What's On

Major activities at the 2008 Expo:

Exhibitors' area - where local and international retailers, publishers and distributors will showcase their favourite products
Open Gaming area - try some new games or revisit old favourites
Tournaments - featuring the Australian Championships for Blokus, Carcassonne and Settlers of Catan.

the announcement of Boardgames Australia's inaugural boardgame awards
a Flea Market (Monday 1-2pm) for participants to buy and trade second hand, out of print and rare games.
Boardgames Australia's Game Designers' Forum (Monday 10-1) for aspiring (and published) game designers.
Learn About Play - Educators Forum (Saturday 11am)


		Giles Pritchard. Giles is a teacher who has worked in a range of schools in Victoria and is currently a Grade 4 teacher at St George's Rd Primary School in Shepparton. Giles has a long-standing interest in games, from historically-based games, to language- and maths-orientated games. Giles will be speaking from practical experience about the benefits and pitfalls of incorporating games into the Australian classroom, including some general rules, sample lesson plans and curriculum links.

		Stephen Carroll. Stephen has taught in four states, and been Principal of four schools. He is currently principal of St. Liborius Primary School, Eaglehawk. He will be speaking about his school's "Learning Through Games Project", which came about as a result of a review of the school's Homework Policy. Consideration of research on the effectiveness of homework and consultation with the school community members generated several new goals for the homework policy. These included providing: 'home activities' that engaged children's interest and supported their learning; an alternative to excessive time spent watching television and playing electronic games; opportunities for social interaction among family members. To achieve these goals the school established a library of games for students to borrow and use at home as part of their homework, funded by grants totalling $10 000.