UKIE-backed Digital Schoolhouse partners with Roblox to provide suite of tools for students to develop Roblox games in-class

The UK's Digital Schoolhouse, an educational non-profit supported by the UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE) industry body, has teamed up with Roblox to offer a range of complimentary resources aimed at teaching children how to build games using the popular platform. This initiative includes curriculum-aligned workshops and learning materials designed to be used in traditional classroom settings, with options for offline workshops suitable for schools lacking consistent technology access.

The program incorporates teacher-led sessions utilizing Roblox Studio, complemented by an "unplugged" version tailored for environments without dependable devices or internet connectivity. During these workshops, students will engage in game development activities, pitch their ideas, and ultimately create their own game from the ground up on the Roblox platform. The program is designed to impart practical skills in game design fundamentals, scripting using Roblox's Luau engine, and best practices for utilizing AI prompts.

Roblox has been actively developing AI-driven tools over the past year, positioning these as means to expedite game creation. The curriculum for this program aligns with national computing education standards, and the materials are freely available for download from the Digital Schoolhouse website. Roblox's senior director of education policy, Adam Seldow, highlighted the collaboration as a means to introduce fresh, standards-aligned resources, reinforcing their commitment to high-quality, interactive educational content.

The initiative provides a teacher toolkit encompassing safeguarding guidance, materials for parents, and support for aligning the content with educational standards. Roblox has been particularly mindful of safety concerns, especially concerning younger users. The company has faced lawsuits in the past regarding child safety, including a lawsuit in Louisiana over child protection issues.

In recent years, Roblox has implemented several measures to enhance safety, such as limiting messaging features for users under 13, introducing facial recognition checks to restrict communication between minors and adults, and implementing a sensitive issues content tag to restrict access to certain experiences for younger users.

Additionally, the company has rolled out new moderation policies and AI tools to monitor and address potential risks, including early detection of child endangerment.