Designing Games for Learning: Playful Technologies in Education
Program Description:
Transform your teaching through the power of play and discover how games can revolutionize learning in any classroom. This immersive course bridges educational theory with hands-on design, empowering you to create engaging, meaningful learning experiences that captivate and motivate students. You'll master the art and science of educational game design by applying foundational learning theories like constructivism and flow theory to develop games that truly enhance learning outcomes. Through critical analysis of existing educational games and exploration of both digital and analog tools, you'll gain the expertise to evaluate what makes games effective learning vehicles.
The course emphasizes practical application—you'll design and prototype your own educational game using user-centered, iterative methods while collaborating with peers through playtesting and feedback cycles. Beyond creation, you'll learn to seamlessly integrate games into curriculum through carefully crafted lesson plans that use gaming for instruction, scaffolding, and authentic assessment. With a strong focus on equity and inclusion, you'll explore ethical design considerations that ensure your games are accessible to all learners. The course also ventures into cutting-edge territory, examining how emerging technologies like VR, AR, and AI are reshaping educational possibilities. By the end, you'll walk away with a complete, ready-to-implement lesson plan featuring your custom-designed game and a clear personal vision for leveraging the transformative potential of playful learning in your educational practice.
Dates & Registration
Dates: January 2 - 17, 2026
Times:
Required in-person meeting on
- Saturday, January 17, 2026 from 1:00pm - 5:00pm ET on Teachers College campus
and Live Zoom sessions held from 9:00am - 11:30am ET, on the following dates:
- Monday, January 12, 2026
- Tuesday, January 13, 2026
- Wednesday, January 14, 2026
- Thursday, January 15, 2026
- Friday, January 16, 2026
Please Note: For-credit students are required to attend all live sessions, in-person session and submit final deliverables by January 20th.
Format: Hybrid
Registration:
This course can be taken for credit in accordance with TC's enrollment policies for 3 credits. If you are not a current student and would like to take this course for credit, please review the Non-Degree Application Instructions page on our website and proceed accordingly. Also, please note that if you plan to take this on a for-credit basis, college tuition and fees will apply. If you are a continuing student in a degree program and have approval from your advisor, you can register for this course beginning on December 1st. Winter session courses will follow spring registration and payment deadlines.
Please Note: This course is offered on a for-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 this course, participants will be able to:
- Apply key learning theories (e.g., constructivism, flow theory, situated learning) to support game-based learning in diverse classrooms.
- Critically analyze educational games based on mechanics, aesthetics, dynamics, and alignment with learning outcomes
- Explore and experiment with digital and non-digital tools to engage and motivate learners.
- Design and prototype a simple educational game using iterative, user-centered methods.
- Develop curriculum-integrated lessons that use games for instruction, scaffolding, and assessment.
- Examine ethical, inclusive, and accessible design considerations in educational game creation.
- Explore and assess the potential of emerging technologies (e.g., VR, AR, AI) for future learning environments.
- Participate in peer review and playtesting to refine game designs.
- Create a ready-to-implement lesson plan featuring a custom-designed game.
- Articulate a personal vision for using games to transform teaching and learning.
Who Should Attend
This course is ideal for K-12 educators, instructional designers, curriculum developers, teacher educators, graduate students, and anyone passionate about using play, creativity and innovation to enhance learning. Whether you're new to game design or already experimenting with playful approaches in the classroom, this course offers practical strategies, design tools, and research-based insights to help you create meaningful, engaging learning experiences. No coding or prior game design experience is required—just a willingness to explore, experiment, and reimagine education through the lens of games and playful technologies.
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:
