Welcome to the Gamestar Mechanic Parent's Guide

We're glad that you are taking an interest in the game. We are committed to making Gamestar Mechanic a game that is both highly engaging and genuinely empowering for both kids and parents!

Gamestar Mechanic is part of a growing field of game-based learning. The game features a unique public-private partnership that crosses leading foundations, non-profits, academia and the game industry.

Gamestar Mechanic is currently supported by a partnership between the Institute of Play and E-Line Media. The game was originally developed by Gamelab in partnership with the Institute of Play and the Academic Advanced Distributed Learning Co-Lab (AADLC) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Initial funding for the game and companion learning guides came from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

The design of the game is based on research by some of the leading academics in the field including Katie Salen (Executive Director of the Institute of Play and curriculum author for the New York City Public School Quest To Learn) and James Paul Gee (author of What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy).

The goal of this Parents Guide is to provide both an overview of the research and educational goals underlying the design of the game as well as suggestions on how to engage with your kids through the game.

Because we have packed this guide with lots of (hopefully) useful information, we've broken it down into the sections on the right.

PREVIOUS SECTION - PARENTS GUIDE HOME - NEXT SECTION