In 2005, the department opened the Learning Games Lab — a research space where Extension media developers could co-design and test their games with youth. That summer, the space hosted its first set of Learning Games Lab consultants: asking teens to share their experiences and knowledge of video games with designers, to shape how learning games would be created.

Every summer since then, the Games Lab has hosted youth and adults as a way to test their product, and inform the development of learning tools. Hundreds of youth have worked with designers in the department to improve the games, animations and interactive tools; such as mathsnacks.com, scienceofagriculture.org, and other tools.

Learning Games Lab Toolkit

Scholars, teachers, and developers have shaped the curriculum used in the Learning Games Lab by creating suites of different activities to help youth learn through the game design process. This year, they are releasing the Learning Games Lab Toolkit — coordinated and published by Dr. Amanda LaTasha Armstrong. This online toolkit offers free access to the approach, lessons and activities honed over the past 20 years, to engage youth in designing games and learning through that process.

The Learning Games Lab celebrated its 20th anniversary with a party on Friday, September 13, 2024, hosted by the Department of Innovative Media Research and Extension.

Learning Games Lab Toolkit