Course Description:

In this course, I created a board game from start to finish, bringing the game to life from high concept, game design document, several stages of iterative prototyping, asset and level creation, and QA testing. In addition, I completed several week-long game lab projects including adapting a game for entertainment to achieve a serious goal, developing serious game concepts, regression testing core mechanics, and gamification. I also reflected on mini-lectures and reading on designing serious games.

Instructors: Dr. Carrie Heeter and Patrick Shaw
Spring 2013

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Course Description:

In this course, I crafted several theory-driven mock game design documents, focusing on a theory-guided design pipeline (using theories to validate the proposed game features) and evidence-based evaluation (specific evaluation plan and outcome variables). I also reflected on theories of learning and motivation, persuasion, attitude and behavior change, and theories of fun and playability and their applications to classroom-based and informal learning, health-related individual behavior change, and social change.

Instructor: Patrick Shaw
Fall 2012

Course Description:

In this course, I conducted design research to generate insights and design recommendations applying data science methods such as ethnographic observation, task analysis, persona analysis, focus group interviews, QA testing, UI/UX functionality, and gameplay balance analytics. I also learned about and reflected on formative research methods to support product design.

Instructors: Dr. Carrie Heeter and Patrick Shaw
Fall 2013

Course Description:

In this course, I learned about several theories about how students learn in school and other settings. I submitted several creative media for this course, including a podcast, video and my very fist lesson plan all geared to understanding how adult learners process new information. I enjoyed examining the relationship between the ideas about learning introduced in this course as it applied to my particular interests in the instructional design.

Instructor: Dr. Danah Henriksen
Spring 2013

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Course Description:

In this capstone course, I prepared this very online portfolio summarizing my work in the MAET program. I was able to identify a common theme, which is my consistent focus on creating educational technology solutions for adult learners at home and in the workplace. I was also able to reflect on how my goals and interests have developed over the four plus years in the program and identify some future learning goals in the educational technology space.

Instructors: Dr. Matthew Koehler, Spencer Greenhalgh and Aric Gaunt
Spring 2017

Course Description:

In this course, I examined the relationships between technology, teaching and learning. I enjoyed assessing the potential benefits and challenges of introducing technologies to a wide variety of audiences. I learned about professional development strategies, project management, planning, evaluation, relationship building, along with the ethical and social implications of technology integration. I have found myself referencing the presentation on managing through complex change that I submitted for this course on several occasions. I also hope to someday revisit the low cost, sustainable technological solution that I proposed as my final project for this course and make it a reality.

Instructors: Dr. Luke Rapa and Joshua Rosenberg
Summer 2013

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Course Description:

In this course, I systematically followed a design process particularly as it applies to educational technology. The course was structured around multiple design activities and topics covered included learning by design, human computer interaction, art and aesthetics of design, iterative design, design evaluation, and collaboration in design.

Instructors: Carmen Richardson, Cui Cheng and Diana Campbell
Spring 2017

Course Description:

In this course, I explored a range of questions related to creativity, including what it means to be creative and how we can utilize technological solutions to become more creative in teaching. I created a website to showcase my research on seven different cognitive tools to foster creative thinking, including perceiving, patterning, abstracting, embodied thinking, modeling, playing, and synthesizing. I also wrote a white paper summarizing how teachers, business leaders, and community activists can use these seven cognitive tools to develop creativity both in and outside the classroom to effect positive change.

Instructors: Carmen Richardson and Cui Cheng
Fall 2016

Course Description:

In this course, I was able to design a beta website geared to helping first generation college students become financially literate. The entire course was focused on how we can utilize technology to better meet the educational needs of students. The course included discussions of online learning management systems including their functions, strengths, and weaknesses along with the exploration of teaching methodologies and how they should be used in the online environment to ensure teaching and learning success.

Instructor: Dr. Anne Heintz
Fall 2014

Course Description:

In this course, we learned about several methods of educational research. I crafted a research proposal entitled Social Skill-Building through Serious Games: A Case Study for Youth and Young Adults in China. The main goal of the research project was to understand what specific elements of game design lead to improved social skill-building capabilities for 12-21 year olds residing in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in China. I conducted a formal literature review and incorporated descriptive and inferential statistics for analyzing and critiquing published studies related to my research topic.

Instructor: Dr. Leigh Wolf
Fall 2012