Institute of Play's blog

September 9, 2009
Quest to Learn Opens!
The Institute of Play is delighted to announce the opening of Quest to Learn, the new NYC public school that uses game-inspired methods to teach both traditional and critical 21st century skills and literacies. Q2L opens as a result of a truly collaborative effort on the part of its awesome School Design Team, the Institute of Play's very own super hero Katie Salen, Q2L's energetic founding faculty, staff and game designers, its supportive key partners—including New Visions for Public Schools, The New School and the Pearson Foundation—not to mention the students, parents, volunteers and thought-partners who have helped bring our burgeoning learning community to fruition. Welcome Q2L parents and students, we can't wait to work with you in Mission Lab and to grow our school together in the months and years ahead!

YouMedia @ CPL is an innovative, 21st Century learning space, housed inside the Harold Washington Library, the main branch in Chicago's Public Library system. YouMedia @ CPL was designed to inspire collaboration and creativity by connecting young adults, books, media and institutions from around the city in one dynamic space. Read More

To extend this collaborative spirit beyond the library walls, the Chicago Public Library has been collaborating with the Digital Youth Network, led by Nichole Pinkard and Akili Lee in Chicago, and the Institute of Play in designing the YouMedia social network, an online site where students can create, display, and exchange ideas about their work with peers and adult mentors.

Click here to see some photos of the opening night of YouMedia.

Q2L parents—we would love to get an idea of how you would like to lend support to the Quest to Learn community! Please take a few minutes to fill out our Parent Volunteer Form. We will get in touch with you thereafter about how you can help. Thank you in advance, we appreciate your interest and support!

The Institute of Play has just completed registering students for Mobile Quest, a week-long game design camp where 5th graders make games using Nokia N85 smartphones. Mobile Quest is run by the Institute of Play and presented in partnership with the Pearson Foundation, Nokia and Parsons The New School for Design. Enrollment is limited, so sign-up today!