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From Players to Creators: How Student Game-Making Builds AI-Era Skills | Matt Dalio
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Play isn’t just fun—it’s a blueprint for learning. In this episode, Dr. Lisa Hassler and Matt Dalio (Endless Studios/Foundation) explore how student game-making builds creativity, collaboration, and resilience while scaffolding real tools—from no-code building to Unity and Blender.
We unpack the research on learning by making, connect Jane McGonigal’s mechanics of motivation to classroom practice, and trace a big-picture story from the printing press to software literacy.
Matt lays out why the next divide is not just devices and bandwidth, but the ability to create with digital tools and command AI workflows. You’ll hear how teachers can launch projects in minutes, not months. Along the way, we challenge the input-obsessed mindset of school and advocate for outcome-focused learning: build something that works, share it, improve it.
Highlights:
- Research showing gains from student-created games
- Endstar’s classroom-friendly on-ramp to pro tools: from no-code to Unity
- Multidisciplinary learning: CS, art, writing, math, project mgmt
- Equity: offline-first kits + affordable devices
- AI, software literacy, and outcome-based learning
- Play as a driver of learning, resilience, and creativity
- Classroom rollout, peer learning, and ready-to-use curricula
- Closing the digital divide with devices and offline content
- Becoming power users of AI and building real-world outputs
Matt Dalio- [email protected]
Great News! The Brighter Side of Education is now CPD Accredited!
Sponsored by Dr. Gregg Hassler Jr., DMD
Trusted dental care for healthy smiles and stronger communities—building brighter futures daily.
Head to the show notes to find if this episode is CPD eligible and details on how to claim your CPD certification!
Sponsored by Dr. Gregg Hassler Jr., DMD
Trusted dental care for healthy smiles and stronger communities—building brighter futures daily.
If you have a story about what's working in your schools that you'd like to share, email me at [email protected] or visit www.drlisahassler.com. Subscribe, tell a friend, and consider becoming a supporter by clicking the link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2048018/support.
The music in this podcast was written and performed by Brandon Picciolini of the Lonesome Family Band. Visit and follow him on Instagram.
Chapters
1. From Players to Creators: How Student Game-Making Builds AI-Era Skills | Matt Dalio (00:00:00)
2. Why Play Matters For Learning (00:00:38)
3. Forms Of Play And Research Evidence (00:01:39)
4. Jane McGonigal’s Framework For Motivation (00:03:14)
5. Introducing Guest Matt Dalio (00:04:39)
6. AI, Literacy, And Future Of Work (00:06:27)
7. From Printing Press To Software Literacy (00:09:05)
8. Teachers, Skills Gaps, And Engagement (00:12:20)
9. Games As The On-Ramp To Coding (00:15:00)
10. Turning Education Into A Network Effect (00:17:34)
11. Bridging Minecraft And Unity With NSTAR (00:21:03)
12. Classroom Use, Curriculum, And Peer Learning (00:24:49)
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