Institute of Play Offers Free PD for Math Teachers in Grades 6-12

A non-profit design studio founded by a group of game makers in New York City is reaching out to educators who want to participate in a free professional development fellowship specifically for math teachers working in grades 6-12. MathQuest NYC, an initiative of the Institute of Play, has six days of PD, starting in mid-October. Participants will learn how to use game-design principles and tie games into their lessons. Teachers have until September 21 to get their applications in. Teams of two or three from the same school or district will receive preference in the selection process.

Educators will also receive access to the institute's TeacherQuest Online platform, which delivers online courses through the year, as well as on-going support and feedback opportunities and tools and resources. According to the organizers, "fellows" will learn to how to embed games into their curriculum, integrate them into the classroom, create their own games, set up learner-centered design challenges and assess learning outcomes.

Sessions will run from 9:30 to 3:30 over two concurrent days in October, November and January and will take place at the Adelphi University Manhattan Campus. While there's no registration fee, those accepted will need to handle their transportation and confirm support from the appropriate supervisor, such as a principal or superintendent, and get release time for the workshops.

The application asks four short response questions:

  • What the applicant's teaching philosophy is;
  • What the greatest challenges in teaching math are;
  • How the use of game-like learning might improve teaching math; and
  • How the school or district could benefit from the program.

The online application is available on the Institute's website.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • laptop displaying AI-powered educational content

    Kira Introduces AI-Generated Lesson Tool

    AI company Kira has announced a new AI-powered lesson generation tool that it says delivers complete, standards-aligned lessons that are personalized to each student.

  • robotic elements such as a mechanical arm, AI brain, microchip, and wheeled robot in a muted blue color scheme

    California District to Build New Robotics Facility for Student Creativity and Collaboration

    California's Fremont Union High School District recently announced that construction has begun on a new Robotics Facility on the campus of Cupertino High School. The 14,500-square-foot facility will serve students at high schools across the entire district, providing purpose-built spaces for student creativity and collaboration.

  • laptop displaying a glowing digital brain and data charts sits on a metal shelf in a well-lit server room with organized network cables and active servers

    Cisco Unveils AI-First Approach to IT Operations

    At its recent Cisco Live 2025 event, Cisco introduced AgenticOps, a transformative approach to IT operations that integrates advanced AI capabilities to enhance efficiency and collaboration across network, security, and application domains.

  • stylized human profiles, tablets, and floating icons

    From Feedback to Flexibility: 5 AI Tools Teachers Should Try

    As a fifth-grade teacher and AI School Champion in the St. Vrain Valley School District, I've seen firsthand how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming education. Here are five AI-enabled tools I've found especially powerful in my classroom and professional practice.