Play Make Learn Conference promotes play & creativity

Gillett Public Library Director Shannon Stoner attended the Play Make Learn Conference in Madison on July 18 and 19.

The annual conference, which began in 2023, focuses on how to incorporate gaming, creating, and playful learning for educators, researchers, developers, museum and library professionals, and educational administrators.

Common topics throughout the conference are games for learning and social impact, playful learning, makerspaces, STEAM Education, and integration of art into educational opportunities.

This year’s topics included perspectives on creating educational and engaging livestreams, creating art projects for learning and social impact, integrating tactile learning and sensory experiences. Seminars included how to integrate local folklore with play using “Wisconsin Adventures,” a tabletop roleplaying game similar to Dungeons and Dragons that utilizes Wisconsin folktales, locations, and culture in structured play.

The conference included interactive workshops on how new breakthroughs in neuroscience and play at various developmental stages from kindergarten to adulthood. “Building Brains Through Loose Parts: The Anatomy of Playful Learning” focused on how play integrates decision making, emotional and behavioral regulation, cooperation, active listening, empathy, and social skills. Many seminars in the conference provided a variety of materials for attendees to manipulate and play with to illustrate how play helps develop these skills.

The Beautiful Stuff Project promotes open-ended play with boxes full of objects with different textures and elements. Its curriculum focuses on curating play experiences for young children with loose part “treasure boxes.” Children use their imagination to create an object or design with the objects in their treasure boxes leading them to engage in creative, open-ended play.

What conference about play wouldn’t be complete without gaming? A Dungeons and Dragons One-shot introductory adventure was available for educators new to tabletop adventures. Tripp Commons was open for free Pac-Man games and other free gaming opportunities. Attendees could also attend games at the I/O Arcade Bar.

"The conference was a lot of fun," recalls Stoner. "I really enjoyed all the sessions that had you playing with legos and bricks and knick knacks."

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Play Make Learn is hosted by the UW-Madison School of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the office of Professional Learning and Community Education (PLACE). This partnership was made possible by the generosity of the School of Education’s Impact 2030 Initiative. The conference is also sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and is made possible in part by funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

​Post submitted by Shannon Stoner, Library Director for the Gillet Public Library