It might seem odd to hear an elementary school described as “futuristic and cool,” but for students at GameDesk’s beta PlayMaker school in Santa Monica, which will be officially launching at a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 11, this description fits.
The school, which has been open for only sixth graders since the fall, offers students an interactive and creative learning environment. Whether it is in a classroom where students are encouraged to create with drills and saws or through a curriculum that incorporates students moving their bodies against screen projections, PlayMaker students are part of an innovative education experience (which is also a reason why PlayMaker is backed by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation).
The PlayMaker School is a partnership with New Roads School, whose teachers and students are extremely supportive of GameDesk’s initiatives in the classroom, Miriam Choi, GameDesk Community and Communications Strategist, said.
“Everyone kind of knows us on campus as the cool GameDesk people, who bring these really great iPads and laptops with innovative curriculum,” Choi said.
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Although PlayMaker is the platform through which GameDesk, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization stemmed from University of Southern California, is able to push out and test its content, PlayMaker is just a small part of what GameDesk does.
Among its other capacities as a research institute and as a game development studio, GameDesk is currently working on an AT&T-sponsored portal which Choi said she hopes will become the #1 website for teachers, parents and students to access to engaging educational content nationwide. (If you are a teacher, parent or student, you can sign up for the beta here.)
These inventive strides in the world of education recently landed GameDesk the title of #6 most innovative company in education by Fast Company. Because of this, GameDesk has had increasing opportunities for partnerships, Choi said, and the 30-person team is always looking to work with other digital companies and thought leaders who will further “transform the learning experience.”
“Technology in the classroom and digital education,” Choi said. “is what we are really all about.”
