announcements

The Institute of Play is proud to announce the launch of Game Bucket BETA - the Institute of Play's new online tool that maps New York state learning standards to a library of digital and non-digital games. The goal of the project is to provide educators, students and parents with a selection of games that can be played in support of specific curricular goals.

Game Bucket is an extension of the Institute of Play's commitment to the strength of games as both educational tools and process-based systems. Many of the games in the game bucket database explore learning through problem-solving, critical reflection and other active "ways of doing." Still actively in development, Game Bucket does not claim that a particular game will teach a particular set of skills. Rather, Game Bucket proposes that when used in concert with regular coursework, the games included in the database have the potential to provide new perspectives and deepen current understandings of educational concepts and standards.

Quest to Learn, the new 6th-12th grade public school that will use game-inspired methods to teach both traditional and 21st-century skills, will be hosting a series of open houses to build its future community of learners and thinkers. These information sessions will introduce families to Quest to Learn, a dynamic learning space for today's digital kids, that will open this fall in Manhattan's District 2 with a 6th-grade class. This event will be hosted by the New School, one of Quest's institutional partners.

Join us for an Open House to Learn More!

• Tuesday March 17, 6:30 -7:30pm

NEW! Location of Open House Sessions:
Parsons The New School for Design,
Swayduck Auditorium, 65 Fifth Ave., NYC
RSVP: salenk@newschool.edu
Questions? 516.554.2456 or 718.935.3665

Download Parent Kit (zip)

Quest to Learn is now actively recruiting students to join its sixth-grade class in the fall.

We are looking for students who are:

• Creative
• College and Career Focused
• Curious
• Hands-on-Learners
• Technology and Media Fans
• Game Lovers
• Interested in the way things work

The Institute of Play is thrilled to announce that New York City will become home to Quest to Learn, a new 6-12th grade public school that will use game-inspired methods to teach both traditional and critical 21st century skills and literacies. Opening in fall 2009, the Institute of Play is creating the school in collaboration with New Visions for Public Schools, a not-for-profit organization that works in partnership with the New York City Department of Education to improve academic achievement in the City's public schools. The school will be a District 2 school, located in Manhattan. Quest will open with a 6th grade, adding a new grade each year. The school will be supported through an innovative partnership with The New School, Pearson, and Pearson Foundation. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation will provide research support, as part of its Digital Media and Learning Initiative.

Download Press Release | Media Kit (zip)