This week Fast Company ranked GameDesk #6 in its article about The World’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies In Education.  Our mission is to rethink education and make serious learning fun.  Playing, making, and the integration of 21st century technology tools are built into every idea and process we use.  Thank you Fast Company for the tip of the hat and helping us lead big change in education!  Check out the full article at Fast Company Innovative Companies in Education 

CEO Lucien Vattel recently gave a TedX closing night talk “Unboxing Education Through Gaming, Playing, and Making” showcasing GameDesk work in transforming education. The talk looked at forming mental models, the digital and participatory generation, and creating engagement and meaning through play and making.

Lucien also spoke to how simulation, games, and interactivity informs learning and ended on a forecast into the year 2013.

With AT&T’s support, GameDesk is taking its model nationwide, helping to improve student outcomes across the country. “Up until now we have only been able to support schools here in LA. With AT&T’s support, we’re going to be able to scale up and get these new learning tools out there for everyone,” explained Lucien Vattel, founder and executive director of GameDesk. AT&T is contributing $3.8 million, one of AT&T’s largest single contributions to date under AT&T Aspire, to vastly expand GameDesk’s reach to parents, students and educators nationwide through the development of a physical learning laboratory and a national online portal to take the very best work developed and/or tested in the lab and make it available to all. full story

We know at GameDesk that the work we do is special, but don’t take our word for it. CEO of AT&T Randall Stephenson recently gave a presentation on the AT&T Aspire initiative which is dedicated to improving high school education in the United States and ensuring American students are prepared for the 21st century.

As part of this presentation, Stephenson identified GameDesk as a new partner and a “great example” of “impressive work” in using education to “tap into our nation’s technology and marry it with educational needs.” Stephenson emphasized that AT&T was excited about working with GameDesk.

Another great plug for GameDesk appeared on CNN. Syyn Labs, one of GameDesk’s partners, was featured on the nationally televised CNN program, “The Next List”. Central to the profile was Syyn Labs’ collaborative relationship with GameDesk who together have been developing innovative “makers” curriculum for educational transformation. The piece, which featured one of Syyn Labs and GameDesk’s brainstorm sessions, positioned the two partners at the forefront of creating inspiring educational experiences.