Games in Education Symposium

For most of us, Technology is a tool we use daily (hopefully with effectiveness and efficiency) to amplify and clarify our physical, verbal, and written expressions in an interactive game we call Communicating. However, if individuals enter the communication game with impaired skills impacted by special needs or attention issues, can they still play well enough to find purpose and success? Join Michael Gerrish and Danielle Jiguere in a conversation about how Art, Technology, and Mentoring relationships can help close the gap between individuals who communicate and socialize with ease, and others who struggle to participate and connect.
Mr. Gerrish will share examples of past art projects designed to promote social as well as scholastic learning; Ms Jiguere will speak about her experience as a Special Education teacher who is also the parent of a special needs child who uses common technology in an adaptive manner. Both will encourage participants to review their own skill sets to see how to better engage and develop the learners they meet every day.

Michael Gerrish and Danielle Jiguere are colleagues at the Rensselaer Educational Center, a QuestarIII B.O.C.E.S. Career Tech high school in Troy, NY. Mr. Gerrish is a visual artist who has taught Art and Technology courses in a variety of private and public school settings in NJ and NY. He has presented workshops at the P. Buckley Moss Foundation, SWIDA, the TRLD Conference, Constructivist Conference at St. Lawrence University, and others.