From Chris Baker, Public Library Consultant, WI DPI Bureau of Libraries:
First off, consider joining our *new* Play Make Learn Discord Server. "To help connect members of our community, share experiences of the conference, and carry on the excitement of PML throughout the year, we have created a Discord server. Keep an eye out for an upcoming email with a link to join, or email the conference organizers for an invitation. We will be using Discord as a hub for the GEE! Streams as well as the PML Card Game."
Register for our introductory Dungeons & Dragons "one-shot adventure" at PML! It will be offered onFriday, August 22nd, from 12:45pm - 2:45pm in the Festival Room. "Newbies, casuals, and experienced players are all welcome to join us on this adventure designed to introduce you to the world of Dungeons and Dragons. Friendly local Dungeon Masters will guide you through the story, assist you in learning the ropes, and support you in your wild antics. Supplies will be provided, but, adventurer, please do bring your imagination."
Seriously — if you're going to PML, you're going to want to register for this... get your spot to play before they're all taken! 🐉
Prepare to play a brand new Play Make Learn Card Game (and possibly win FREE video games at the conference!). "For the last several years PML has hosted a conference wide game, and this year it is getting a big makeover. Prepare to be embroiled in some light Murder Mystery improvisation mixed in alongside your ordinary conference activities. You can find some cards describing your character when you pick up your conference badge, and a lot more information on the PML Discord page."
There will be opportunities to win digital video game codes throughout both days of the conference. More info will be shared during conference announcements! With overwhelming thanks to GOG.com for their generous sponsorship of Play Make Learn 2025, we are proud to share that 100 lucky attendees will be able to claim a digital game code by participating in certain conference activities. These codes can be redeemed on GOG.com to acquire FREE games!
Pre-Conference Reception at Madison Children’s Museum
Wednesday, August 20th 5pm - 8pm
Are you going to be in town the evening of Wednesday, August 20th? Join us at the Madison Children’s Museum (downtown on Capitol Square) for a night of exploration, play, small bites and a cash bar – while connecting with other PML attendees and conference facilitators before official sessions kick off the following morning. You’ll be able to enjoy a beautiful tour of the museum, including the newer exhibit called “Nice Age Trail”. Tours will be led by Cheryl DeWelt, MCM Environmental Education and Gardens Manager, at both 5:30pm and 6:45pm.Chat informally with some of the attendees to the conference and learn more about the role that the Madison Children’s Museum plays in the local community. Please note: The front doors to the Museum will be locked so please enter on the north west side of the building. Pre-conference reception spaces are first come, first served and limited, so come early! Please note: The front doors to the Museum will be locked so please enter on the north west side of the building.
Discord Server
To help connect members of our community, share experiences of the conference, and carry on the excitement of PML throughout the year, we have created a Discord server. Keep an eye out for an upcoming email with a link to join, or email the conference organizers for an invitation. We will be using Discord as a hub for the GEE! Streams as well as the PML Card Game. Join the Discord server here, and introduce yourself!
A New PML Card Game
Thursday and Friday, All Day
For the last several years PML has hosted a conference wide game, and this year it is getting a big makeover. Prepare to be embroiled in some light Murder Mystery improvisation mixed in alongside your ordinary conference activities. You can find some cards describing your character when you pick up your conference badge, and a lot more information on the PML Discord page.
GOG Video Game Code Giveaways at PML 2025
There will be opportunities to win digital video game codes throughout both days of the conference. More info will be shared during conference announcements! With overwhelming thanks to GOG.com for their generous sponsorship of Play Make Learn 2025, we are proud to share that 100 lucky attendees will be able to claim a digital game code by participating in certain conference activities. These codes can be redeemed on GOG.com to acquire FREE games! We have 10 codes each for 10 different legendarily good video games, including:
- Please note: Lucky attendees can claim only one code each, so we can share them with as many people as possible. Game options are “first come, first served”; once all codes for a game have been given out, winners will have to select from whatever else is available. Winners will be given a “token” at the conference that they can bring to a GOG.com table in the Arcade during arcade hours (we can give you your code after the conference if you aren’t able to make it to the table). You can check out more info about the games at the links above!
- Play Make Learn Arcade in Tripp Commons
- Join us in the PML Arcade for a panoply of making, games, and activities. Join conference sponsors, partners, and creatives from our community to take part in playful learning experiences that will level up your PML.
- Both Thursday and Friday:
- Vintage Arcade Cabinet courtesy of I/O Arcade Bar: Relive the golden age of gaming! This vintage arcade machine offers classic thrills and pixelated fun. Experience the nostalgia or discover retro charm for the first time.
- The new PML Card Game: Learn more at the conference.
- Hello! Loom Fiber arts: Enjoy the relaxing activity of weaving and collaborate to wonder about the uses of weaving to foster scientific and mathematical thinking. This activity will be guided by the brilliant folks at Hello! Loom themselves, so even if you’re new to fiber arts, you’ll be in good hands!
- GOG Video Game Code Giveaways: Visit the GOG.com table to claim your code. There will be opportunities to win digital video game codes throughout both days of the conference. More info will be shared during conference announcements.
- Thursday, August 21st 11:00am - 3:30pm:
- Playful Demonstrations: Discover how games can be powerful tools for learning, creativity, and social-emotional growth. Explore live demos that blend play, art, and hands-on building!
- GEE! Learning Games Awards: Join Dr. Krista-Lee Malone, a Teaching Professor in the Game Design Certificate at UW–Madison, streaming from the Arcade (also at https://www.twitch.tv/
gameranthro) as she interviews some of the finalists for the GEE! Learning Game Awards and demos a few of the games live! Timing: 11am -3:20pm, with a break for lunch. - GEE! Learning Games Awards Ceremony: Join us at 5:30pm for a short awards ceremony with the unveiling of this year’s learning game award winners (geeawards.com). The games will be available to be played during the poster session.
- Friday, August 22nd 10:00am - 2:00pm:
- Screenprint a Tote with Trillium: Print a fun Play Make Learn design onto your own canvas tote! Totes are free, with a suggested tip or venmo to our visiting screenprint artist from Trillium.
- Tote Watercoloring with Katrina Wardrip: Splash your style onto canvas! Join our tote water-coloring station and turn a plain bag into wearable art.
- Play the 2025 GEE! Finalist games:
- 10am - Formal Learning Game Finalists (Learning games for use in formal school contexts)
- 12pm - 12:45pm - Informal Learning Game Finalists (For home, family, museums, libraries, etc.)
- 12:45pm - 1:40pm - Small and Indie Studios Game Finalists (Studios with <$100k in funding for the game)
- Drop-in Gaming Space: Interested in taking a little brain break from conference sessions? Want to meet and network with fellow game nerds? Head to the Arcade in Tripp Commons on Friday to enjoy some casual competition with new friends!
- Poster and Playful Demo Reception
- Thursday, August 21st 4:45pm - 5:45pm
- Join us on the second floor of Memorial Union after Tripp Commons is transformed for a Poster and Playful Demo reception featuring work from researchers, practitioners, and students. Learn about work done in classrooms, libraries, museums, and digital spaces that embody the values of Play Make Learn. Celebrate the presenters’ work while enjoying appetizers and a cash bar.
- Bonus Round at I/O Arcade Bar
- Thursday, August 21st 6:30pm - 8:30pm
- 924 Williamson St, Madison, WI 53703. Space is first come first served, and limited to the first 100 attendees.
- Join us for “Bonus Round” -- the after-hours Play Make Learn Hangout where attendees can gather, game, and get to know one another! I/O is Madison’s favorite arcade bar, stacked with great local beers, cocktails, and N/A options as well as a gallery of vintage arcade games that will take you back in time. Our warmest gratitude to I/O this year for their support and for sharing a vintage game console in the Arcade. Presenters and volunteers are eligible for a buy one, get one free drink coupon on a first come, first served basis! Please note: This venue is 21+ so no kids or folx under 21 are permitted. We invite families to join us for our reception at the Children’s Museum on August 20th!
- Tour of the UW-Madison Design Innovation Lab
- Friday, August 22nd 12:15pm - 1:30pm
- The tour is organized by Lennon Rodgers from UW's Design Innovation Lab, Pablo Bras from the CREATE Institute at MSOE and Andrew Woodard from the Huff Family Innovation Center at UW Platteville. The tour will be at the UW's Design Innovation Lab. Please note: The tour will meet in the Great Hall at 12:05pm to walk to the Design Innovation Lab as a group.
- Dungeons and Dragons One-Shot Introductory adventure in the Festival Room
- Friday, August 22nd 12:45pm - 2:45pm
- Have you ever wanted to be a tiny, impulsive dragon person in a room with other tiny, impulsive dragon people and several dangerous magical items? Have you ever dreamed of exploring a tower filled with danger, excitement, and treasure? Or have you ever wondered what it would be like to create a giant fireball to thwart a three headed monster by simply shouting, “I cast Fireball!”? Well, if this has ever happened to you, then join us Friday, August 22 at 12:45 in the Festival Room for a Dungeons and Dragons mini delve! Newbies, casuals, and experienced players are all welcome to join us on this adventure designed to introduce you to the world of Dungeons and Dragons. Friendly local Dungeon Masters will guide you through the story, assist you in learning the ropes, and support you in your wild antics. Supplies will be provided, but, adventurer, please do bring your imagination. This year’s game is a weird, chaos filled crawl through a wizard’s tower in search of his all-powerful… Wizard’s Hat. The catch: You are a Kobold. The other catch: You will probably die.
- Film Screening with Luke Bassuener
- Friday, August 22nd 1:45pm - 3:00pm
- Join 2025 PML Keynote Luke Bassuener for a film screening of the stop motion animated short films created by the students of Crestwood Elementary.
- Closing Ceremony
- Friday, August 22nd 3:00pm - 3:30pm
- Return to the Great Hall for a final session together featuring closing reflections on Play Make Learn, and the eagerly anticipated announcement of card game winners! Join us informally after the closing ceremony for some sunshine, cheese curds, and beer on the beautiful Memorial Union Terrace overlooking the lake.
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