For two decades, New Mexico State University’s Learning Games Lab has collaborated with youth to design and test video games. This initiative has facilitated the creation of science-based, computer-enhanced educational programs such as games, animations, and interactive tools.
To commemorate these achievements, NMSU’s Department of Innovative Media Research and Extension will host a 20th Anniversary Party for the Learning Games Lab from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 13 in Gerald Thomas Hall, Room 173.
“The Games Lab has made three kinds of contributions: We’ve conducted research on the development of learning media, we’ve engaged youth and adults in outreach learning about digital tools, and we’ve reached learners internationally through beautifully designed learning games,” said Barbara Chamberlin, head of the Innovative Media Research and Extension Department.
The event will feature artwork from participants over the years and introduce the “Learning Games Lab Toolkit.” This free online resource provides information on approaches, lessons, and activities developed over the past two decades.
“While we teach design and game development, we help kids be more critical of media and understand digital literacy,” Chamberlin stated. “For 20 years, we have been refining our curriculum with youth, asking the question, ‘How do we best help kids learn how to design games?’ That turned into a set of guiding principles and activities, and we’ve now released that as a toolkit so that other educators can help youth be digitally enabled learners."
“To put the word learning and games together in a research space was somewhat courageous in 2004. So many people still saw games as an enemy then rather than an effective learning tool. I appreciate that our university got behind it,” she added.
Recently, the Learning Games Lab launched Interactive Tools to Improve Practice of Food Safety (iTIPS Food Safety), a training program for food product entrepreneurs, and “Theme Park Kitchen,” a game designed to teach middle school students about food safety.
“User testing research is always hard. My vision was to have a consistent way to bring in kids. The Games Lab was designed as a research space. It was originally about user testing; then it became a powerful outreach program where kids learned digital literacy and design skills. All of it is based on the research of our partners: research in their content area, our research on how people learn, our research on how to best design learning games,” Chamberlin explained.
In April 2024, the Learning Games Lab received the Intellectual Property Award presented by NMSU’s Arrowhead Center and Office of Research, Creativity and Economic Development. The award honors NMSU faculty or staff who have developed intellectual property with societal, industrial or commercial benefits.
The Learning Games Lab holds trademarks for Math Snacks along with copyrights for various educational materials including 14 games, four interactive programs, four apps, one app suite named Virtual Insect Collection Lab Science of Agriculture Series Food Safety Virtual Labs.
“Our content specialist partners know the most about our audiences. They are out in the world doing their jobs. When they bring us a topic they already have content expertise know who they are serving Our framework informs how to make transformation within learner user testing makes sure that content is having impact desire” said Amy Smith Muise Innovative Media Research Extension editor
For more information about the Learning Games Lab's 20th Anniversary Party visit https://innovativemedia.nmsu.edu/20years.html
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CUTLINE: Established in 2004 New Mexico State University’s Learning Games Lab will celebrate its anniversary party from p.m Sept (NMSU photo by Elijah Benegas)