Center for Transformational Play

08/21/2026

🕹️🚨Game study alert!
Researchers are looking for participants for a Carnegie Mellon University Human-Computer Interaction study exploring how design constraints affect creativity in game creation. Create small games using a Bitsy-inspired game creation platform, play and provide feedback on games created by other participants, complete a few surveys, and try different design approaches. You can download copies of the games you create. Learn more and apply ▶️ https://creativegamestudy.com

08/19/2026

We are a little jealous that apparently another department is in possesion of a purple, inflatable T-Rex costume... but what a playful welcome!

08/17/2026

It’s not too late to be an early bird for Meaningful Play 2026! 🎮🔥

Take advantage of early-bird pricing and secure your spot for the region’s premiere conference on the power of games and play. Join us for three days of games research, design, innovation, and education, plus a bonus Day of Play in Pittsburgh.

If you’re a game researcher, designer, developer, educator, student, or part of a mission-driven org exploring games for impact, this conference is built for you. Don’t miss out 👉https://tinyurl.com/ymxbfhvp

08/12/2026

Help us bring the Monsters of Appalachia to SXSW EDU!

The Bigfoots, Squonks, Flatwood Monsters, Loveland Frogs, and Moth Persons cordially invite you to VOTE for: Monsters of Appalachia: A Playable Learning Ecosystem.

This immersive, game-based workshop has participants enter the world of Monsters of Appalachia, a role-playing experience inspired by Appalachian folklore. As cryptids with distinct motivations, players work together and sometimes compete to solve challenges, forge alliances and shape their community. Through gameplay and reflection, participants experience ecosystem building from the inside, revealing how trust, coordination and collective action create resilient learning ecosystems.

The session will be hosted by folks from Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center, Remake Learning, and KnowledgeWorks Foundation, based on a game designed by the CTP.

The community voting period only runs until Aug. 23, so cast your vote today! 👉 https://tinyurl.com/39x3e56b

08/10/2026

FINAL WEEK TO REGISTER!

Educators and Creatives in the Pittsburgh area: Registration closes this week for…

Play, Pause, Rethink: Exploring AI Through Games & Classroom Creativity
📅 Monday, Aug. 17
🕙 10 AM
📍 CMU Campus

This immersive workshop invites educators to experience AI literacy through play, storytelling, and systems design. Hands-on activities. Ethical design. Game-based learning. Real examples you can use tomorrow.

Secure your spot! Register here 👉 https://www.cmu.edu/ctp/workshops/exploring_ai.html

08/03/2026

📆Two weeks to go! Our Exploring AI workshop is coming up August 17!

Whether you’re an educator, creator, or instructional designer, you’ll get:

- Approachable explanations of core AI concepts
- Interactive activities that explore the ethics around emerging technologies
- Practical ideas you can take back to your classroom or team

👉 Learn more & register: cmu.edu/ctp/workshops/exploring_ai.html

07/31/2026

Happy lunar road trip anniversary! On July 31, 1971, Apollo 15 astronauts David Scott and James Irwin became the first humans to take a drive on the Moon when they took the Lunar Rover out for a spin. Talk about the ultimate summer adventure … and there’s more to come. Our friends over at Astrobotic Technology (co-founded by Carnegie Mellon University robotics professor Red Whittaker) are gearing up to send Astrolab’s FLIP rover to the Moon on the Griffin 1 mission later this year. Pittsburgh to the Moon! 🚀🌕

07/27/2026

🚀 Curious about how AI fits into your instructional environment but not sure where to start?

Join Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for Transformational Play for *Play, Pause, Rethink: Exploring AI Through Games and Classroom Creativity*

This workshop invites educators to experience AI literacy through play, storytelling, and systems design. You’ll uncover how algorithms, recommendations, and platform structures influence human behavior and societal outcomes. Expect practical tools you can use right away.

This workshop is idea for:
• Educators & instructional designers
• Students & researchers
• Administrators & program leaders
• Creatives & communicators
• Anyone seeking a grounded, human-centered intro to AI

📅Monday, Aug. 17, in-person, CMU Campus
Seats are limited, register today!
🔗

Explore foundational ideas from transformational play and game design and learn how to and adapt AI literacy activities for use in your own learning environment.

07/22/2026

🥳 We’re delighted to celebrate the nomination of Victor Jhou and his teammates in the Best in Health & Wellness category at this years Games for Change festival. Victor was part of the first group of Entertainment Technology Center students joining forces with the CTP for a concentration in transformational play.

The Games for Change Awards recognized his team’s work on Camp Movewell - a rehabilitation platform that transforms physical therapy into measurable, interactive experiences using smart footwear technology.