Game-Based Learning and the Future of Education: Insights from Rebecca Kantar of Roblox

Oct 20, 2023

Rebecca Kantar, Vice President of Education at Roblox, is a dynamic force in educational technology. She discusses how gaming can enhance learning by bridging real-world challenges with practical skills. Kantar critiques traditional college admissions tests like the SAT and ACT, advocating for innovative, game-based assessments. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration in creating educational content and explores the transformative potential of Roblox and AI in redefining how students engage with learning. Her insights illuminate the future of education through play.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Reimagining Education: Bridging Learning with Real-World Challenges

02:27 • 2min

Gaming for Learning: Revolutionizing Education with Roblox

04:55 • 33min

Critique of College Admissions Assessments and the Purpose of Education

37:34 • 2min

Designing Game-Based Assessments

40:00 • 10min

Transforming Education through Roblox and AI

50:18 • 12min

Navigating Ed Tech Trends and Supporting Public Education

01:01:56 • 3min

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Rebecca Kantar serves as Vice President of Education and Director of the Roblox Community Fund at Roblox Corporation (NYSE: RBLX), a technology platform bringing the world together through play. Rebecca is responsible for growing Roblox’s education vertical into a self-sustaining ecosystem of outstanding educational content creators, bringing deeper learning curricular materials to educators and students. Roblox Education connects educational organizations with extraordinary Roblox developer studios through Roblox Community Fund grants.

Rebecca came to Roblox in 2020 when Roblox acquired Imbellus Inc., a simulation-based assessment technology company Rebecca founded and led. Rebecca founded Imbellus with conviction that better educational assessments would drive deeper teaching and learning and in turn, more students graduating ready for adulthood. In delivering operational, fair, valid, and reliable assessments at scale, Imbellus demonstrated the potential for simulation-based assessments to measure deep thinking skills in high-stakes workforce and educational contexts. Rebecca led Imbellus in raising over $23M, signing multimillion-dollar development contracts with Fortune 500 corporations and in completing successful M&A transactions with Roblox Corporation and McKinsey & Company. Prior to launching Imbellus, Rebecca founded an expert network that Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG) acquired in 2012.

Rebecca serves as a Vice Chair of the Museum of Science Board of Trustees, where she serves on the Campaign Cabinet and as Vice Chair of the Trustee Nominating Committee. Rebecca has served as an advisor to the Common Application and to the MA Common Start Coalition. Rebecca grew up in Newton, MA and currently lives in Massachusetts.

Links:
Roblox's educational partner site, for organizations or developers interested in building experiences in various subjects - including well-being, social/emotional learning on Roblox: https://education.roblox.com/partners/

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