In this series of articles, we check in with teachers from TeacherQuest—a unique professional development program focused on games and game design. Through this 11-month program, which includes a summer intensive followed by a series of online design challenges, teachers learn to design and use games to develop 21st century skills.

In this series of articles, we check in with teachers from TeacherQuest—a unique professional development program focused on games and game design. Through this 11-month program, which includes a summer intensive followed by a series of online design challenges, teachers learn to design and use games to develop 21st century skills.

Earlier this month, I was invited to spend an enlightening day with Institute of Play (IOP), a non-profit based in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan that aims to help educators integrate game-design principles into their learning experiences. The future as we know it is rapidly changing and the workforce that today's students face is widely unknown. During my visit to NYC, I got to witness the power of play and how it is shaping the next generation of innovators at the Quest To Learn (Q2L) public school, opened in 2006 by Institute of Play.

A new game from GlassLab teaches Common Core writing and an interest in STEM. Plus, it can help teachers see student progress in real time.

The Institute of Play's MobileQuest CoLab recently visited Pittsburgh for two weeks of learning camps. Pittsburgh Youth Media reporter Lily Zhang was on the scene.

Teachers and students in Allegheny County are spending their summer playing games. But instead of capture the flag or kickball, these educators and kids are focusing on innovative mobile games they can use in their classrooms in the fall.