AGPI Logo

× Welcome to the AGPI forum!

Tell us and our members who you are, what you like and why you became a member of this site.
We welcome all new members and hope to see you around a lot!

Introduction: Bob Nordling - Educator, Homo Ludens, Metagrobologist, Gadfly/Poet

More
8 years 1 week ago - 6 years 7 months ago #2 by RobertNordling
I have collected abstract/strategy games since the mid-1970's, then came collectible card games in the 1990's, "Eurogames" in the mid-2000's (primarily through exposure to the Games Club of Maryland local chapters & Boardgamegeek.com),

My obsessions began bursting the bonds of reason in 2010 expanding into mechanical puzzles, recreational math and "Maker" arts/technologies when I began creating our "Curiosity Shoppe" at Glasgow Middle School, Alexandria VA -- 1800 students, 60 nationalities. The "Shoppe" now includes 1000+ mechanical puzzles, abstract & discipline-specific games, recreational math/science/logic puzzle books, and Maker gadgets. Our student curators (grades 6-12) -- some of which participate from neighboring high schools -- organize, vet, and provide feedback about the collection to teachers. The purpose of the "Shoppe" is to provide "inquiry spaces" for students & teachers (classroom & after-school) to explore embedded logic/patterns and math/science principles via all the forms of structured play (puzzle-, game-, problem-, Maker- BASED learning). Also to advance the profession of education through exposing students & teachers to "kinder, gentler" tools with which to introduce students to critical, creative, collaborative, and interdisciplinary thinking.

My hope is that AGPI will provide opportunities to expand my network of experiences with insight-filled collectors/designers of such creations, especially those 'artifacts' most suitable for developing the executive functions and critical thinking skills of K-12 students. Perhaps I can be of service to AGPI in the future by writing about the use of mechanical puzzles, recreational mathematics, and games in K-12 education. I have spent nearly 30 years exploring various facets of this topic (board games, digital games/MMORPG, mechanical puzzles, Maker culture) through several life pursuits (writer, software publisher, network engineer, high school teacher, middle school technology coach).

Here is the link to our Curiosity Shoppe website:

sites.google.com/view/thecuriosityshoppe

"The most puzzling thing about contemporary K-12 education is that there are not more puzzling things"

Stay curious! Bob Nordling
Last edit: 6 years 7 months ago by RobertNordling. Reason: To update info and include a new website

Please Log in to join the conversation.

Time to create page: 0.681 seconds
Powered by Kunena Forum