Deeper Learning New York

What if play were not an “extra,” but a powerful design lens for bringing a district’s Portrait of a Graduate to life—through any learning objective, at any grade level?
In this interactive session, participants will explore how play can be intentionally used to translate learning objectives aligned to Portrait of a Graduate competencies—such as critical thinking, collaboration, communication, agency, and empathy—into learning experiences that strengthen understanding, transfer, and student engagement, without sacrificing rigor, standards, or accountability.
Drawing from research, classroom practice, and large-scale system implementation, the session demystifies what “learning through play” really means—and what it does not mean. Superintendents and system leaders will engage in a hands-on design experience that demonstrates how the same core learning objective can be activated through different types of play, making learning more relevant, motivating, and durable for students.
The session will also address common leadership questions, including alignment to standards, assessment of Portrait competencies, teacher readiness, time constraints, and scalability across schools and contexts.
Participants will leave with a clear, practical framework they can use to guide instructional conversations, professional learning, and classroom design—so the Portrait becomes not just a vision statement, but a lived student experience.