Featuring Andrew Byun, GameU’s Director of Instruction

What if a passion for video games could spark real-world skills in coding, design, and STEAM? That’s exactly what GameU makes possible through its personalized STEAM education approach to learning.

GameU’s unique blend of personalized STEAM education and game-based learning provides students with hands-on experiences in coding, game design, and creative problem-solving.

In a recent interview, Andrew shared how he and the instructional team make learning through play a success for students of all abilities, as well as what makes GameU’s approach to game development education so uniquely effective.

Since 2015, Andrew Byun has played a key role in shaping that experience. As GameU’s Director of Instruction, he has helped students transform their interests into technical skills, overseeing a wide range of learners — from aspiring coders to future 3D artists. He’s seen firsthand how personalized instruction empowers both students and educators alike.

One of GameU’s core strengths is its personalized, one-on-one instruction, tailored to each student’s interests. Andrew believes this approach allows students to explore their interests while building technical skills for a career in game development and other STEAM professions.

“If a student enjoys a certain character or game mechanic, we can apply that in their lessons,” Andrew explains. “It keeps them engaged and helps them connect more easily with the material.”

This approach is flexible by design. 

“If a student likes to mess around a bit, we love that. We aim to create a space where they can break things, understand why they broke, learn how to fix them, troubleshoot, debug, and develop all these highly applicable skills – and learn through that process,” says Andrew. “On the other hand, if we have a student who prefers a little bit more step-by-step structure, with more predictable results, we can go that route as well and pace it out to whatever the student needs.”

Instructors meet each student where they are – whether that means exploring freely or following a structured path. The goal isn’t to rush through a checklist, but to help students truly understand how things work and how to solve problems when they don’t.

Read our analysis on the independent studies conducted surrounding the benefits of teaching video game design to counteract the decreases in student engagement and interest in STEAM learning: Addressing Student Engagement alongside STEAM Learning Participation and Outcomes.

GameU features a structured curriculum, but it remains flexible. “We may have a goal, like building a racing game in eight weeks,” Andrew says. “But how we get there changes depending on the student.”

“Sometimes our students come up with the most creative and unexpected ideas, and it’s awesome. That could mean swapping in different characters, changing up the genre, or building something completely original – like a game where a laser-eyed hero shoots targets with bow-and-arrow mechanics.”

Instructors at GameU don’t just follow a script. They know how to improvise and build custom solutions, drawing from a deep well of technical knowledge in tools like Unity, Unreal Engine, Blender, and more.

One teaching technique Andrew highlighted is “backwards chaining,” where students start with a finished product and work backward to understand how it was built. “It’s like seeing a nearly complete puzzle and only needing to fit in the last few pieces,” he says. “It helps students understand the big picture more quickly.”

Want to learn more about GameU’s STEAM classes? All of our classes accommodate all ages and abilities. Contact us today to meet with an instructor and sign up for a free trial!

At GameU, students receive video game design education directly from industry professionals. But technical knowledge isn’t enough. Every instructor goes through teaching and behavioral training to ensure they can connect with students, break down complex ideas, and foster confidence.

“That blend of technical skill and teaching ability is what makes our instructors special,” Andrew notes. “They can build stunning environments in Unreal Engine and then turn around and teach a student how to do the same.”

Are you an educator looking to bring game development into the classroom? Learn how game design is the best method for teaching STEAM in schools with our Hybrid+ program.

While students come to GameU to learn game development, they often gain something even more important – confidence.

Whether it’s overcoming a frustrating bug or figuring out which creative direction to take, instructors are there to guide, encourage, and challenge students. Andrew recalls one student who came in quiet and reserved, but slowly began to engage more, eventually asking for help less and taking ownership of their learning.

“Sometimes the change is subtle, but meaningful,” Andrew says. “We’ve had students go from not wanting to come to class to treating it like their own little studio job, because it matters to them.”

That mindset shift is what makes all the difference.

Want to hear more inspiring stories from families who have worked with GameU? Watch testimonial videos from both GameU students and their parents.

GameU’s personalized approach doesn’t just create strong learners, it builds future professionals in game development and STEAM fields. One standout example is James Reman, a former student who now contributes directly to GameU’s curriculum.

“He was already talented when he joined,” Andrew says. “But working with our instructors helped him develop real studio habits – like meeting deadlines, managing deliverables, and collaborating effectively.”

Today, James’s work is integrated into the same lessons and games used by current students. It’s a full-circle moment that shows how GameU’s game-based learning model can guide a student from their first lesson to meaningful professional contribution.

Discover more student success stories in our blog, Beyond the Classroom: GameU Students Share Their Experiences and Achievement.

GameU’s commitment to customization extends to students with unique physical needs, too. One student wanted to specialize in action design but had challenges using standard devices. Rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all solution, the team worked with the student to test and adapt different tools.

“Once we found what worked, they really took off,” Andrew says. “They didn’t want help, they wanted to do it themselves – and they did.”

At GameU, education isn’t about fitting students into a mold, it’s about shaping the experience to fit the student. It means combining technical mastery with empathy, transforming challenges into growth, and celebrating every learner’s creativity. 

From getting a first character moving to gaining confidence in their creative abilities, GameU’s mission is clear: personalized, professional, and always student-first.

Ready to discover how learning through play can unlock your student’s STEAM potential? Book a FREE trial and see how GameU’s personalized, pro-led classes make game development education engaging, empowering, and fun.