Designing Games for Learning: One-Day Workshop for Educators
Program Description:
How can games inspire deeper learning, creativity, and engagement in the classroom? In this interactive workshop, teachers will explore the fundamentals of game design, play games that support learning benefits and discover how to apply them to their own teaching practice. Through hands-on activities, participants will learn how to design playful learning experiences, integrate game mechanics into lesson planning, and reflect on how games can support student motivation and critical thinking. No prior design experience is required—just curiosity and a willingness to play!
Dates & Registration
Date: January 17, 2026
Times: In-person meeting on Saturday, January 17, 2026 from 1:00pm - 5:00pm ET on Teachers College campus
Format: In-Person
Price: $149
Please Note: This course is offered on a non-credit basis only.
For more information, questions, or to register: Email tcacademy@tc.columbia.edu
Faculty
Joey J. Lee
Director of Games Research Lab, Coordinator of MA Program in Design and Development of Digital Games Co-Coordinator of MA Program in Communication and Education
Dr. Joey J. Lee has taught graduate-level courses on game design for social impact and ethical issues in technology design for over fifteen years. He directs the Games Research Lab at Teachers College, Columbia University and is the coordinator of the Design and Development of Digital Games and Communication and Education MA programs.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the Educator Workshop, participants will be able to:
- Gain practical tools to integrate games and play into educational contexts. Learn concrete strategies and adaptable frameworks you can immediately apply in classrooms, workshops, and professional learning environments.
- Understand how mechanics, story, and systems thinking shape learning experiences. Discover how the core building blocks of games—rules, narrative, and interconnected systems—can deepen engagement and foster critical and creative thinking.
- Explore how games can promote empathy, collaboration, and ethical reflection. Examine how well-designed play experiences help learners practice perspective-taking, 21st century skills and values-driven decision making.
- Leave inspired to design or adapt playful learning experiences in their own settings. Walk away with actionable ideas, examples, and renewed energy to infuse curiosity, joy, and reflection into your teaching or program design.
Who Should Attend
This workshop is designed for:
- Educators and Learning Designers interested in using games to foster creativity, critical thinking, and engagement in K–12 or higher education settings.
- Instructional Leaders and Curriculum Developers seeking innovative, experiential approaches to 21st-century skills and SEL (social-emotional learning).
- Graduate Students and Researchers exploring games as tools for empathy, ethics, and educational impact.
- Designers and Creative Professionals looking to connect game design principles with learning, community-building, and social change.
Upon Completion
Participants who successfully complete this program will earn a verified Certificate of Participation and an official Digital Badge—valuable credentials that showcase your commitment to professional growth and can be shared on LinkedIn or digital portfolios.
View our sample program badge and certificate below:
Important Notice: This is a non-credit program. Completion does not provide academic credit toward any degree program at Teachers College or other institutions. No transcript credit will be awarded.