Stephen T. Slota
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steveslota.bsky.social
Stephen T. Slota
@steveslota.bsky.social
Co-author of The Worldbuilding Workshop: Teaching Critical Thinking and Empathy Through World Modeling, Simulation, and Play

Learning Scientist, EdTech Expert, Instructional Designer, GameDev, Former K12 Teacher

They|Them 🏳️‍🌈🎮 https://www.steveslota.com/
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It sure feels good to finally have a complete draft of our book!

Coming soon to a bookshelf near you...

The Worldbuilding Workshop: Teaching Critical Thinking and Empathy Through World Modeling, Simulation, and Play

Co-authored by @thergenrader.bsky.social & me
Wherein @thergenrader.bsky.social and I discuss the ideas embedded in each chapter, why we're passionate about those ideas, and what we're hoping the book will accomplish (that is, being a force for good in a turbulent, frequently-difficult-to-navigate reality). ✨
The first two episodes of The Worldbuilding Workshop Companion Podcast are out now!

It's basically like reading the book alongside the authors! 😅

Available on Apple Podcasts, Podcast Addict, Amazon Music, YouTube, and Spotify:

www.theworldbuildingworkshop.com/podcast

#podcast #EduSky #education
Blog 3 — THE WORLDBUILDING WORKSHOP
www.theworldbuildingworkshop.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:51 PM
It's the big day! 🤩

There is a 20% discount for anyone who purchases a print copy through Penguin Random House. Enter code READMIT20 at checkout.

The audiobook edition of The Worldbuilding Workshop is still being fine-tuned, but we plan to release it very soon... More details to follow! ✨🌎
WE HAVE LIFTOFF!

After four years of brainstorming, writing, revision, peer review, and proofreading, THE WORLDBUILDING WORKSHOP launches TODAY!

Thank you to @mitpress.bsky.social for making this happen!

Visit: www.theworldbuildingworkshop.com

#education #highered #teaching #design #k12 #edtech
THE WORLDBUILDING WORKSHOP
www.theworldbuildingworkshop.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Reposted by Stephen T. Slota
In "The Worldbuilding Workshop," Trent Hergenrader & @steveslota.bsky.social explore worldbuilding as an educational tool that cultivates critical thinking and empathy through simulation and play: mitpress.mit.edu/978026255333... @thergenrader.bsky.social @wrldbuildingwrkshp.bsky.social
December 2, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Reposted by Stephen T. Slota
OH HO, looks like there are some early arrivals...! 👀

We're so excited for the education community to dig in!

Access more info (plus our companion podcast and other free video/PDF resources) at:

theworldbuildingworkshop.com

#education #teaching #K12 #highered #pedagogy #EduSky
December 1, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Reposted by Stephen T. Slota
Gee, look what was sitting in my office mailbox. I’ve been away on a trip to Ireland for the last few weeks, but I’m so bad about checking my office mailbox, it could have been there before I left. 😂 Awesome job, @thergenrader.bsky.social & @steveslota.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Reposted by Stephen T. Slota
Two very exciting sales through the weekend!

For Spanish teachers/learners, VERBA Español for less than the original Kickstarter pricing ($25!) tpg-104198.square.site/product/span...

For Dragon fans, Underlings of Underwing also for $25 tpg-104198.square.site/product/unde...

Please share widely!
Spanish Core Set | The Pericles Group, LLC
VERBA: Español core set. Includes 50 "grey" sentence cards and 146 "white" noun cards. Designed for the novice learner.
tpg-104198.square.site
November 29, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Reposted by Stephen T. Slota
Hi there, #EduSky!

We're so grateful to have such a rich, talented community of educators with whom we share a passion for innovative, creative, and empathetic pedagogical design.

Can't wait to trade worldbuilding-based teaching practices, assessment methods, activity ideas, and more! ✨🌎
November 24, 2025 at 11:32 PM
@thergenrader.bsky.social and I are super psyched to finally share this project with all of you.

Spread the word: The Worldbuilding Workshop hits shelves on Tuesday, December 2!

Peep our shiny new website for tons of free videos, worksheets, and the inaugural episodes of our companion podcast! 🤩✨
HELLO WORLD!

We're just 8 days away from @mitpress.bsky.social The Worldbuilding Workshop's official launch date, and we're delighted to reveal the site we've built to support your world modeling efforts!

Learn more at: www.theworldbuildingworkshop.com

#highered #edtech #teaching #k12 #education
THE WORLDBUILDING WORKSHOP
www.theworldbuildingworkshop.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Reposted by Stephen T. Slota
"Don't... cross... the rickety bridge...

...YOU'LL GET LOST!"

#smilingfriends @smilingfriends.bsky.social
October 27, 2024 at 7:01 PM
JUST TWO MORE MONTHS (!!) until The Worldbuilding Workshop hits bookshelves/earbuds near you!

I'm so psyched to finally reveal the book cover, which @mitpress.bsky.social graciously allowed me to design.

The *final* final version may vary very slightly, but this is the general layout.
October 2, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Reposted by Stephen T. Slota
Yes. What Kirk did is a simulacrum of discussion & debate, constructed without any of the good faith that might give it meaning or impact. It was a show -- humiliating liberals &, by invoking liberal values like "civil discourse" -- fooling them into playing along with it.
The fact that people who should know better can’t tell the difference between what Kirk did on one hand and “civil discourse” on the other is a sign of what a bad state our “civil discourse” is in these days.
September 13, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Really great thread—clearly articulates why @thergenrader.bsky.social and I have focused so much of our time and writing on helping educators implement worldbuilding and world modeling projects in their classrooms (to drive home foundational critical thinking and empathy skills).
The right sets the terms of our political discourse in so many ways, one of which is the idea that there isn't enough "debate" and "free speech" on campus.

We need to push back on this. The truth is (speaking for myself as a history prof), I don't really emphasize debate much in my classes/
September 13, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Reposted by Stephen T. Slota
day 126 of making a cow tools every day unless i don't
March 14, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Reposted by Stephen T. Slota
What makes Pluto so fascinating, even without planet status? 🔭🪐🧪

Despite its 2006 reclassification as a Kuiper Belt object, Pluto remains one of the most intriguing worlds in our solar system.
August 23, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Reposted by Stephen T. Slota
❤️
Ahead of our book's upcoming launch, @mitpress.bsky.social has shared a pair of fantastic endorsements from other researchers in the field! 🤯🤩
August 22, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Ahead of our book's upcoming launch, @mitpress.bsky.social has shared a pair of fantastic endorsements from other researchers in the field! 🤯🤩
August 21, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Reposted by Stephen T. Slota
this is a powerful piece, well worth the read
January 29, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Reposted by Stephen T. Slota
Children of Men but it’s the last driver still using turn signals.
July 17, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Reposted by Stephen T. Slota
the Kowleshov Effect is the filmmaking principle that the juxtaposition of two shots imparts more sophistication than either shot can individually.
July 14, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Installing new flooring after a lengthy bathroom renovation and decided to leave a secret time capsule message for whomever pulls it up in the future.

@criminalsimpsons.com #thesimpsons
July 13, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Reposted by Stephen T. Slota
A reminder that is is possible to live a life of kindness & integrity. You don't have to sell out just because everyone else is.
Happy birthday to Bill Watterson, the creator of Calvin and Hobbes! Born on July 5, 1958.
July 5, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Reposted by Stephen T. Slota
It's very obvious that the NYT has put people in editorial positions who view it as part of their job to upset the left. This is, in the bizarro, insular world of US elites, seen as a way to restore balance & regain the trust of the right.

Putting aside the merits of the larger effort ...
July 4, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Learned about the upcoming game @devolverdigital.com @ballxpit.com last night, and my god, it is so well-designed. The demo is super addictive.

Imagine Vampire Survivors + Arkanoid + Into the Gungeon + a city builder. It has an *extremely* satisfying gameplay loop. 11/10, highest recommendation.
June 28, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Reposted by Stephen T. Slota
Donald Trump just unilaterally bombed Iran. A masked gang is terrorizing our streets. America has rapidly devolved into an authoritarian state.

That's why, today, The Onion has purchased a full page ad in today's New York Times with a simple plea to Congress:

Sit back and do absolutely nothing.
June 22, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Reposted by Stephen T. Slota
We have a madman in the White House who is actively trying to trigger total war.

If Jeffries, Schumer, or any other Democratic leaders try to justify this, shrug indifferently, or write a strongly-worded letter and call it a day, they need to step down or be aggressively primaried.
June 22, 2025 at 1:41 AM