#staffinsights

10 years ago – yonks ago – in an article called Yes, You Are a Gamer, I noted that everyday existence is governed by mechanics and dynamics, meaning we all intuitively understand how to navigate complex, interactive rulesets. This is still true, and it’s getting truer. In a world suffused with complex systems, we need…

Welcome back to the Game-based Learning Review, your go-to destination for all things game-based learning. We’ve been busy since our first episode and now have two streams under our belt. Check them out below! The Game-based Learning Review, Episode 2: Dan and Brandon Play RoboCo (Part 1 of numerous) In this episode, Dan and Brandon…

This year, we’re looking back on 20 years of learning games, and frankly, it looks great. We’ve spent two decades dedicated to the craft of creating engaging, efficacious learning games, and to mark the occasion, our art department has designed a fancy commemorative logo (behold, the header!) that perfectly captures our journey. But that’s not…

As part of our yearlong retrospective celebrating 20 years of educational game development, we’re introducing The Game-based Learning Review, covering the latest developments in the world of educational game development. With rarefied insights gathered from the frontlines of games and learning (RIP Bothans 🥀), this series will create a space to dissect, elevate, and evolve…

Game-based learning is often discussed as a modern response to new technology, so it might surprise you that many of its most effective ideas were established decades ago, shaped by institutional needs, limited hardware, and the realities of teaching at scale. Let’s hop in our Filament DeLorean and take a look at a few lesser-known…

In 2026, education technology policy is entering a more enforceable phase. Many of the conversations that dominated the last few years around accessibility, student data, and AI use are now crystallizing into concrete requirements with real deadlines. For schools, districts, and the organizations that build learning technology, 2026 marks a point where compliance, design decisions,…