Playful Computing Conference 2025

Playful Computing Conference 2025
Tuesday June 24th 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
University of Westminster - Harrow Campus

What previous attendees say

"I felt inspired and re-energised. I've been a teacher of computing for almost 19 years and it's the first time in my career that I've had the privilege to meet with subject specialists and industry experts, who offered invaluable information and resources, that I've already started sharing with my students. I'm so happy to know that a community of people exist who want to provide fun, engaging access to computing education for all young people."

"I loved the experience and have many ideas for our KS3 course - now all I need to do is convince my colleagues. So many ideas my head is buzzing!"

"I thought it was great- the two days were worthwhile to attend- networking, having optional content- too hard to decide which to go for!"

"Fantastic event! I loved how we had the option between sessions. This made the day so impactful for myself."

"I feel much more supported than before I attended the event. There is not many people I can talk Computer Science around me, so finding myself surrounded by people that work in the same field empowers me and inspires me to try new ideas. Talking to industry experts have made me understand better what I need to teach and how I can better support my students for them to be successful in the future. "

"I thought that this was an exceptionally well organised and impactful event for all involved. The sessions were very well chosen and were all engaging and well received. All of the Digital Schoolhouse team were extremely welcoming and the whole day was a well oiled machine!"

"I feel much more equipped to fulfil my teaching responsibilities regarding career information, and providing students with factual evidence."

Network. Connect. Inspire.

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We bring together leading educators with video games & EdTech companies to inspire you to deliver the next wave of digital creative learning.

What is the Playful Computing Conference about this year?

Each session slot offers talks and workshops around four different topics carefully chosen after consultation with computing teachers and leaders to deliver real, classroom-based value to attendees

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Game-based Learning

Want your pupils to love your lessons as much as they do video games?

Make curriculum-based lessons fun and engaging using the expert knowledge of the people who make the video games your pupils love.

Cost-free Computing

Looking to save money on your school budgets?

How to deliver 'high-end' computing cost free - help your students learn robotics, esports, virtual reality and more using resources your school already has available.

Careers Education

Looking to help your pupils thrive in tomorrow's digital economy?

Help your pupils transition into jobs in the digital industries by hearing what skills tech companies need their future employees to have.

Eco Computing

Want to help save the environment while staying at the cutting edge of Computing education?

Learn how the eco-revolution is transforming computing education, saving resources as well as educating the next generation.

Speakers from

Want to exhibit at the Playful Computing Conference?

We have an exhibitors area where game and EdTech companies can display their work and interact with educators throughout the conference - interested in a space? Contact dsh@ukie.org.uk

Agenda

Please note: Each session slot at the conference has a talk on Game-based Learning, Careers Education, Cost-free Computing and Eco Computing concurrently allowing you to pick a bespoke timetable suited to your own professional development needs.

Sessions include

Game-based learning: Immersing the Past - Revolutionising History with Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) offers an alternative approach to teaching history by immersing students in the past, allowing them to walk the streets of ancient cities, engage with historical figures, and witness pivotal moments first-hand. This not only makes learning more memorable, but also deepens understanding and empathy.

At Singer Studios, we're redefining how history can be experienced through immersive storytelling. Our Emmy-nominated VR experience The Pirate Queen, starring Lucy Liu, invites you to step into the shoes of Cheng Shih—a legendary, yet largely forgotten, female leader who commanded one of the most powerful pirate fleets in history. Likewise, Trailblazer, our latest collaboration with Daisy Ridley, highlights another overlooked pioneer who embarked on the world’s first road trip. These stories not only bring history to life, but also champion untold narratives.

In this talk, Eloise will explore the educational potential of VR to revolutionise how history is taught, demonstrating how VR can allow students to experience history rather than simply study it—giving voice to underrepresented figures and making the past more accessible, emotional, and impactful.

Eloise Singer is an Emmy-nominated, multi-award-winning producer, writer and director, and the founder of Singer Studios, known for telling bold and innovative stories across film, TV, podcast, and immersive media. She created The Pirate Queen (2024), starring Lucy Liu, which shot to critical acclaim, winning the Storyscapes Award at Tribeca Film Festival and earning Emmy and PGA nominations. She then created Trailblazer starring Daisy Ridley which premiered at Venice, SXSW and Sheffield, garnering multiple award nominations including the Grand Jury Prize at Venice. She also executive produced Rare Beasts, starring Billie Piper, and The Last Rifleman, starring Pierce Brosnan. Singer’s work has been showcased at festivals worldwide, including Venice, SXSW, BFI London, Tribeca, Raindance and Sundance: London.

CEO & Creative Director, Singer Studios

Cost-free Computing: Flock XR - the free 3D creation tool

Flock XR is a free 3D creation tool for ages 9-14+. It provides a creation experience that is relevant to the 3D games and worlds that young people enjoy socially. Our pilots have shown how much a wide range of young people love the personalisation and creativity that Flock XR encourages. We’ve designed Flock XR so that learners develop skills and interests that open up careers in many industries. In this hands-on workshop you’ll find out why we created Flock XR and you’ll get to code your own animated sequence. We’ll finish up with a discussion on getting started with Flock XR in the classroom to teach coding and more. Further details: https://flockxr.com/.

Dr Tracy Gardner is a tech leader, software tool developer, computer science researcher and educator. Rebecca Franks is an experienced computing teacher and leader. Rebecca and Tracy are co-founders of Flip Computing, an inclusion-first technology education company. Flip Computing has developer Flock XR, a free 3D creation tool for young people.

Co-creator, Flip Computing

Game-based Learning: The Transformative Power of Creation Gaming in Education

Game-based learning significantly boosts student motivation and attention compared to traditional methods, enhancing knowledge and skills across various subjects, including STEM and 21st-century skills. A hybrid learning model, combining in-classroom instruction with teacher support, proves highly effective. This approach emphasizes hands-on, practice-based learning, enabling students to experience concepts actively rather than passively receiving information.

Tim Scott is Senior Director of Public Policy for Roblox. Prior to this he was Head of Policy and Public Affairs for UK Games trade body Ukie and Senior Policy Adviser for Future Technologies in the Digital Economy Unit at DCMS. He also served as Head of Sector for Technology, Telecoms, and Media in the Cabinet Office. He spent 5 years at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, leading on Creative Industries policy and leading the development of the video games, animation and high-end TV tax reliefs. Tim holds a degree in Philosophy and a Masters in Politics from the University of Leeds.

Senior Director of Public Policy, Roblox

Game-based Learning: Jamming for Smart Skills - GameJams in the Classroom

Game developers and creatives use game jams to sharpen their skills, and you can bring those same techniques to the classroom! In this session, you’ll learn how to customize your own game jam to help students hone their technical expertise, art or music talents, and vital skills including communication and time management, as they build up a game from scratch in an allotted time. Then, let’s jam together! Put your new ideas into practice in an Idea Jam: Working in teams, you’ll come up with an idea for a game and pitch it to fellow attendees. Time to see first-hand what you can learn with a jam!

As education and community manager at Scirra, Laura Donaghy wears a lot of hats. In the education sector, she works with partners at schools and events across the USA and the UK. From careers advice for the games industry, to creating resources for getting started with building games, Laura’s work with the game engine Construct 3 sees her interacting with students and teachers alike. Laura has plenty of experience working with people across disciplines thanks to her past work as a media coordinator in the motorsports industry. Outside of work, Laura creates content for YouTube and Twitch, and she enjoys cooking, crafting, and video games.

Education & Community Manager, Scirra

Eco-Computing: Let’s take primary computing outside

During this session, we’ll look at opportunities to undertake computing activities outside the classroom with primary aged children. We’ll initially examined the benefits and drawbacks of outdoor learning involving technology, along with sharing your experiences of such an approach. We’ll then take part in a number of hands on activities, including coding sticks, Geocaching, micro:bit litter hunt / sensors / area measures, data logging and digital storytelling.

Neil is a PhD student at King’s College, London, where he is researching the use of video games to support children’s learning of programming. He also works as a Computing tutor on the Primary PGCE courses at University College London (UCL) and is an external examiner for Manchester Metropolitan University. Prior to starting his PhD, Neil worked independently on a range of projects, including running computing workshops for children, as a primary education specialist for the BCS, and as a resource developer for Cambridge University Press and the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE). He is a STEM Learning Senior Facilitator, a Raspberry Pi, Microsoft and Google Certified Educator, a CEOP Ambassador and a tutor for a number of online CPD courses. Neil regularly contributes to a range of publications, including “Hello World” and “TES”, and academic text books, such as “Unlocking Speaking and Listening: Developing Spoken Language in the Primary Classroom.

Phd student

Eco Computing: EcoCode

The EcoCode program enables young people in schools and communities to explore sustainable physical computing through exciting sustainability research from UKRI . It offers activities and lessons contextualised around sustainable research, including Earth Observation, Salt Energy Storage, and Cosmic Rays. Participants can learn programming, engineering, and communication skills through live classes, in-school workshops, and online training. The program also covers topics like spider silk, penguin feet, and the importance of understanding technology for creating energy-saving solutions. EcoCode resources are free to access for schools including lesson content, face to face workshops and code-alongs.

Peter Marshman is a former assistant headteacher, head of computing and NCCE Computing Hub lead at Park House School. He is best known for his work across the UK and Europe around engaging girls in computer science and specifically through self-efficacy. Peter is CEO of Digit<all> and the Secondary Sector Expert for the BCS and Computing at School. He is an author and editor of numerous publications for Computing and leads Digit<all> to provide climate-contextual activities to inspire young people in the classroom and in their communities.

CEO, Digit<all>

Careers Education: Career Advice from 25 years in Video Games Publishing

Stefan will outline the various different games business roles and how they fit together, based on his own experience and lessons learned from 25 years working in in-house publishing.

Stefan is a communications professional with more than 25 years of experience in the games industry, most recently with over a decade spent as part of Ubisoft UK’s business team based in Guildford.

He currently leads a team covering tactical PR and Content Creator campaigns in the UK, Nordic and Canada regions for all of Ubisoft’s brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, Far Cry and Prince of Persia.

Previously he was at SEGA, managing PR strategy across the UK and EMEA for the company. He launched over 200 games that included Sonic The Hedgehog, Total War, Football Manager and Alien Isolation.

Additionally, his corporate work on behalf of Ubisoft includes extensive initiatives with partners such as Digital Schoolhouse and BAFTA, and aided in pioneering the first-ever UK Black Game Pros Mixer as well as the first Ubisoft Scholarship for Black UK Students. He is also an accessibility champion and has supported extensive fundraising efforts for the charity SpecialEffect.

As a proud and passionate member of the UK games industry, Stefan received the MCV Award for PR Team of the Year twice, and has also been featured in the PR Week Power Book for the last two years.

Communications & Content Creator Director, Northern Europe & Canada, Ubisoft

Careers Education: Career Advice from 25 years in Video Games Publishing

Stefan will outline the various different games business roles and how they fit together, based on his own experience and lessons learned from 25 years working in in-house publishing.

Stefan is a communications professional with more than 25 years of experience in the games industry, most recently with over a decade spent as part of Ubisoft UK’s business team based in Guildford.

Previously he was at SEGA, managing PR strategy across the UK and EMEA for the company. He launched over 200 games that included Sonic The Hedgehog, Total War, Football Manager and Alien Isolation.

As a proud and passionate member of the UK games industry, Stefan received the MCV Award for PR Team of the Year twice, and has also been featured in the PR Week Power Book for the last two years.

Communications & Content Creator Director, Northern Europe & Canada, Ubisoft

Story Builder: Games Lite

Story Builder: Games Lite is our popular ready-to-use activity pack that helps young people create their own game concepts and narratives through genre, character, settings, and more.

Developed in consultation with BAFTA and the Family Gaming Database, Story Builder: Game Lite develops cross-curricular literacy skills through a tried-and-tested framework that can be used for narrative writing or to explore a specific curricular focus.

Join us for our Story Builder: Games Lite workshop, where we support learners in transforming their great ideas into game designs, and see the power of games in the classroom first hand.

Into Film is a charity supported principally by the British Film Institute (through the National Lottery), Cinema First and Northern Ireland Screen.

Into Film aims to put film at the heart of children and young people’s educational, cultural and personal development. More than half of UK schools engage with Into Film’s programme of Into Film Clubs, special cinema screenings, educational resources and training to support classroom teaching.

Into Film aims to provide 5- to 19-year-olds with opportunities to learn about and with film and develop a passion for cinema

NI Learning Lead and Program Manager, Into Film