May 17, 2019
Sign up open: Summer Board Games Workshop for Teens offers interactive education in June
A new, free interactive educational activity for teens in grades 7-12 will take place in June. Summer Board Games Workshop for Teens will meet from 2-4 p.m. Mondays and Fridays, June 3-28, in the Groesbeck Room at the Manhattan Public Library.
The workshop is focused on improving multiple facets of literacy through the teaching of prestige board games, which are more sophisticated and are typically found at specialty retailers. The workshops will take place in two parts, with games available in both basic and advanced skill levels. Games will be played in groups with guided practice and open play, advancing in complexity from week to week.
Parents may sign up their teen(s) online by May 20. Space is limited to the first 24 registered students.
Daniel Ireton, Kansas State University academic librarian, is the lead facilitator of the workshop.
"These workshops are designed to teach a variety of different games for players of any experience level," Ireton said. "New players will learn a bit about what kinds of games are out there and players with more experience can expand their gaming group."
The workshop has a research component for Ireton.
"I'm hoping this will serve as a model for further study into how educators can use existing games to teach a variety of important skills in and out of the classroom," Ireton said. "While there's an educational component to these workshops, my hope is that the young people coming to learn about and play these games don't really even notice and just have fun."
Contact Ireton with questions about the workshop at dli6873@k-state.edu or 785-477-5269.
Summer Board Games Workshop for Teens is funded through a USD 383 Konza Literacy Network of Kansas, or K-LINK, grant and is administered by UFM Community Learning Center. Manhattan Public Library is hosting the workshop and is a partner with UFM Community Learning Center and Kansas State University to offer this educational opportunity to teens.