bchamber@nmsu.edu

Learning Games Lab

1-page resume
full vita
NSF Biographical Sketch

Barbara Chamberlin, Ph.D.

My current interests include educational game design, implementation of technology into informal learning programs (such as after-school programs and 4-H), use of digital images in education, and the use of technology in the Cooperative Extension Service.

Though my faculty appointment does not specifically include teaching, I've developed two special topics classes: Educational Game Development and Applied Technology in the Workplace -- both of which are tied to my outreach objectives.

I'm leading an interdisciplinary group in the Learning Games Initiative and Learning Games Lab. The Lab is a research space where we can test our own games, analyze and observe kids playing other games, and better understand what makes games fun to each audience and how we can integrate those elements into our own educational games. We're currently researching our own assessment strategies, including using kids as blog authors, giving them time in the "video closet", and helping them develop their own documentaries or tv shows on games.

I'm working with NMSU's Creative Media Institute to add a major in game and interactive design to their programs in documentary film production and animation.

My professional experience is in multimedia development: creating games, CD-ROMs, web sites and touch screen kiosks at New Mexico State University.  Our development studio has been developing interactive media and games for 20 years... even before the Web was common place and before school computers had CD-ROM drives.

My doctorate is in Instructional Technology through the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education. While at UVA, I worked on several projects, including educational games. One of the sites served as the basis for my dissertation on creating entertaining games with educational content.  At school, I continued my work in integrating technology into K-12 and informal education through my work with schools in Bermuda, and with the Virginia Discovery Museum.