Partnership Case Study
GEMS Dubai American Academy: Study 4
Play is a powerful driver of learning, and this project invited students to turn their natural creativity into purposeful design. Students explored what makes games engaging, fair, and fun—then worked together to create original games for younger students at GEMS DAA. What began as a simple challenge became a rich journey of collaboration, communication, and thoughtful problem-solving.
Our PARTNER
GEMS Dubai American Academy
SETTING
IB High School
Dubai, UAE
ENGAGEMENT
Multi-year partnership
FOCUS AREAS
Whole-staff implementation of the Culture of Excellence Program
From Consumers to Designers: Students Test Game Ideas, Negotiate Rules, and Refine Prototypes to Enhance the Player Experience
Case Summary
Students investigated the elements of engaging game design, experimented with mechanics, and created original board and physical games for younger peers. They iterated through feedback cycles, documented their thinking, and presented their games for others to play. The project built communication, creativity, and peer leadership while strengthening the learning community through shared joy and purposeful play.
The Culture of Excellence process helped strengthen what already makes our school great.
98%
The frameworks provided clear, practical structures that support my everyday teaching.
100%
Our team now shares a more consistent language and approach to improving learning.
98%
Professional learning and conversations increased my connection to our collective vision.
100%
Overall, this has been a positive and valuable experience for our school community.
100%
(Percentages reflect staff who agreed or strongly agreed.)
In Their Words
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“My students showed a level of ownership I’ve never seen before—every step of the process mattered to them.”
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“The clarity of the frameworks made it easy to shift from directing learning to facilitating it.”
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“What surprised me most was the depth of thinking our students displayed once they had real purpose.”
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“The Culture of Excellence work helped us create learning that felt meaningful, connected, and genuinely exciting.”
John Doe
Combo Interactive -
“Students stayed engaged because the learning belonged to them. That shift alone changed the whole energy of our classrooms.”
John Doe
Combo Interactive
“What stands out across every project is how deeply our students engage when learning is authentic and purposeful. The Culture of Excellence work has strengthened our shared language, lifted teacher confidence, and given our students a sense of agency that will shape their future. It has been transformative for our school community.”
Tammy Murphy, Principal, GEMS Dubai American Academy