Level Up Learning: Creating Games with AI Tools

Outline

Welcome & Framing the Challenge (5 min)
Introduce session goals and outcomes.
Quick poll: How have participants used games in teaching/learning?

Why AI + Game Creation Matters (10 min)
Brief overview of AI’s role in creativity and learning.
Classroom examples: How student-designed games boost engagement, problem-solving, and agency.

Live Demo of AI Game Tools (15 min)
Showcase 2–3 AI-powered tools (e.g., character design, storyline generation, or level creation).
Walk through how each tool supports student creativity and learning.

Hands-On Game Creation (15 min)
Participants use AI tools on their devices to create a mini-game or game concept.
Prompt: Design a game that teaches a concept from your subject area.

Share and Reflect (5 min)
Volunteers demo their creations.
Group discussion: Classroom applications, cross-curricular possibilities, and equity considerations.

Wrap-Up & Resources (5 min)
Provide a digital resource guide with AI game creation tools.
Call to action: Plan one way to integrate student game creation into instruction.

Outcomes

After this session, participants will be able to:

Use AI-powered tools to design and prototype simple digital games.

Model game creation activities that foster student creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

Integrate AI-supported game design into classroom projects across content areas and grade levels.

Support student agency by guiding learners to move from consumers of games to empowered creators.

Supporting research

Gee, J. P. (2007). What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy. Palgrave Macmillan.

Johnson, L., Becker, S. A., & Cummins, M. (2014). The NMC Horizon Report: 2014 K-12 Edition. New Media Consortium.

Holmes, W., Bialik, M., & Fadel, C. (2019). Artificial Intelligence in Education: Promises and Implications for Teaching and Learning. Center for Curriculum Redesign.

ISTE (2023). AI in Education: A Practical Guide for Teachers.

Papert, S. (1980). Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas. Basic Books.

Edutopia (2022). “How Game-Based Learning Engages Students and Improves Outcomes.”

UNESCO (2023). AI and Education: Guidance for Policy Makers.

McGonigal, J. (2011). Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World. Penguin Press.