LitLinks
Gamifying literature analysis
LitLinks is a multiplayer, tile-based game for middle schoolers that turns abstract literary concepts into hands-on, social play. Inspired by mahjong and other cultural tile games, tactile learning helps students build confidence, friendly competition, and collaborative storytelling.
Interaction Design, Education
2025
Harvest Park Middle School
challenge
Middle schoolers want creative autonomy and social connection. However, their required core literature curriculum is so abstract and disconnected. When storytelling becomes physical, playful, and collective, students engage more deeply with complex ideas like theme and character — something teachers currently struggle to integrate.
In partnership with middle school English teachers who voiced their struggles with this problem, especially with limited resources from the school district, I designed LitLinks as a solution.
How might we gamify reading and writing activities in middle school classrooms to stimulate and support creative social engagement by designing with tactile physical interactions?
FULL DESIGN BRIEF
from concept to classroom shelves...
If students are the ones playing the game,
Educators, librarians, curriculum coordinators, and parents are the ones buying it.
LitLinks is targeted towards increasing classroom accessibility to resources, a major problem especially in public school spaces.
It has been distributed to public classrooms for educators to use and distribute as a 3D-printable resource.
"This is exactly what I would use in the classroom."
".. would be great for teachers of students with learning disabilities."
Shaheen Prasad, 7th Grade English Teacher
Chelsea Brazil, 8th Grade English Teacher