The Art and Science of
Designing Games for Learning
Ken Perlin, Director
Jan L. Plass, Co-Director
Susan Stratton, Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
Mission
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Study the use of digital games for learning–socio-cultural,
cognitive, and emotional impact.
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Develop design patterns for effective learning games that
industry partners can draw on to assure high quality when
designing their own games for learning.
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Focus is on games that teach science, technology,
engineering and mathematics to middle school students,
bridging in-school and out-of-school learning.
Sponsorship
Collaborators
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School of One
NYC DOE – Network of Middle Schools
Mouse Squad (After School Programs)
New York Hall of Science
Computers for Youth
National Council of Women in Technology
Pragmatic Solutions
Games for Change
Research Team
Ken Perlin
Jan L. Plass
Institute Director
Institute Co-Director
Participating researchers
Mary Flanagan (Dartmouth)
Steve Feiner (Columbia)
Bruce Homer (GC/CUNY)
Katherine Isbister (NYU-Poly)
Charles Kinzer (Teachers College)
Colleen Macklin (Parsons)
Cath Milne (NYU)
Andy Phelps (RIT)
Carl Skelton (NYU-Poly)
Joel Wein (NYU-Poly)
Miguel Nussbaum (PUC Chile)
Advisory Board
Kaelan Doyle-Myerscough
James Gee
Alan Kay
Jaron Lanier
Mitch Resnick
Tobi Saulnier
Will Wright
Game Design: Math
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Games that teach mathematics to middle school students–
School of One
Game Design: Science
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Games that teach science to middle school students
Adventure Game for Chemistry
Augmented Reality Science Game
Research
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From game design patterns to learning outcomes
Curricular
Educational Game
Design Patterns
Educational
Games
Integration
Factual
Knowledge
Conceptual
Knowledge
Procedural
Knowledge
Meta-cognitive
Knowledge
Affective
Outcomes
Research
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Using Sophisticated, Cutting-Edge Research Methods and Tools
Expertise/Products
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Design patterns for effective educational games
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Representative Games for Math and Science Learning
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Framework for In-Game Collection of User Data
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Methods for In-game Assessment of Learning
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Mining algorithms to measure many user variables
Applications
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Research Applications
 In this open app culture, G4LI is seeking to create a
public/ private partnership
Licensable options
 Digital ‘Toolbox’ for teachers
 Digital ‘Backpack’ for students
 Digital ‘Shoebox’ for parents
Evaluation criteria (seal of approval) for learning games
Aggregated web site, the ‘Google’ of learning games
 Licensing arm to achieve self-funding
 Domestic base, global reach
Scope
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Domestic and International
Emerging Leader in the Games for Learning Community
 Hosting Will Wright talk
 Hosting Games for Learning Day at G4C
 Hosting Invitational Learning Games Summit with Gates
Foundation support; Chair: James H. Shelton III, Asst.
Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement, US
DOE