Mark you calendars for November and December STEM Cafes

Board Game Renaissance: Leveraging Virtual Connections in a Time of Physical Distancing

Nov. 18, 2020, 6 p.m., Online  Register at go.niu.edu/boardgames. You will receive a link to login. We have switched to a Zoom platform.  Please share this information and flyer with family and friends.

With the holidays approaching, you may be wondering how to connect with friends and family both at home and far away. We’ve become accustomed to feeling isolated and anxious during the pandemic. At the same time, however, many of us have rediscovered games – both in-person and virtual – as a way to build genuine connections and create a sense of spontaneous togetherness.

 

Why have board games enjoyed a recent renaissance among people of all ages, especially Millennials and Gen Z? What are some of the positive benefits of board gaming in the digital age? And how can games – even when played online – allow us to get to know our friends and family in deeper ways? 

 

Learn about how games can build family cohesion; relieve stress; teach strategizing, goal-setting and other important cognitive skills; and provide entertainment. Get tips for strengthening social connections through virtual gatherings and gain a greater appreciation for the thoughtfulness and intention that go into the creation of contemporary board games.

 

Speakers: Paul Booth, Ph.D., Professor of Media and Cinema Studies, DePaul University

Suzanne Degges-White, Ph.D., Chair and Professor of Counseling and Counselor Education, Northern Illinois University