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Deafverse: How Educational Gaming Can Level Up Your Classroom

deafverse

Workshop description

If deaf teenagers make their own choices, advocate for themselves, set goals, and solve problems–then success awaits them after graduating high school. But how can teachers support the growth of these critical transition skills in deaf youth?

Drawing from existing evidence-based research, the National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes (NDC) developed Deafverse, an educational video game that invites players to navigate challenging situations that are also common experiences in the deaf community in high school and beyond.

In 2023, Deafverse added classroom management tools that can be utilized to integrate the game easier into classroom instruction. More teachers have started to use the game in their classrooms and have shared insights with NDC that can generally be applied to any other educational game. The workshop will equip participants with the strategies and resources they need to incorporate educational gaming in their classes.

Participants in this session will learn about the strategies teachers are using to teach Deafverse in their classrooms, the resources NDC has ready to support classroom instruction, and engage in interactive discussions on how educational gaming can be leveraged further to align with current transition practices and curricula.

About the presenters

Zane Fleming

Zane Fleming is the Game Program Coordinator with experience in accessibility advocacy and stakeholder support. He has led accessibility initiatives for Deafverse and has assisted with the development of Revenge of the Deep. Zane looks for the story in everything, even the mundane, and loves to stay active. If he’s not out and about, you can find him reading something somewhere.

Diego Ozuna-Clark

Diego Ozuna-Clark is a Deaf, Chicane Transmasc, adventurous historian from southern Texas. They’re a proud alumni of University of Texas at Austin, and currently loving the communities and seasons of Minnesota.

Diego is a dynamic leader and advocate with extensive experience in community engagement, equity training, and consulting. Since 2016, Diego has worked with the National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes in various roles. They have experience leading year-long programs focused on equity training for state agencies across the United States. They have also worked with entities on addressing gaps within the Deaf and marginalized communities, emphasizing trust-building and relationship development.

Diego is a sought-after presenter and trainer at numerous conferences, workshops, and webinars. Their favorite thing to do is to hold space for conversations while learning, they believe that the best learning and growth happens in a reciprocative space.

Diego also works as a Deaf Interpreter, and is an adept tech support person for online training platforms. Outside of the many hats and skills Diego holds, they enjoy traveling, reading, and having in-depth conversations about a broad range of topics. Politics to the latest episode of an awesome series, they’re always up for a lively conversation. 

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