Leveling-Up Access to Education Through Twitch: Democratizing Education Through Gaming Platforms and Theories

Case study: Daniel Drak (Parsons School of Design)

Abstract

The dramatic rise of streaming owes much of its success to the fact that communities were forced online during the pandemic. These trends benefited platforms such as Twitch whose user base rose dramatically at that time. Suddenly, streaming and digital platforms supplemented in-person activities, and individuals were quick to experiment with these technologies as an extension of their personal and professional lives, teachers amongst them. Drawing from the accessible nature of such platforms as a way for individuals to engage in learning in the same way they engage similarly in entertainment provides a host of opportunities for teachers and students alike. With ease of access to such platforms, we can further promote access to learners while cultivating communities of care and exploration. At the same time, these platforms can often be a lightning rod for trolls and negative online behavior, of which online communities must practice resilience and vigilance when it comes to their safety and the protection of online safe spaces. This case study will shed light on one professor’s attempts to cultivate online learning opportunities that could both complement and supplement in-person learning activities. This will be discussed in two ways: 1) through the adaptation of traditional curriculum to an online environment that re-imagines modalities of student participation to the benefit of diverse students and learning styles, and 2) through an open-access approach to post secondary-level education that could be accessed by learners who may not have access to institutions, thus democratizing materials and curriculum. Learners will be invited to participate in a Twitch- based information series that introduces design to those less familiar with its breadth and depth established with the idea of exciting individuals about possibilities within design and through design. This content was previously offered as part of a course developed by the session host that introduced students to the multifaceted nature of design and has served as a catalyst for many students to pursue further opportunities in design.