For decades, the debate around technology in education has centered on whether it belongs in the classroom. In 2026, that question feels outdated. The real conversation has shifted to how digital tools can spark curiosity, creativity, and deep engagement in ways traditional methods often can't.
This year's UNESCO theme for International Day of Education, "The power of youth in co-creating education," captures that shift perfectly. It's no longer just about delivering information to learners. It's about giving young people the tools to explore, build, and shape their own learning experiences.
Few platforms embody that change more clearly than Roblox.
Known widely as a gaming platform, Roblox has quietly become one of the world's largest environments for experiential learning. Millions of young people aren't just playing games; they're designing worlds, collaborating with peers, and tackling real-world concepts through immersive play. Learning happens not because it's assigned, but because it's embedded in what they already love to do.
To bring that idea to life, Roblox recently launched its Roblox Learning Hub, a dedicated experience designed to surface some of the best educational content on the platform. Since its debut in July, the hub has attracted nearly 50 million visitors, signaling a growing appetite from families and young people for learning that feels natural, not forced.
Inside the hub, users can discover age-appropriate experiences across subjects ranging from computer science and math to digital citizenship and life skills. Some of the most popular experiences include Sesame Street Magical Beastie Quest and Ecos: La Brea, reflecting a broader trend: parents increasingly want learning tools that feel engaging, playful, and intuitive.
That demand aligns with broader research. A 2025 study from the Entertainment Software Association found that 45% of players use games to "keep their minds sharp," and half say games have helped improve their education or career path. On Roblox, that learning shows up in tangible ways:
- Digital Citizenship through Google's Be Internet Awesome World
- Climate Science via BBC Bitesize's Planet Planners
- History & Ecology by exploring the La Brea Tar Pits in immersive 3D
- Coding through Lua Learning, where users build games while learning programming fundamentals
What makes these experiences powerful isn't just the content, it's the format. Instead of memorizing facts, users interact with systems. They experiment, make choices, collaborate, and iterate. Learning becomes something they do, not something that happens to them.
Adam Seldow, Senior Director of Education Partnerships at Roblox, sees this shift as central to the future of learning.
"International Day of Education is the perfect time to remember that play is one of the most powerful forms of learning," Seldow says. "For parents, seeing your child engaged in video games isn't just about entertainment, gaming can also be an opportunity to learn, supporting the development of skills like collaboration, digital citizenship, and complex problem-solving. When kids explore and create together in immersive worlds, they aren't just playing; they are building the critical thinking skills they need to thrive in the new school year ahead and beyond."
That reframing matters. For many families, "screen time" still carries a negative connotation. But platforms like Roblox are showing that not all screen time is created equal. When kids move from consuming content to creating it, building worlds, solving challenges, and learning alongside peers, games become a gateway to real skills.
International Day of Education is a reminder that learning doesn't have to look like a worksheet. Sometimes it looks like a virtual city designed by a 12-year-old. Sometimes it looks like a climate simulation built with friends across the world. And increasingly, it looks like a game.
In a world where curiosity, adaptability, and creative problem-solving matter more than ever, the classroom is no longer confined to four walls. It's expanding into the world's young people are already building.
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