On Thursday, February 8, we’re very pleased to welcome Columbia-based author Dr. Victoria Mondelli to Skylark to talk about her recently-published book, The Educator’s Guide to Designing Games and Creative Active-Learning Exercises: The Allure of Play. Designed for teachers from all disciplines and levels, the book provides a practical, hands-on approach to harness the power of play for student learning. All educators will find much of interest here!
Dr. Mondelli’s passion for game-based learning was ignited while at the City University of New York and led her to facilitate workshops for secondary school and college teachers, often with her co-author, Dr. Joe Bisz.
Locally, since 2018, she serves as the Founding Director of the University of Missouri’s Teaching for Learning Center. She is also an affiliated faculty member in the College of Arts and Science and Adroit Studios Gaming Lab. With a Ph.D. in early modern European history, her academic training led her to prize writing across the curriculum and writing in the disciplines pedagogies. From there, she became an expert in coaching faculty and other educators to incorporate the full gamut of evidence-based and creative practices to maximize student engagement and deepen learning. She believes that imaginative play and serious games for all levels of learners is the most powerful type of active learning we can offer today’s learners.
When not playing games, Tori can be found leading strategic teaching initiatives to enhance support for faculty members and graduate instructors. She aims to increase the prevalence of learning environments that intentionally build a sense of belonging for ALL learners, while structuring active learning and transparent assessment.
A lifelong New Yorker, Tori left behind the hustle and bustle of the Lower East Side in exchange for the gentler pace of Missouri life. You can often find her cycling on the trails, paddling the Missouri River, or meditating with Show Me Dharma in Columbia. Connect with he\r on LinkedIn or through her website: Victoriamondelli.com.
