SW New Mexico News

For two decades, the Learning Games Lab at New Mexico State University has been at the forefront of educational innovation, utilizing interactive programs to aid both youth and adults in learning new content. Barbara Chamberlin, head of the Innovative Media Research and Extension department in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, emphasized the importance of innovation: “Innovation is in our department name. We build on the innovation of the faculty we work with, whether that’s in research, teaching or Extension.”

The lab's journey began in the early 1990s when Jeanne Gleason developed some of the first interactive games within the national land-grant system. In 2004, Chamberlin formalized user testing research and initiated an outreach program involving youth as design partners. This collaboration extended to various faculty members at NMSU and other institutions, sparking global interest in their animations, videos, games, and interactive programs.

In 2023 alone, these products garnered 5.7 million views and downloads. Notably, more than 2 million interactions occurred on BrainPOP's platform. Chamberlin noted, “It’s all part of discovering new ways of helping people learn.”

Youth engagement is a cornerstone of the lab's methodology. They are involved as "game consultants," providing feedback during game testing. Matheus Cezarotto explained this approach: “Everything we do in the lab with youth is intentional...We call them ‘game consultants’ because they provide valuable feedback in educational products under development.”

The lab also develops relevant applications for adults, such as those aimed at farmers managing water use or students training as dieticians. Partnerships extend to organizations like iThrive to address issues such as mental health and environmental impacts through gaming.

Amy Smith Muise highlighted their audience-focused design process: “When we design our games, we work with our audiences...We also design based on what transformation they’re hoping to make.”

Recognition for their work includes winning NMSU’s Intellectual Property Award in 2024 and securing copyrights for numerous educational products. Math Snacks became available on Game Learning due to a commercial licensing agreement facilitated by Arrowhead Center.

Recent collaborations include a water game project with UC Merced focusing on arid farming systems and developing tools for neurodiverse learners with the University of Arkansas.

Throughout its history, the lab has partnered with various programs within NMSU’s College of ACES. This includes releasing iTIPS food safety modules designed for underserved communities.

Chamberlin concluded by emphasizing their mission: “Everything we do has Extension at the heart...Extension is how we apply the research of NMSU to change the lives of New Mexicans.”

A version of this story was originally published in ACES Magazine.