Fika chat on digital game-based learning and AI with Bruce M. McLaren and Elias Hedlin
Podcast "Fika Chat on the Future of Education" – episode 78
How can AI-driven adaptation, feedback and assessment be integrated into the game to support learning? And how do adults relate to, benefit from, and sometimes resist game-based methods in higher education, workplace training and lifelong learning? Professor Bruce M. McLaren from Carnegie Mellon University and KTH doctoral student Elias Hedlin discuss what the research says about digital game-based learning (DGBL) with Joakim Lilliesköld, deputy programme Manager for KTH's Future Education programme, and Marcus Lithander, host of the Fika chat podcast.
Time: Wed 2026-04-29 15.00 - 15.30
Language: English
Participating: Marcus Lithander, Joakim Lilliesköld, Elias Hedlin, Bruce McLaren
Podcast guests: Bruce M. McLaren and Elias Hedlin
Prof. Bruce M. McLaren is a Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, head of the McLearn Lab, and past President of the International Artificial Intelligence in Education Society (2017-2019). McLaren is passionate about how technology can support education and has dedicated his work and research to projects that explore how students can learn with digital learning games (also called educational games), intelligent tutoring systems, e-learning principles, and collaborative learning.
The episode is recorded in connection to Prof. McLaren's KTH visit and seminar at Digital Futures.
Elias Hedling is a newly enrolled doctoral student at the Department of Media Technology and Interaction Design within the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). He is involved in the READ project, which focuses on improving children’s reading skills using human-centered AI. The overall idea is to develop AI-based reading tutors where children read aloud and receive personalised feedback, while teachers get insights into their progress. More generally, Elias is interested in, and have worked previously on problems relating to, how AI systems interpret and use information, and how that affects the way they interact with people.
Research on digital game-based learning
What does the research say about digital game-based learning (DGBL)? How can AI-driven personalisation, feedback and assessment be integrated into the game to support learning? And how do adults view, benefit from and sometimes oppose game-based methods in higher education, workplace training and lifelong learning? Professor McLaren and PhD student Elias Hedling discuss what the research says about game-based learning with Joakim Lilliesköld, deputy programme director for Framtidens utbildning, and Marcus Lithander, host of the Fikasnacks podcast. Marcus holds a PhD in cognitive psychology and is also principle coordinator for the third principle of the Future Education framework: Active student-centred learning.
Related Fika chat episodes
About the podcast
Marcus Lithander chats over coffee (fika) with guests from or outside KTH about the future of education in general and our change programme " Future Education at KTH " in particular.
Post questions live or email beforehand
Since we are podcasting live, you have the opportunity to ask questions and comment during the conversation. You can also email questions beforehand to framtiden@kth.se .
Co-create for the podcast
Do you have suggestions for podcast topics? Then you are welcome to contact framtiden@kth.se (write "podcast" in the subject line).
Podcast host: Marcus Lithander
Get to know our new podcast host:
Johan hands over to Marcus Lithander to lead the podcast "Fika chat on the future of education"
