Stay Playing Nick

02/02/2025

I'll never forget finding out in high school that I wouldn't be able to graduate with a certificate in networking because I learned about the career pathway a year too late. I was absolutely gutted.

It's one of the main reasons the HP AI Spotlight Schools program is so important to me and why I'm so thankful Digital Promise gets to partner with HP, Microsoft, and Intel Corporation to support the incredible work happening at Anaheim High School in Union High School District.

Kids deserve every opportunity to explore their interests in a space where emerging technologies and career pathways collide. The HP AI Learning Studios are an incredible hub for exactly that.

Many thanks to the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) for the opportunity to talk about this work in the latest "Principal Leadership" issue and Amanda Wortman for her co-writing brilliance!

Link in the comments!

01/30/2025

Felt cute, might save Hyrule or play Keepy Uppy later.

01/30/2025

This is a great opportunity for students in middle school through college!

Middle school, high school, and college students—this is your chance to win a $10,000 scholarship and showcase your game design skills! 🎮💡

Create a game or project and submit it to the Games for Change Student Challenge by April 18 for a chance at:

🏆 A 10k scholarship.
🌎 An opportunity to make a positive impact through game design.
🎮 Recognition for your innovation.
✨ And much more!

Don't wait, submit your project today!

🔗 https://bit.ly/G4C-Competition

01/17/2025

It’s been a long day, so now it’s time to unwind with my good friend Dr. Jones.

I rolled credits on the game the other day and I just can’t get enough of it. I need to write a piece on how great this game would be as a teaching tool.

Also, how does it look this good on a handheld PC like the ROG Ally?!?

Kudos to the Xbox Game Studios Publishing, MachineGames, and Bethesda Softworks teams.

This game is officially in my Top 5 of All Time!

01/15/2025

Serenity now.

Going straight from work into homework with your kids isn’t for the faint of heart.

01/13/2025

Mark my words: In 2025, our team at is going to connect innovative educators in community like never before.

Share it far and wide and let me know in the comments if you’re interested in learning more or getting involved.

I’m back and fully recharged from an incredible winter break of family time, Disney World, and some personal downtime.

Be sure to follow/connect with me if you’re interested in the following:

-Games and play in education

-AI in education

-Youth Making, Art, Activism, and Design in Education (YouthMADE)

Our collective impact knows no bounds when we’re connected and sharing.

Are you ready for it?

01/12/2025

Wanna feel old?

Toy Story turns 30 years old later this year!

I KNOW.

If you’ve been following along, you know I was just in Disney World and that I’ve started reading Creativity, Inc. by former Pixar and Disney Animation head Ed Catmull.

As I’ve been reading this quote about the critical reception to Toy Story really resonated with me:

”Review after review focused on the film’s moving plotline and its rich, three-dimensional characters- only briefly mentioning, almost as an aside, that it had been made on a computer. While there was much innovation that enabled our work, we had not let the technology overwhelm our real purpose: making a great film.”

When we talk about edtech and its ability to contribute to improving outcomes for our learners, this is how we should be talking about it.

It is a critical teaching and learning component. It allows us to do things we could never do in the past. But it is nothing without staying true to what we know is best for learners.

Bonus Points: Find Buzz Lightyear in my Toy Story alien sweatshirt!

01/12/2025

Playoff Football, baby!

12/14/2024

The family that plays together stays together.

12/05/2024

My kids have been asking questions about "bigger" words like "perseverance" and "commitment." (My son's school does positive affirmations each month.)

When I struggle to define the words in kid-friendly terms, I use conversational GenAI to "explain the word to a 5-year-old."

We listen to it together and talk about the definition it provides. We ask follow-up questions, poke holes in inaccuracies, etc.

We then follow it up by verifying how accurate our understanding is by consulting reputable additional sources. It's been a fantastic way to build their vocabulary, questioning skills, and AI literacy.

12/02/2024

If you get the chance to take a ride on the , you take the ride on .

11/28/2024

Nothing beats Thanksgiving morning with family, the parade, and a build!

11/13/2024

🚨🚨GIVEAWAY ALERT! 🚨🚨

I've been sitting on this one for a while, but I am excited to announce that a chapter I wrote about and the psychology of being a modern dad was included in The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: Bluey!

To celebrate its release, I'm giving away a copy of the book to FIVE Bluey fans!

To enter:
-Follow on Instagram
-Like this post
-Tag two other Bluey fans

Bonus entry if you share to your story!

Winners will be announced on Friday, 11/22! For real life!

09/18/2024

If you could only give one piece of advice to a first-time Dungeon Master, what would it be?

I'm just getting started on my DMing journey and I've been poring through the 2024 Player's Handbook, released YESTERDAY!. I can't wait to get my hands on the upcoming Dungeon Master's Guide and Monster Manual.

Thankful Wizards of the Coast Dungeons & Dragons has so many great resources for newcomers!

08/14/2024

I made both of my kids their own featherwands.

Ask me how that’s going.

08/13/2024

Is this the greatest Fortnite skin of all time?

08/10/2024

Making memories with the kiddos.

First game in the books. 💜

07/31/2024

🔍 Transforming CTE Education at Anaheim High School through Awareness, Interest, and Engagement 🔍

We're thrilled to share the impact of our HP Learning Studio, part of the Reinvent the Classroom initiative by Digital Promise, HP, Microsoft, and Intel. This cutting-edge lab is designed to increase awareness, spark interest, and foster engagement in STEM and CTE pathways for all students.

By providing access to high-powered technology and resources, the HP Learning Studio empowers students to explore their passions and prepare for future careers. Join us in supporting powerful learning opportunities that make a difference!


🔗 https://digitalpromise.dspacedirect.org/items/fe059e35-d0ab-4616-882a-9fe4fe33edc5