Pre-Conference Day · August 4, 2025

Serious Play Conference · Duke University · Durham, NC

Go from concept to
playable quest
in a single day

A hands-on hackathon for practitioners who want to build game-based learning — not just discuss it. Work in small teams, get dedicated support, and leave with something real.

Date Monday, August 4, 2025
Location Duke University · Durham, NC
Format Full day · Small groups · Demo finale
Cost Free to attend
Apply for a spot →
Limited to 20 participants Applications reviewed on a rolling basis — apply early.
Consider applying as a team of 2–3 colleagues — you'll leave with a quest ready to pilot in your own context.

What is this

A full day to build something
you can actually use

You already know the case for game-based learning. This day is about doing it. You'll work in small teams using the Tyto Authoring Studio — a no-code platform built for instructional designers — to design and build a real quest from scratch, with dedicated support throughout.

No engineering required. Bring your content expertise and a learning challenge you care about.

🎮
By end of day, every team demos a working quest draft — a real, playable learning experience built in a single day.

See the platform

The tool you'll build with —
and leave knowing how to use

Tyto Authoring Studio is a no-code, browser-based platform purpose-built for instructional designers. Watch a walkthrough of the platform you'll get hands-on training with — and take home 3 months of free access to keep building after the event.

The day

What to expect

9:00 AM
Arrival & kickoff
Coffee, introductions, and orientation to the Tyto Authoring Studio
9:30 AM
Team formation & topic selection Hands-on
Groups self-organize around shared topics or learning goals
10:00 AM
Quest design sprint Hands-on
Map learning objectives, design your scenario, build quest mechanics with guided support
12:30 PM
Lunch Social
Break, share progress, swap ideas across teams
1:30 PM
Build & iterate Hands-on
Continue building, refine interactions, add feedback loops
4:00 PM
Demo showcase Social
Each team presents their quest — share what you built, gather feedback, celebrate the work
5:00 PM
Wrap-up & next steps
Platform access, pilot planning, and how to keep building after today

Example quests

See what gets built

These quests were created with the same platform you'll use at the hackathon. Try them yourself to get a feel for what a finished quest looks and plays like.

Cat cafe quest screenshot
6th Grade · Math & Data Science
Catter in the Chai: Water-MEOW-lon
Help a cat cafe owner determine how much of a new boba tea flavor they would actually sell.
by Immersed Games
Play quest →
 Startup fundraising quest screenshot
Adult · Startup Fundraising
Figure out how to get a warm intro to an investor
Navigate the world of startup fundraising and land the introduction that could change everything.
by Finta
Play quest →
 Registered nurse quest screenshot
High School · Career Exploration
10-Minute Shift: Registered Nurse
Step into a 10-minute shift as an RN and experience what the role actually demands.
by Array Education
Play quest →

Who should come

Built for people who create learning

This day is designed for curriculum professionals who want to add game-based learning to what they're already building — with real tools, real support, and a real output to take home.

🎓
University faculty & program staff
Design a quest for a course you're already teaching
📚
Curriculum & content developers
Prototype a game-based module for your existing catalog
🏗️
Instructional designers
Add a new authoring tool to your practice while building something real
🌐
Research Triangle community
Open beyond Serious Play attendees — practitioners from nearby universities and colleges are welcome

What you walk away with

Leave with something tangible

A working quest draft
A real, playable rough draft built by your team, on content you chose — ready to iterate and pilot
3 months of free platform access
Keep building after the event. Polish your quest, run a pilot, and share it with real learners
A research-backed design framework
The Tyto quest design model is grounded in learning science — you'll understand the pedagogy behind what you built, not just the mechanics
A room full of collaborators
Spend a day with curriculum developers, university faculty, and instructional designers from across the Research Triangle — people doing the same work you are
⚡ Limited to 20 participants

Ready to add game-based learning to your practice?

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply early — once we hit 20 accepted participants, the cohort is full.

Accepted participants will receive a confirmation email with all event details. By applying, you're committing to a full-day event (9am–5pm, August 4). Teams of 2–3 from the same organization are encouraged — apply together and note your team in the application.

Apply for a spot →
Hosted by Immersed Games in partnership with Serious Play Conference · Duke University · Durham, NC · August 4, 2025