Digital Learning Games master’s programme first-year student at Tallinn University, Pariya Akhavass, shares her journey into game-based learning, reflects on how her studies have shaped her understanding of game design, and discusses the broader impact games can have on learning, attitudes, and society.
What motivated you to apply for the Digital Learning Games programme at Tallinn University?
I have been teaching and instructing English for more than 15 years, working with learners of all ages, from young children to adults. Through this long experience, I've learned that regardless of age, games and gamification are among the most effective ways to make new language and vocabulary truly stick in learners’ minds.
By integrating games into my teaching, I have been able to trigger my students’ lusory attitude, their natural desire to play, which makes even the most challenging topics more engaging, accessible, and memorable.
When I read the curriculum of the Digital Learning Games programme at Tallinn University and saw its strong focus on pedagogy, art, game design, and technology, I immediately felt that this programme perfectly aligned with my profession. I knew this was the opportunity I had been searching for: a way to deepen my knowledge, refine my skills, and expand my impact within my own field.
How have your first-year courses shaped the way you think about game design, learning, or technology?
The more I become literate in this field and understand the importance of games and play in both learning and life, the more engaged and eager I feel to explore it further. It truly feels like an endless ocean of knowledge.
These courses have significantly shaped the way I think about games, not merely as tools for entertainment, but as powerful systems that influence learning, behavior, motivation, and even identity. I now understand more deeply the profound impact games can have, not only on education but on life itself.
The programme has also given me the vocabulary and conceptual framework to discuss game design terminology, psychological foundations, and core design principles with clarity and confidence.
Is there a project or assignment so far that you have found especially interesting or meaningful?
Topics related to serious games and persuasive games have been particularly meaningful to me. I find these types of games fascinating because of their potential to create real change at the level of individuals, societies, and even nations.
I am especially drawn to the idea that games can influence awareness, attitudes, and behavior in areas such as social issues, conflict, and collective thinking. As a result, I feel highly motivated to work on, or be part of, a game design team focused on creating serious and persuasive games with meaningful impact.
How do you see the connection between games and learning developing through your studies?
Through my studies, I see the connection between games and learning becoming increasingly intentional, research-driven, and design-oriented. Rather than using games as surface-level engagement tools, I am learning how to design meaningful play experiences that are deeply aligned with learning objectives, cognitive processes, and emotional engagement.
I now understand that effective learning games are not accidental; they are carefully designed systems that balance mechanics, narrative, feedback, and motivation. As my studies progress, I see myself moving from intuitive game-based teaching toward purposeful learning design, where games become environments for exploration, experimentation, and transformation.
What would you say to someone who is considering applying to the Digital Learning Games programme?
This programme pushes you toward creativity in the deepest sense. It opens the door to a whole new world, one that combines fun, patience, collaboration, psychology, art, and technology. It truly brings together everything you can imagine from different disciplines into one coherent learning experience.
In a world that is rapidly changing due to technological advancement, we need more thoughtful and ethical game designers than ever before. Games have the power to shape thinking, challenge beliefs, and even transform deeply ingrained mindsets. If you are curious, creative, and passionate about learning and impact, this programme is absolutely worth pursuing.
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