Deeper Learning Canada: Full Schedule

Save The Date! July 2nd - 4th 2026

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

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9:00am PDT

Deep Dive - Teaching at the Table: Collaborative Learning Through Role-Playing Games

Friday July 3, 2026 9:00am - 11:30am PDT

What will participants experience?
Participants will experience playing a tabletop role-playing game (rpg) as a player, discussing their experience, and working together to design their own game for learning or exploration of a topic.

What and how will they learn?
Participants will have an opportunity to learn about and participate in the role-playing game Wanderlust by Star West Morgan. After the gameplay experience, we will discuss rpgs, game mechanics, and how tabletop role-playing games can support development and learning as collaborative self-exploration and transformation. Participants will then have a chance to design or adapt their own rpg for exploring a topic, social or academic competency, or learning goal of their choice.

What will they take away?
Participants will take away insights into what tabletop rpgs are, how they can contribute to collaborative and cooperative learning, and transformative experiences. They will gain experience playing an rpg, and some understanding of game mechanics. They will hopefully also take away some concrete ideas about implementing rpgs into their teaching and learning practices.

This workshop connects especially to the Deeper Learning Competency of Collaborative Care. Role-playing games are spaces of deep collaboration, reciprocity, and power-sharing. My goal with presentations is to create an experience based in these principles, and encourage participants to collaborate, share, and support, both in and outside of gameplay.

Speakers

Kari Gustafson

Instructor, University of the Fraser Valley - School of Education

Kari Gustafson, PhD (they/she) is an instructor, researcher, role-playing gamer, and parent, working in the crossroads of neurodiversity and disability studies, education, and role-playing games. They explore how these areas connect and inform one another, and our experiences of identities... Read More →

Friday July 3, 2026 9:00am - 11:30am PDT
Imagine High - Room 219

Deep Dives & Advisory