Educators Summit

GDC Summits offer an unparalleled opportunity to dive deep into specific game development disciplines, guided by industry leaders who are at the forefront of innovation. Taking place over two intensive days, Monday and Tuesday, these focused sessions provide actionable insights and advanced knowledge that will directly impact your work, all while connecting you with a global community of peers who share your passion. Attending a GDC Summit is not just about learning — it's about gaining the tools and connections needed to advance your career and make a lasting impact in the industry.

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Redefining How We Teach Game Development

The Educators Summit at GDC 2025 is a one-day event dedicated to advancing game education through innovation and collaboration.

This summit brings together educators from established game development programs and emerging course creators to explore cutting-edge ideas and best practices. Attendees will discover experimental approaches, proven strategies, and new ways to prepare the next generation of game developers. Whether refining your curriculum, enhancing teaching methods, or addressing the challenges of diverse and online learning, educators will find the tools and insights needed to stay ahead in game education.

One-Day Summit
Pass Access: All Access Pass, Summits Pass
Conference Track: Educators

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Who Attends

The summit is designed for instructors, professors, and course creators in game development and game studies, from K-12 to universities and graduate programs. Whether you are part of an established program or developing a new curriculum, you’ll gain insights into inspired teaching approaches, funding strategies, and successful program structures.

Networking & Collaboration

Join a community of educators dedicated to shaping the future of game education. The summit offers a platform to share innovative approaches, discuss challenges like teaching diverse communities, and collaborate on new solutions. Through focused discussions, case studies, and panels, build connections that can lead to future collaborations and enhanced teaching practices.

Summit Takeaways

Gain access to cutting-edge ideas and practical strategies for game education, including innovative teaching methods, approaches to online instruction, techniques for supporting diverse student communities, and novel ways to fund and publish research. Learn from case studies with strong results and participate in sharp, insightful discussions on current issues in game education.

2025 Session Highlights

Sketchbooking and Visual Analysis in the Game Design Classroom

Christopher Totten
Associate Professor, Founder, Kent State University/Pie for Breakfast Studios

Preparing Students for the Worst: Layoffs, Contract Work and More

Tyler Coleman
Founder, Retora Games

Teaching Games with Games IX: Climate Crisis

Patrick LeMieux
Associate Professor, University of California, Davis
Stephanie Boluk
Associate Professor, University of California, Davis
Ben Abraham
Researcher and Consultant, AfterClimate
Katherine Buse
Assistant Professor, University of Chicago
Alenda Chang
Associate Professor, University of California, Santa Barbara
Pablo Quarta
Narrative Designer and Producer, Matajuegos
Bart Simon
Professor, Concordia University