Course Plan Notes

See also: Course Plan, Publication & Presentation Plans

This is brief explanation of my course plan.

My research focuses on teaching using computer games, in a larger theoretical framework I call co-opting. Co-opting is a strategy of identifying technologies and media that motivate and engage learners, then re-purposing such novelties to support formal educational objectives. Thus, I work at an intersection of educational psychology, educational technology, and game design. I'm also interested in learners with special needs (both low- and high-performing learners).

Timeline

Required Courses

• CEP 900: Proseminar in Learning, Technology, and Culture
• CEP 901b: Proseminar in Technology and Education
• CEP 930: Educational Inquiry
• CEP 932: Quantitative Methods in Educational Research I
• CEP 933: Quantitative Methods in Educational Research II
• CEP 995: Practicum in Research Design and Data Analysis

Emphasis Area Courses

• CEP 909: Cognition and Technology (Spring 2005)
  • This class will explore "how theories of cognition may guide the development of new technologies," which is exactly what I'm trying to do as I build my model of co-opting. I also want to get to know the instructor better (Matt Koehler).
• CEP 911: Intellectual History of Educational Psychology
  • I took this class to develop a stronger foundation in established theories. I ground co-opting in more familiar ideas and thinkers (e.g., Vygotsky).
• CEP 917: Design of Media for Learning
  • I took this class to study contemporary theory in design. The instructor, Punya Mishra, shares some my interests in educational games. Much of the class focused on his Space Camp research on design, gender, and games.

Area of Specialization

• CEP 910: Motivation and Learning (Spring 2005)
  • Motivation is central to co-opting, including why it works and why we should do it. I hope this class will allow me to explore respected literature and build connections and arguments for co-opting.
• CEP/TE 931: Qualitative Methods in Educational Research
  • Motivation and many other aspects of co-opting are sophisticated phenomena. To properly study such sophistication, including the experience of playing a game, I need both qualitative and quantitative methods. I have always valued interviewing and storytelling as tools of discovery and teaching. This class allowed me to explore respected qualitative literature, improving the clarity and credibility to my own work.
• CEP 957: Learning in Complex Domains (Spring 2005)
  • The potential power of co-opting may be most apparent in complex domains. For example, people voluntarily master complex rules and data in games like Dungeons & Dragons and EverQuest. Such learning is comparable to the structures (or ill-structures) of formal curricula, like taxonomy, economics, and chemistry. The instructor's model, Cognitive Flexibility Theory, is proving very useful in explaining and expanding my model of co-opting. This class will allow me to explore such application more deeply.
• TC 890: Independent Study (TE 445 Digital Game Design)
  • I expect much of my research to depend on original games (i.e., proof-of-concept for co-opting). I'm already an advanced game designer, but mostly self-taught. This class is allowing me to study formal game design and learn a useful computer game creation program, Macromedia Director. I'm taking the class as independent study to earn graduate credit, and to develop a paper for publication (on strategies for designing educational games).
• CEP 990: Independent Study (Summer 2005)
  • I want to complete my courses by the end of Summer 2005, so that I can focus exclusively on dissertation by Fall 2005. However, there are few relevant summer courses left for me to take. I hope to arrange an independent study instead.

Dissertation

• Summer 2005, 4 credits
• Fall 2005, 10 credits
• Spring 2005, 10 credits

I plan to create and test an original computer game. I'm currently working on an original, non-computer game for my practicum. If this game leads to intriguing results, it will essentially be the pilot study for dissertation.

Assistantships

• Center for Teaching & Technology (Fall 2003 - Spring 2004)
  • I provided free consulting on technology integration to college instructors. This included teaching several workshops. I also organized, ran, and presented at my college's annual educational technology conference.
• Living History World (Fall 2003 - )
  • We are developing a game-like, online space for teaching and learning history through immersive and investigative modes.
• TE 150: Reflections on Learning (Fall 2004 - )
  • I'm teaching one section of this introductory educational psychology course for preservice teachers.
• Writing Center (Fall 2004 - )
  • I'm working as a writing consultant, including digital modes (e.g., WWW, PowerPoint). We may develop a game-like, online module for teaching and learning writing.