Transforming Education through Edutainment | Roland Nunez | TEDxLSSC

Educational entertainment is a rapidly-growing field at all institutional levels addressing the need for adaptive, learner-centered education. Technological advances provide more opportunities to create edutainment programs of all kinds. These tools can be key in helping engage students by encouraging a passion for learning with participant needs in mind. Dr. Roland Nuñez serves as the Director of Educational Opportunity Programs at Lake-Sumter State College, where he oversees two federal programs that prepare students from disadvantaged backgrounds for college. He received his Master’s and PhD in Educational Leadership from Oklahoma State University. His academic hobbies include adjunct-teaching statistics and research courses, as well as researching edutainment and college socialization. As a first-generation student who struggled with his college transition, Roland is passionate about innovative approaches to education. He researches, creates, and evaluates programs that blend the arts and sciences together for improved student outcomes. Roland founded a family recreation center that served as a test bed for edutainment program development, including workshops, retreats, novels (Halls of Ivy), stage plays (Door Tags), and video games (Virtual Life). His work has received regional and statewide recognition, including Most Outstanding Hispanic Artist through the Hispanic Arts Council of Oklahoma, NextGen 30 Under 30 in Higher Education through IonOklahoma Magazine, and Best Family-Friendly Attraction through Chickasaw Country for his family recreation center. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx