Introducing gamesandlearning.org

Ever since the Joan Ganz Cooney Center opened its doors in 2007, we’ve met a lot of great developers who are producing games for kids. And one piece of advice that they are all looking for is how to get their products funded and distributed as widely as possible– whether the K-12 institutional system, or the App Store.

We’ve been listening, and we want to help. Two years ago, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we convened the Games and Learning Publishing Council (GLPC), a group of top leaders and key investors in game-based learning. We’ve been digging into key questions: What kind of apps are available in the Education category? What are some lessons learned from the “edutainment” era? How do teachers use games in the classroom?

And we have been working hard to produce a great resource for you. Check out gamesandlearning.org, the new website that aims to provide unbiased coverage of key developments in the educational gaming industry, interviewing top thinkers and producers, and translating the latest learning and market research. The site focuses on market analysis, game development, learning research, classroom opportunities, and funding opportunities for those looking to make the most of this emerging market. You’ll also find a wealth of in-depth information on  the tech and innovation investment marketplace and key education and child development issues like the Common Core State Standards, appropriate marketing practices and COPPA, and what they mean for game developers.

To celebrate our official launch, we are rolling out a series of interviews with leading developers, funders, and scholars this week, including Dan White of Filament Games, Sara DeWitt of PBSKids, and James Paul Gee. Check back often, and follow us on Twitter.