Insights come in many forms — a conversation that reframes what you thought you knew, a moment of recognition across years of practice, or a quiet shift in perspective that only distance makes visible. This year’s Above the Book sessions are designed to surface exactly those kinds of moments, pairing candid dialogue with guests whose contributions to virtual worlds education run deep.

The name itself sets the tone. Discantus supra librum — “above the book” — describes the medieval practice of improvising a new melody over a fixed written score, two distinct voices combining into something neither could produce alone. That spirit carries into both sessions this year. The first welcomes Grumpity Linden and Patch Linden of Linden Lab for a conversation about the platform at the heart of so much of what this community builds and teaches. The second gathers a remarkable group of Thinkerer Award recipients — VWBPE’s recognition of individuals whose leadership and lifelong service have helped shape and sustain this community — whose collective experience spans more than a decade of virtual worlds education. Together, these two sessions invite us to look back with clarity and forward with intention.