Mission Lab


misison_diagramMission Lab, a working game design, assessment, program evaluation, and curriculum development space, is physically situated within the school run by the Institute of Play. Members of the Mission Lab staff are on site each day to work with students and teachers, providing opportunities to work with game designers and other media specialists on professional development and curriculum projects.

Mission Lab represents a new model of an institution that we feel is critical to the future of learning: an institution that acts as a “node” within a broader learning network, connecting and synthesizing expertise and resources from school institutions, non-profit organizations, foundations, and industry.

The lab has four primary responsibilities:

  1. Support current and future curriculum development through collaboration with Quest teachers and content experts;
  2. Offer professional development for current and incoming teachers;
  3. Design learning tools and toolkits for use in the school and within the Digital Media and Learning network;
  4. Undertake research and development around assessment and student development.

Mission Lab Staff:
Katie Salen, Executive Director of Design
Rebecca Rufo-Tepper, Co-Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development
Arana Shapiro, Co-Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Technology Integration
Leah Gilliam, Director of Projects, Q2L Portfolio
Chloe Varelidi, Creative Director
Claudio Midolo, Senior Game Designer
Brendon Trombley Game Designer
Susie Greenebaum, Wellness Specialist
Loretta Wolozin, Assessment Specialist
Evonne Tsang, Director of Business