My fave 💖🫶

@thergenrader.bsky.social coming in hot with questions about whether his course-planning process comports with contemporary learning science and best practices for instructional design (spoiler: somehow, it does!). Find our convo wherever you get your podcasts! #EduSky #K12 #design #worldbuilding

This part. Let’s think as we go forward about how to fix our asymmetrical media environment. Because the broken info env a big part of how we got here — from Trump, to Minneapolis and brownshirts, to the destruction of cancer cures and science.

This episode of Volts is so. SO. good. Thank you @volts.wtf @michaelhobbes.bsky.social for yelling into the void about something that's been driving me absolutely insane for years, particularly the bit about reactionary centrists conveniently ignoring the influence of asymmetrical media ecosystems.

This may be our most important and relevant conversation to date. We get into identity, how it interacts with environmental context, and what it means for developing empathy/taking meaningful action in emotionally-charged situations. We hope you'll tune in! #EduSky #highered #teachers #K12

The former may or may not exist and may or may not have the power to shape events, so, there's ambiguity as to whether I should believe in them. I know *for sure* there's no reason to believe in the latter.

I will never forgive those who put this venal, demented, pedophilic imbecile in charge of the largest economy & most powerful military in world history. Self-inflicted annihilation of a global hegemon because Evil Grandpa Simpson & his cabal of greedy, bigoted cretins don't care how anything works.

In addition to our reflections on Chapter 8: Structures and Substructures (plus our *very evident* ADHD), you'll hear all about Governance, Economics, Social Relations, and Cultural Influences as vehicles for understanding complexity. 😌✨ #EduSky #highered #teaching #pedagogy #design #K12

"The death of truth is the ultimate victory of evil. When truth leaves us, when we let it slip away, when it is ripped from our hands, we become vulnerable to the appetite of whatever monster screams at us the loudest." -Mon Mothma (Andor)

One of the best parts about doing this podcast with @thergenrader.bsky.social is that we just... talk. There's no scripted outline. We have a list of chapter subheaders, and ADHD does the rest. It's always fun to see where our minds end up. We hope you've been enjoying the ride! #EduSky #education

I've been working for ages on a comprehensive revamp of the Stanford Encyclopedia Entry on "Animal Consciousness", with new sections on non-Western perspectives, methodological challenges and evolutionary big pictures, and it's out today: plato.stanford.edu/entries/cons.... Hope you find it useful!

This has been my biggest hobby horse for more than a decade, and I never tire of hearing smart people I respect make good points about it.

In which @thergenrader.bsky.social and I discuss an article/chapter near and dear to my heart but regrettably didn't fit into TWW. Join our exploration of contemporary concepts that are *vitally important* to the playful learning community. We hope you enjoy it! #EduSky #design #games #education

It can be tough to organize effective assessment measures, so @thergenrader.bsky.social & I discussed our approach for worldbuilding-based activities/classes. Tune in for advice on measuring learner progress as transparently, fairly, & productively as possible! #EduSky #education #learning #edtech

the robot also doubling over as if it kicked itself in the balls too makes this ten times funnier

My favorite episode so far—it's a great example of where we're going with our long-term meta conversation. @thergenrader.bsky.social & I truly believe collaborative #worldbuilding is the best way to inject empathy into a world that (to quote @edufuturist.bsky.social) could well use more of it.

We've had a blast recording this show—not only is it rewarding to break down our thinking (esp now that @wrldbuildingwrkshp.bsky.social is out), but it's nice to hear the opinions of someone whose perspective I really respect and value. We hope more educators have a chance to tune in soon! #EduSky

@colinwoodard.bsky.social @thergenrader.bsky.social & I just published our new @mitpress.bsky.social book, The Worldbuilding Workshop: Teaching Critical Thinking and Empathy Through World Modeling, Simulation, and Play, and as one of our inspos, we'd love to send you a copy. DM to coordinate. ☺️

@volts.wtf @chrislhayes.bsky.social @thergenrader.bsky.social and I just published our new @mitpress.bsky.social book, The Worldbuilding Workshop: Teaching Critical Thinking and Empathy Through World Modeling, Simulation, and Play, and we'd love to send each of you a copy. Just DM to coordinate! 😊

In which we explore differences between gamification & playful learning; discuss how simulations & case studies enhance student engagement; deconstruct relationships between #roleplay & #creativity; & dive into The Worldbuilding Workshop. Wherever you get your podcasts! #EduSky #highered #teachers

Today's indie game: Absolum (www.playabsolum.com). A classic beat-em-up brawler with modern design. If you liked classic Golden Axe, Double Dragon, D&D: Shadows Over Mystera, etc. but want more of a Slay-the-Spire-like run-based progression, this might be your GOTY.

Our goal is to help educators teach critical thinking and empathy by way of richly authentic world models and thought experiments. We want learners to inhabit others' perspectives—some quite different from their own—so they can appreciate the world as a dynamic web of interrelated social forces.

Wherein @thergenrader.bsky.social and I discuss the ideas embedded in each chapter, why we're passionate about those ideas, and what we're hoping the book will accomplish (that is, being a force for good in a turbulent, frequently-difficult-to-navigate reality). ✨

It's the big day! 🤩 There is a 20% discount for anyone who purchases a print copy through Penguin Random House. Enter code READMIT20 at checkout. The audiobook edition of The Worldbuilding Workshop is still being fine-tuned, but we plan to release it very soon... More details to follow! ✨🌎

In "The Worldbuilding Workshop," Trent Hergenrader & @steveslota.bsky.social explore worldbuilding as an educational tool that cultivates critical thinking and empathy through simulation and play: mitpress.mit.edu/978026255333... @thergenrader.bsky.social @wrldbuildingwrkshp.bsky.social

OH HO, looks like there are some early arrivals...! 👀 We're so excited for the education community to dig in! Access more info (plus our companion podcast and other free video/PDF resources) at: theworldbuildingworkshop.com #education #teaching #K12 #highered #pedagogy #EduSky

Gee, look what was sitting in my office mailbox. I’ve been away on a trip to Ireland for the last few weeks, but I’m so bad about checking my office mailbox, it could have been there before I left. 😂 Awesome job, @thergenrader.bsky.social & @steveslota.bsky.social

Two very exciting sales through the weekend! For Spanish teachers/learners, VERBA Español for less than the original Kickstarter pricing ($25!) tpg-104198.square.site/product/span... For Dragon fans, Underlings of Underwing also for $25 tpg-104198.square.site/product/unde... Please share widely!

Hi there, #EduSky! We're so grateful to have such a rich, talented community of educators with whom we share a passion for innovative, creative, and empathetic pedagogical design. Can't wait to trade worldbuilding-based teaching practices, assessment methods, activity ideas, and more! ✨🌎

@thergenrader.bsky.social and I are super psyched to finally share this project with all of you. Spread the word: The Worldbuilding Workshop hits shelves on Tuesday, December 2! Peep our shiny new website for tons of free videos, worksheets, and the inaugural episodes of our companion podcast! 🤩✨

"Don't... cross... the rickety bridge... ...YOU'LL GET LOST!" #smilingfriends @smilingfriends.bsky.social

JUST TWO MORE MONTHS (!!) until The Worldbuilding Workshop hits bookshelves/earbuds near you! I'm so psyched to finally reveal the book cover, which @mitpress.bsky.social graciously allowed me to design. The *final* final version may vary very slightly, but this is the general layout.

Yes. What Kirk did is a simulacrum of discussion & debate, constructed without any of the good faith that might give it meaning or impact. It was a show -- humiliating liberals &, by invoking liberal values like "civil discourse" -- fooling them into playing along with it.

Really great thread—clearly articulates why @thergenrader.bsky.social and I have focused so much of our time and writing on helping educators implement worldbuilding and world modeling projects in their classrooms (to drive home foundational critical thinking and empathy skills).

day 126 of making a cow tools every day unless i don't

What makes Pluto so fascinating, even without planet status? 🔭🪐🧪 Despite its 2006 reclassification as a Kuiper Belt object, Pluto remains one of the most intriguing worlds in our solar system.

❤️

Ahead of our book's upcoming launch, @mitpress.bsky.social has shared a pair of fantastic endorsements from other researchers in the field! 🤯🤩

this is a powerful piece, well worth the read

Children of Men but it’s the last driver still using turn signals.

the Kowleshov Effect is the filmmaking principle that the juxtaposition of two shots imparts more sophistication than either shot can individually.

Installing new flooring after a lengthy bathroom renovation and decided to leave a secret time capsule message for whomever pulls it up in the future. @criminalsimpsons.com #thesimpsons

A reminder that is is possible to live a life of kindness & integrity. You don't have to sell out just because everyone else is.

It's very obvious that the NYT has put people in editorial positions who view it as part of their job to upset the left. This is, in the bizarro, insular world of US elites, seen as a way to restore balance & regain the trust of the right. Putting aside the merits of the larger effort ...

Learned about the upcoming game @devolverdigital.com @ballxpit.com last night, and my god, it is so well-designed. The demo is super addictive. Imagine Vampire Survivors + Arkanoid + Into the Gungeon + a city builder. It has an *extremely* satisfying gameplay loop. 11/10, highest recommendation.

Donald Trump just unilaterally bombed Iran. A masked gang is terrorizing our streets. America has rapidly devolved into an authoritarian state. That's why, today, The Onion has purchased a full page ad in today's New York Times with a simple plea to Congress: Sit back and do absolutely nothing.

We have a madman in the White House who is actively trying to trigger total war. If Jeffries, Schumer, or any other Democratic leaders try to justify this, shrug indifferently, or write a strongly-worded letter and call it a day, they need to step down or be aggressively primaried.

Reupping this classic gif for no particular reason.

I’m sure this notorious psychopath who just unilaterally started a war because he was bored will wind this down with great care.