ZTAG

ZTAG Play with Purpose: Educator Workshop Series 

ZTAG Play with Purpose: Educator Workshop Series is a six-session workshop series created for the BOOST audience, designed to show how ZTAG can support meaningful, high-energy student engagement across a variety of school settings. Each session gives educators and youth leaders a hands-on experience with the system while exploring practical connections to SEL, classroom and program integration, wellness, STEM, and inclusive access for all learners. With a focus on active participation, real-world implementation, and broad appeal across grade levels, the series helps BOOST attendees see how ZTAG can bring play, purpose, and versatility to their students and programs.

The ZTAG Strand will take place in the Palm Grove room. 

Wednesday, April 29

10:30AM-12:15PM

ZTAG Kickstart: The Play & Move Experience
Quan Gan, MS, Owner/CEO; Steven Hanna, Playmaker Developer, ZTAG, Valencia, CA 

The ZTAG Play & Move Experience is an interactive introductory workshop designed for anyone to experience ZTAG firsthand through interactive gameplay, movement, and guided exploration of the system. Our session gives attendees an opportunity to see how ZTAG creates high-energy, engaging experiences that can be used across a variety of school and youth program settings. In addition to a live demo and hands-on participation, our workshop will highlight practical ways educators and program leaders can use ZTAG to support student engagement, enrichment, group activities, and multi-age programming. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of the platform, its versatility, and how it can be implemented to bring purposeful play into their own sites and programs.
PK, E, MLA, DS
Strand: ZTAG Strand; Program Design, Development & Quality
Palm Grove

2:45PM-4:45PM

ZTAG Belonging in Motion: Active SEL Through Play
Quan Gan, MS, Owner/CEO; Steven Hanna, Playmaker Developer, ZTAG, Valencia, CA

ZTAG Active SEL is designed to explore how ZTAG can support social-emotional learning through movement-based, interactive experiences. In our session, attendees will participate in active SEL gameplay while also taking a closer look at our lesson plan curriculum and how it can be used to guide meaningful reflection, build connection, and reinforce skills such as teamwork, communication, self-regulation, and confidence. Through hands-on play and practical discussion, participants will see how ZTAG can help create structured opportunities for belonging, positive peer interaction, and purposeful engagement across a variety of program settings. Attendees will leave with ideas for using active gameplay and lesson-based facilitation to bring SEL to life in a way that feels fun, accessible, and impactful for students.
E, M, H, MLA, DS
Strand: ZTAG Strand; Program Design, Development & Quality
Palm Grove

Thursday, April 30

10:00AM-12:00PM

ZTAG Into Learning: Real Classroom Integration
Quan Gan, MS, Owner/CEO; Steven Hanna, Playmaker Developer, ZTAG, Valencia, CA

The ZTAG Real Classroom workshop designed to inspire everyone in using their imagination to plan for how ZTAG can live within their own learning environments. In our session, participants will navigate interactive puzzles and challenges that encourage them to think creatively about classroom integration, student engagement, and instructional design. Attendees will explore questions such as: How can ZTAG be used within an existing lesson? How can educators build a meaningful activity using the tools, materials, and imagination they already have? Through active gameplay, collaborative idea-sharing, and guided discussion, our workshop will highlight how ZTAG can move beyond demonstration and become a flexible tool for creativity, problem-solving, and real classroom application. Participants will leave with practical inspiration for designing experiences that make learning more active, engaging, and student-centered.
E, M, MLA, DS
Strand: ZTAG Strand; Program Design, Development & Quality
Palm Grove

1:15PM-2:30PM

ZTAG in Motion: Wellness Through Play
Quan Gan, MS, Owner/CEO; Steven Hanna, Playmaker Developer, ZTAG, Valencia, CA

ZTAG Wellness Through Play is an active workshop that encourages participants to explore how movement-based gameplay can support student wellness, participation, and positive energy across a variety of school and youth program settings. In our session, attendees will experience ZTAG through fast-paced, interactive play while discussing how active experiences can be used to promote movement, engagement, and healthy social interaction throughout the day. The workshop will also highlight ways ZTAG can fit into wellness initiatives, PE-style rotations, enrichment blocks, and group-based programming where staff are looking for activities that are both fun and purposeful. Participants will leave with practical ideas for using play to create energizing experiences that support student well-being and keep learners actively involved.
E, M, MLA, DS
Strand: ZTAG Strand; Program Design, Development & Quality
Palm Grove

3:45PM-5:15PM

ZTAG Forward: STEM Play, Prediction, and Problem-Solving
Quan Gan, MS, Owner/CEO; Steven Hanna, Playmaker Developer, ZTAG, Valencia, CA

The ZTAG STEM workshop is designed to explore how ZTAG can support critical thinking through active, game-based experiences and data-driven experiences. In our session, attendees will engage with gameplay that encourages learners to make predictions, solve problems, recognize patterns, and adjust strategies in real time. The workshop will highlight how play can spark STEM-oriented thinking by creating opportunities for observation, experimentation, decision-making, and reflection in a way that feels accessible and engaging for students. Participants will also explore how these kinds of challenges can be adapted for enrichment, collaborative learning, and hands-on program experiences that promote both creativity and problem-solving. Attendees will leave with ideas for using ZTAG and other resources to create playful learning environments where STEM thinking comes to life through movement and interaction.
E, M, MLA, DS
Strand: ZTAG Strand; Program Design, Development & Quality
Palm Grove

Friday, May 1

9:15AM-11:15AM

ZTAG for Every Learner: Access Through Play
Quan Gan, MS, Owner/CEO; Steven Hanna, Playmaker Developer, ZTAG, Valencia, CA

The ZTAG For Every Learner workshop is designed for participants to discover how active gameplay can foster meaningful connection and inclusive participation. Attendees will experience ZTAG at a community level, exploring opportunities for movement, collaboration, choice, and engagement that can be adapted across ages for all learning needs. Through hands-on play and guided discussion, participants will learn how to create experiences that are accessible, supportive, and fun while promoting confidence, connection, and success for all students. The workshop will also highlight how educators and program leaders can use ZTAG to build inclusive environments where every learner has a chance to participate, contribute, and thrive.
E, M, MLA, DS
Strand: ZTAG Strand; Program Design, Development & Quality
Palm Grove

https://www.ztag.com/