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
Helps teams learn, innovate, and change through agile, lean, and DevOps coaching using play and games as powerful metaphors for improvement.
Jesse Sanderson is a UX practitioner and serious games researcher focused on using games and technology for social impact. He earned a masterā€™s degree in Media and Information and a graduate certificate in Serious Game Design and Research from Michigan State University in 2025, following a bachelorā€™s degree in Graphic Design from MSU. Since 2015, Jesse has worked with the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, supporting data-driven systems that improve services for under-resourced communities. He is also the Digital Accessibility Intern at TechSmith Corporation, where he helps reduce barriers and expand access through inclusive design.
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.
