News & Events

CICS ChicagoQuest teachers and leaders to speak at "Beyond These Times" innovation event

February 20, 2012

On March 26, National Louis University, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and Golden Apple Foundation have partnered to host a panel event that will focus on the future of education. CICS ChicagoQuest teachers will speak alongside Dr. James Paul Gee.... Read More.

Chicago Tribune feature: ChicagoQuest kids want to learn

December 21, 2011

Project- and game-based learning engages kids so they are ready to learn. Read on for Chicago Tribune's coverage of how CICS ChicagoQuest is making a difference by being different.... Read More.

Michael and Sybil share their school pride on Vocalo.org

July 18, 2011

Chicago Quest's school director and Director of Education and Leadership share their hopes and dreams for the school with two of Vocalo's most dynamic reporters. Listen to the interview here.... Read More.

Es El Momento: Univision y CICS ChicagoQuest

May 11, 2011

Paula Gomez de Univision habla con estudiantes, maestros, y padres de la nueva escuela de CICS: ChicagoQuest. Mirala aqui.... Read More.

Digital World Re-shapes Learning

April 5, 2011

Digital technology and video games have a big impact on many kids’ lives—and some believe they could play a bigger role in education. Read on for WBEZ's Linda Lutton's coverage of how CICS ChicagoQuest is changing education as we know it.... Read More.

The New York Times Sunday Magazine piece about Quest to Learn

September 1, 2010

Quest to Learn - Learning by Playing: Video Games in the Classroom... Read More.

NPR's All Things Considered

June 1, 2010

A novel public school in New York City has taken the video game as its model for how to teach.... Read More.

Founder, Katie Salen talks about teaching with games in a Big Think video

May 1, 2010

The designer founded a school in New York that organizes its curriculum around gaming and digital culture. ... Read More.

Village Voice examines how students design their own games, incorporate systems

April 1, 2010

A city school explores the educational power of playing — and designing — games.... Read More.

Katie Salen on Quest to Learn

February 1, 2010

Katie Salen discusses Quest to Learn, the nation's first public school based on the principles of game design. Based in New York City, it is testing a new approach to teaching and learning that could become a model for school innovation.... Read More.

April 2
Our new mission is cool. We've been asked to produce a talk show that takes place in the McCarthy age. It's going to be used in history classes in schools in Chicago and shown on public television. Each of us is going to become a person from that era. We learned that the media did not present many different views during the trials. So, we have to do a lot of research to understand our person's perspective and what they thought about other people's ideas.

Photo credit: Gordon Parks, photographer, Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [Reproduction number e.g., LC-USZ62-12345]

April 3
After reading about people from the 50's, I decided to be Paul Robeson for the talk show. I found some biographical books on him and learned that he was an activist who believed in justice for everyone. I'm wondering how someone like that could end up being seen as a threat to our country...

April 8
Seth peer-reviewed the 2nd draft of my persuasive essay. I have to make a case that my actions and opinions (I'm Paul Robeson) are not harmful to society – just reading about Marxism doesn't make someone a Communist. Seth told me to add more evidence to statements like that to make my argument stronger. I read Gabriela's paper about a fictional McCarthy supporter. She almost convinced me! I told her that she needed to separate fact from opinion, though.

April 13
We had so much fun videotaping today! I got dressed up to look like Paul Robeson and used the ideas from my paper to make my case during the talk show. I think that anyone who watches the show will really see Paul Robeson's point of view. I can't wait to see it on TV! I can't believe that other schools will be watching it too.