About GameDesk

GameDesk was created to develop a “next generation” model of education, revolutionizing the way we teach and learn.

We are a research, game development, and outreach organization that has evolved out of seven years of research at the University of Southern California. We have developed, tested and evaluated next generation game curriculum and software throughout various pilots in schools and community centers in the Los Angeles area.

The organization’s focus is to help close the achievement gap and to engage students, particularly those that are low-proficient, in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) learning. GameDesk embeds STEM content into game-centered projects with a strong focus on fostering students’ sense of purpose, ownership, and personal relevance.

The program targets students attending under-performing schools in the metropolitan Los Angeles area. To successfully support students, the culture of learning must be changed. GameDesk programs engage students, motivates them to learn, and rewards them in ways that instills confidence, allowing them to build a foundation for continued learning experiences.

It is the organization’s philosophy that digital games and media technologies have a unique power to engage and motivate students. By using these technologies in a project-based environment, students develop an appreciation for STEM learning, team-building, and a belief in themselves that carries over into all aspects of their lives.

The GameDesk Institute is an association of teachers, scholars, game-designers, school administrators, researchers, educational institutions, writers, engineers, artists, and career specialists who work to develop and implement GameDesk methodology and materials. The organization seeks to grow and nurture a pipeline of individuals who understand cyber, interactive, mobile, and game-based learning. The goal is to experiment, create best practices, evolve the materials, and help develop Career Technical Education pathways throughout this new curriculum.



GameDesk is a 501(c)3 nonprofit research and outreach organization that seeks to reshape models for learning through game-play and game development.

The organization looks to help close the achievement gap and engage students to learn core STEM curriculum. It develops project-based learning with a strong focus on purpose, ownership, and personal value.

The organization (originally developed out of research and support at the University of Southern California's IMSC) has now been in development, practice, and/or evaluation for over two years in various schools in the Los Angeles area.


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