Apr
2011
Public Speaking
In January 2014 I led a workshop at the Sustainability Education conference at University of Toronto called Games for Change: Using Games with Senior Grades to advance Curriculum Objectives
This workshop was geared toward teachers who work with senior grades. At least half of the teachers who came to the session are gamers themselves, and they gave me great feedback on the early demo video for our multiplayer strategy mobile/tablet game, DeepCity 2030.
Workshop description: In this workshop Chris Lowry will present the early development of DeepCity 2030, a multiplayer online game to engage youth and young adults in an exploration of the future of cities. A brief demo video will be presented and explained. Variables of gameplay mechanics and design in relation to pedagogical agendas will be discussed. For the interactive part of the workshop, participants are encouraged to bring laptops and to share any games that they consider to be effective vehicles of experiential learning, such as games that are currently used in schools or popular games that effectively convey behavioral lessons about cooperation, or content in fields such as history or science. We will discuss and critique ‘games for change’ from the player/student’s perspective.
Testimonials
When I gave a talk about Jack Chambers at a wonderful historic building in Hamilton, the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre, the event curator, Tyler Tekatch, had this to say: “Much like the documentary itself, your talk was informative and enlightening, but also intimate, personal and full of enthusiasm for the subject. You are a wonderful storyteller, it was fascinating to hear you speak about your encounters and relationships with Canadian greats such as Kim Ondaatje and Greg Curnoe. A great film, and a great speaker.”
I do an annual lecture in the fall to the new students in Jennifer Sumner’s Adult Eduction for Sustainability Class at OISE/U of T. It is always a pleasure to speak at OISE where I did a Masters in Education (M.Ed.) in 2004.
“Thank you so much again for speaking with the students in the Adult Education for Sustainability class. They were inspired by your words and by your commitment to sustainable practice. I always learn something new when I hear you speak – you have a special gift of communication. Once again, heartfelt thanks for your contribution to learning.” —Jennifer Sumner
“Wow! Wonderful unfolding of your downstream and upstream experiences… beams of wisdom shining out in all directions. The students were high on ideas after you left and our discussion of their research projects incorporated many of your themes. Thanks so much!”
Wally Seccombe, author, food and farming policy advocate, Professor of Sociology, University of Toronto
Chris Lowry is available as a public speaker.
Chris is a green specialist with expertise in media production, social networks and communications, with a Masters degree in education. He has 25 years of experience as a public speaker and educator.
Recently he has been invited to speak to classes and events for Schulich, McGill, and Ryerson business schools, the World Future Society, the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, the Catalytique group in Montreal, the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies conference in Denver, the Canadian Society of Dance Artists annual meeting, the Ontario Green Party, and the Economic Developers Council of Ontario Conference to mention a few. Diverse teaching experience includes the Institute Without Boundaries at George Brown College School of Design in (faculty 2004), teaching a 3 week course on international development and environment aboard a tall ship off the coast of Brazil, training health workers in East Africa, training MSF field workers in Montreal, and teaching high school students about child rights in Victoria.
He served as the founding director of Green Enterprise Toronto (GET), an alliance of locally-owned businesses committed to growing the local economy sustainably, from 2005 to 2009. Chris is a creative producer who has had senior roles in both independent media production businesses and non-profit organizations. He has won many awards for his films and other work including a portrait documentary about the artist Jack Chambers and the AIDS education cartoon Karate Kids which was translated into 30 languages (Peter F. Drucker Award for Canadian Non-Profit Innovation). He co-founded Green Enterprise Toronto (GET), Street Kids International (SKI), Razorback Press, and The Journal of Wild Culture. Chris has also worked with agencies such as MSF/Doctors Without Borders (Canada) in the field of child health and rights. In 2004 he completed a Masters in Philosophy of Education at OISE/University of Toronto. He can converse and answer audience questions in French and Spanish.
