Hello, fellow game-based learning connoisseurs! Do you still feel the glow of the New Year, or do you feel like it’s been January for the past 5 years? Either way you feel, 2022 still has a lot in store for us all – new games, new tech, and you guessed it – upcoming conferences! To make it easier for you to find the crème de la crème of game-based learning conferences while surfing the web, here’s a list of some of our most anticipated events, all in one guide!
via Giphy
It’s worth mentioning again, just like we did for last year’s conference guide, that the pandemic has changed a lot about conferences in general, and the events on this list are no exception! They are subject to change depending on the state of the pandemic in their location and on their planned date(s), and additionally, many conferences this year contain both live and virtual sessions. Whether you want to stay in or venture out this year, you have options. With that, let’s get on to the list!
via awexr.com
When: June 1st-3rd, 2022
Where: Online and Santa Clara, California
What it’s about: If you are a professional in the XR industry, whether you’re a developer, creator, business owner, or executive – or if you are just an XR enthusiast in general, this is the conference for you! The Augmented World Expo, or AWE, brings XR professionals together for networking opportunities, with exhibitions from a bunch of different companies and professionals. This event also contains a variety of speakers, as well as its own set of awards to showcase the best of XR: the Auggie Awards!
via seriousplayconf.com
When: June 13th-17th, 2022
Where: Online and Orlando, Florida (University of Central Florida)
What it’s about: At Filament, we’re big fans of the Serious Play Conference, and we’re thrilled to see this leadership event return for summer 2022! This conference explores serious games in a variety of contexts – from the classroom to the workplace, from healthcare to the military, and more! From professionals to teachers to game developers, this conference offers something for everyone. The conference also offers its own awards program: the Serious Play Awards!
via conference.iste.org
When: June 26th-29th, 2022
Where: Online and New Orleans, Louisiana
What it’s about: ISTE aims to transform education through technology, and so the latest innovation in EdTech is the center of this event! Educators, administrators, and EdTech enthusiasts alike won’t want to miss the world-class speakers, networking, massive expo, hands-on workshops, and learning opportunities at ISTELive this summer.
via festival.gamesforchange.org
When: July 12th-15th, 2022
Where: Online and New York City
What it’s about: The Games for Change (G4C) Festival is all about games and game development for impact! At the event, industry experts and professionals come together to discuss and showcase how games can make meaningful changes in education, healthcare, civics, and more. This conference includes everything from panels and keynotes, workshops, and demos to networking events and an expo! G4C Festival also showcases the most impactful games through the G4C Awards, featuring categories such as “Best XR for Change Experience,” “Best Learning Game,” and “Most Innovative.”
via connectedlearningsummit.org
When: July 27th-29th, 2022
Where: Online
What it’s about: The Connected Learning Summit originated as a merger between three different conferences: the Digital Media and Learning Conference, the Games+Learning+Society Conference, and Sandbox Summit, in 2018. Since its creation, this conference has focused on emerging technology that increases access to creative and playful learning, and the event aims to build a community of innovators in education. CLS hosts a variety of workshops and speakers to bring together leading researchers, educators, and developers!
via meaningfulplay.msu.edu
When: October 13th-15th, 2022
Where: East Lansing, Michigan
What it’s about: Serious games have immense potential and power – and recognizing that is just a part of the Meaningful Play Conference! The organizers state that this year’s conference is “about theory, research, and game design innovations, principles and practices.” The event will bring together scholars and industry professionals in a variety of discussions, keynotes, presentations, workshops, and exhibitions. Meaningful Play is an opportunity for attendees to dive into the “why” and “how” of serious games as entertainment, education, and beyond.
Have another game-based learning, game development, or AR/VR conference you’re excited about attending in 2022 that didn’t show up on this list? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook!
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