In the environment of academic libraries, where there is pressure to be more standardized and efficient, we look for ways to engage and center students while being inclusive and equitable. How can we prepare students to think critically (about such topics as bans on books and critical race theory, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, reproductive rights, and voting restriction/democracy) with information literacy instruction?
Embracing play and playfulness in instruction is one strategy for building capacity in order to grapple with weighty topics. The act of play can make it possible to gain distance from reality in order to think past the constraints of life, and instead adapt to a task with curiosity and fresh perspective. Incorporating play simply for the sake of engagement is also worthwhile. Real world examples of playfulness as tied to social movements abound, such as with Teatro Campesino's work within the UFW farm workers movement, role playing in bystander training, ‘zines and DIY/punk rock efforts, and more.
Attendees will learn about ways of incorporating play and games into library instruction while also engaging students critically.
Keynote Speaker: mattie brice
mattie is an artist and designer working with contemporary social issues through play. She has been a culture worker within the games industry for over a decade as a critic, designer, activist, organizer, curator, and educator. Her creative work manifests as medium-agonistic games and play experiments, from the memoir game Mainichi, conceptual art like EAT, performance with empathy machine, and speculative experiences including The DAFRA Pairing Ceremony. mattie’s organizing work spans various scales, having co-organized the Queerness & Games Conference, IndieCade, and #LOSTLEVELS. She now teaches at the University of California: Santa Cruz's Performance, Play, & Design department, and her current work focuses on play as activism, speculative methodologies, design bleed, and social relationships of power.
