the lobby from the PIE Conference!
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9:00am - Welcome, Joyce Hemphill
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9:30am - Jamie Gallagher - We're in a Youth Mental Health Crisis. M.E.S.H. Can Help
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10:00am - Sandra Harrison - Building Stronger Teams: Empowering Administrators and Staff to Leverage Play in Professional Development
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10:30am - BREAK
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10:45am - Becky Hanafin - Playing with Words
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11:15am - Kym Kramer - Game On! Leveraging Group Think: Designing Camps, Clubs and Programs
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11:45am - Kenneth Joslin - Engage and Explore: The Power of Learning Games
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12:15pm - Emily Shanahan & Morgan Brown - Unlocking Creativity: The Power of Nature Play and Loose Parts
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12:30pm - Summary, Thank-you, Drawing
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1:00pm - Have fun at The Chicago Toy & Game Fair https://www.chitag.com/2024-fair
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2:00pm - Young Inventor Challenge Awards on Stage www.chitag.com/yic
* For CPDU credits, contact Cynthia Germain cgermain@continuingeducationpartner.com
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