Takeaway:Ā Leave with practical insights into designing game-based learning experiences that travel well across borders while remaining grounded in the needs of local learners.
Jesse Sanderson
Designs meaningful play-based experiences both for and with people from under-represented and under-resourced communities by creating lasting and impactful partnerships.
Jesse SandersonĀ graduated from Michigan State University in December 2025 with a masterā€™s in Media and Information and a graduate certificate in Serious Game Design and Research. He also obtained his bachelorā€™s degree in Graphic Design from Michigan State in 2016. He has worked for the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness since 2015 and just wrapped up a Digital Accessibility Internship for TechSmith. A believer in the power of games and technology to make meaningful impact in the world, Jesse is motivated to help empower under-resourced communities to reduce barriers and reach their full potential.
We Speak! Addressing Classroom Language Barriers in Under-Resourced Global Regions through Game-Based Learning
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We Speak! is a student-led game-based learning project by Jesse Sanderson that began in Tanzania in 2024 to address classroom dropout driven by language barriers. The project has since expanded to Kenya and India, and has been evaluated by Portuguese students in the United States. Built around a simple, adaptable template, We Speak! enables teachers to integrate the experience easily while tailoring it to the cultural, linguistic, and technological realities of each context.
In this session, participants will explore how game-based learning can be designed for global use without losing local relevance. You will examine real-world constraints such as limited digital access, understand how contextual differences shape learning design decisions, and see how a flexible game framework can support engagement and inclusion across diverse environments.
