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Games as Real-World Career Skills Builders: Leveling Up
Thursday, October 8, 2026 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EDT
Games as Real-World Career Skills Builders: Leveling Up
Presented by Dr. Ed Gomes Jr., English as a Second Language, Literature, and Linguistics Teacher, Secretariat of Education/Faculdade São Bernardo, São Paulo, Brazil; Laura Khalil, Founder, Once Upon a Roll; and Nick Schiner, Former Educator, Current Director, Peer-to-Peer Professional Learning, Digital Promise
Sponsored by Digital Promise
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Games aren’t just entertainment; they’re learning environments. In this edWebinar, viewers hear from educators connecting playing games, making games, and real, transferable skills and competencies. From gameplay that builds problem-solving, collaboration, empathy, and resilience to game design that grows systems thinking, empathy, and project management, this session offers a practical lens for spotting and supporting career-ready skills already at play in games.
This edWebinar recording is of interest to PreK-12 teachers, librarians, school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders.
About the Presenters
Dr. Ed Gomes Jr. holds a doctorate and master’s degree in modern languages and literatures from Mackenzie Presbyterian University, alongside postgraduate qualifications from The College of Saint Rose (NY), UMESP, and USP. He earned bachelor's degrees in Portuguese/English education and translation/interpretation from UMESP. Active in academia and language education since 1998, Dr. Gomes is a tenured public school teacher for the State of São Paulo and currently works in the Secretariat of Education of São Paulo in the Educational Materials Department. His expertise spans teaching English and Portuguese as a foreign language, native Portuguese instruction, and simultaneous/consecutive interpreting.
Laura Khalil (KUH-lil) is the Founder of Once Upon a Roll, where she solves a defining modern challenge: building genuine human culture in the age of AI. She uses tabletop roleplaying games to create a training ground for teams to practice the hard stuff—like communication, leadership, and collaboration—before high-stakes moments happen in real life. With 13+ years consulting for Fortune 500 companies like GE, Intel, and Intuit, as well as federal agencies like the CDC, Laura knows that AI can replace tasks, but it can't replace authentic human connection. By blending game design, behavioral science, and storytelling, she trades dry workshops and trust falls for active, immersive play that makes lasting change feel good to practice.
Nick Schiner is the Director of Peer-to-Peer Professional Learning at Digital Promise. Nick began his career as a classroom educator with Baltimore County Public Schools, teaching fourth and fifth grade before moving into the role of Elementary Technology Integration Specialist. After his time in the classroom, he served as Team Leader on the district’s Innovative Learning Team, where he oversaw efforts to help teachers integrate technology meaningfully and design hands-on, authentic learning experiences grounded in constructionism and constructivism. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Towson University and a master’s degree in educational technology from Johns Hopkins University.
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Digital Promise is a global nonprofit working to expand opportunity for every learner. We work with educators, researchers, technology leaders, and communities to design, investigate, and scale innovations that support learners, especially those who’ve been historically and systematically excluded. Our vision is that every person engages in powerful learning experiences that lead to a life of well-being, fulfillment, and economic mobility. For more information, visit the Digital Promise website and follow Digital Promise for updates.
