The Future of Engagement is AI-Coded: School Psychology Survivor
The Future of Engagement is AI-Coded
And you don’t even need to code.
Let’s be honest—keeping students engaged in 2025 is no small feat. Attention spans are shorter, expectations are higher, and passive worksheets just don’t cut it anymore. We’re in an era where students swipe through TikTok edits faster than we can finish a PowerPoint transition.
So how do we keep up?
We meet them where they are—with interactivity, choice, and storytelling.
And now, thanks to AI, we can build those things ourselves.
From AI Prompts to Interactive Worlds
Until recently, creating a game or simulation required a developer, a designer, a project manager—and a budget. But with tools like Gemini and other no-code AI platforms, that wall is gone.
Today, an educator can go from idea to interactive in a weekend.
Case in point: I created School Psychology Survivor—a game about the chaotic, bureaucratic, hilarious world of school psychology. It’s part Oregon Trail, part satire, and entirely powered by no-code AI.
The game was built using HTML, JavaScript, and CSS so it can be embedded and run right from a website—no external hosting platform or backend services required. It’s a proof of concept for now, and I plan to build a more polished version in the future.
You can play it here: https://lockwoodconsulting.net/video-game
Note: If you're playing on your phone, make sure your ringer is turned on to hear the audio.
Why This Isn’t Just a Trend
This is more than a cool project. It’s a signal. Here’s why:
1. Students expect interactivity.
They live in choice-driven environments—streaming menus, personalized feeds, open-world games. We can’t lecture them into learning anymore. We need to invite them into it.
2. Creativity is a new literacy.
Tools like Gemini let us teach through simulation, storytelling, and design. Whether it’s a game about FERPA violations or a roleplay about ethics in AI, students learn more when they feel something.
3. Educators are now creators.
AI isn’t replacing us—it’s empowering us. We know the nuance. We know the audience. Now, with AI, we can build the tools we used to wish someone else would make.
What Could You Build?
A game that teaches executive functioning
An interactive IEP simulator
A decision-tree for navigating career pathways
A virtual escape room for social-emotional learning
With AI, the distance between imagination and implementation has shrunk. The only limit is what you want to make.
Final Thought: We’re Entering the Era of Playable Pedagogy
We’ve taught. We’ve assigned. We’ve tested. Now it’s time to design.
If we want students to be curious, reflective, and engaged—we need to create spaces where learning feels alive. Interactive. Human. Responsive.
With AI, that power is finally in our hands.