Exploring Playful Genres: Dr. Josh Call’s Keynote on Leveraging Games for Inquiry

April 1, 2025

Dr. Josh Call, Professor of English at Grand View University, delivered an engaging keynote address for the National Humanities Center’s speaker series. His presentation, titled "Playful Genres: Leveraging Games as Opportunities for Inquiry," emphasized the growing importance of integrating games into the study of humanities.

The National Humanities Center is known for bringing big ideas to the table, so it was the perfect setting for Dr. Call to share his thoughts. With his expertise in the intersection of games and education, he made a compelling case for using games as tools to spark curiosity, promote critical thinking, and boost creativity.

Dr. Call introduced the idea of “playful genres,” a way to think about games as something that goes beyond fun. Games can offer valuable insights into subjects like literature, history, and culture, making them not only entertaining but also educational. From board games to video games to role-playing games, he showed how they can open up new opportunities for inquiry in the classroom.

Well done, Dr. Call!