Spencer Striker
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About
Spencer Striker, PhD is Professor of Digital Media Design at Northwestern University | Qatar, specializing in innovative digital learning experiences, interactive media, and game-based education. His work sits at the intersection of interaction design, mobile media, digital storytelling, and education technology entrepreneurship.
Dr. Striker's flagship project, History Adventures: World of Characters, is a groundbreaking, cross-platform digital learning series that reimagines history education for the digital age. The project combines immersive technology with narrative design to bring historical events and characters to life. The series includes multiple installments covering different historical periods, including: Empires & Interconnections (1450-1750); Revolutions & Industrialization (1750-1900); and the forthcoming Generation Revolution (1770-1800), which explores revolutionary-era New York City. Pioneering projects at the intersection of AI and cultural heritage, he is producing Legacy of Light: House of Wisdom, an AI-animated series that illuminates the scientific achievements of the Islamic Golden Age. Each product engages learners through choice-driven narratives and immersive multimedia content, fostering an empathetic understanding of pivotal moments in world history.
His Global Pandemics series—including Plague of Athens Chromebook, Black Death Interactive, and Plague of Athens Virtual Reality—leverage interactive storytelling and immersive technologies, (web animation, mobile UX, and VR design), to enhance understanding of historical health crises. These projects, along with the mobile game Dr. Sara: Disease Detective, showcase Dr. Striker's innovative approach to science education and public health awareness. Dr. Striker also spearheads projects that address contemporary issues, such as Chaos Corp., a mobile game that teaches digital literacy in global contexts. His work extends to podcasting with the Digital Doha Podcast, exploring emerging media trends in Qatar and the Middle East, and the forthcoming Rendered by Robots, Design Education in the Age of AI.
His creative scholarship has garnered numerous accolades, including Anthem Awards, Reimagine Education Awards, and Webby Awards. Dr. Striker's projects have received competitive funding from prestigious institutions including the National Endowment for the Humanities; the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; the National Science Foundation; the Oxford Research Institute; the Buffett Institute for International Affairs; the HBKU Innovation Center; the Qatar National Research Foundation; Northwestern's Innovation & New Ventures Office; the Qatar Research Development & Innovation Council; the Alumnae of Northwestern; the NU Office of the Provost; the Doha Film Institute; and the Institute for Advanced Study of the Global South.
Before joining Northwestern, Dr. Striker worked in Silicon Valley as the founding creative director of Galxyz, an edtech startup that raised millions in venture capital based on his original concept. Bridging academic expertise with technology innovation, Dr. Striker pushes the boundaries of digital media design in education, fostering innovative approaches to learning and storytelling in the digital age.
Dr. Striker holds a Ph.D. in digital media from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, a Masters in new media production from Indiana University at Bloomington, and undergraduate degrees in radio-TV-film (B.S.) and history (B.A.) from the University of Texas at Austin.
Grants & Fellowships
2025 Doha Film Institute Grant | Legacy of Light, AI Animated Series, $30,000
2025 NU-Q Creative Development Grant, $25,000
2025 Buffett Institute Global Collaboration Grant | Serpent of House Sung, $5,000
2025 Alumnae Award for Curriculum Innovation | AI for Media Education, $12,500
2025 Provost Grant for Research in HSSA | AI for Digital Humanities, $3,000
2025 Dean’s Merit-Based Faculty Supplementary Support Fund, $5,000
2026 Academic Leave with Full Support, Spring 2026
2022 NEH: Digital Projects for the Public - Discovery Phase, $30,000
2023 NSF: National Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Program, $50,000
2024 Dean’s Merit-Based Faculty Supplementary Support Fund, $5,000
2024 NU-Q Small Grant in Support of Creative Work, $1,000
2023 Alumnae of Northwestern University Grant | Global Pandemics, $5,000
2023 Provost Grant for Research in HSSA | Game-Based Learning, $5,000
2023 Provost Grant for Career Development & Writing Support, $2,500
2023 Institute for Advanced Study in the Global South - Research Grant, $25,000
2023 NU-Q Major Creative Project Completion Grant, approx. $20,000 (course release)
2023 Dean’s Merit-Based Faculty Supplementary Support Fund, $5,000
2023 VCUarts Transformative Learning Fund | A.I.vant-Garde, $10,000
2022 UREP: Undergraduate Research Experience Program, $30,000
2022 NU-Q Research Fellowship, $25,000
2021 QNRF: VR as Hybrid Learning Solution for Education, $50,000
2021 INVO Innovation and New Ventures, N.XT Ed Tech Seed Funding, $25,000
2021 Provost Grant for Research in Humanities, Social Sciences, & the Arts, $3,000
2021 HBKU Innovation Center, Rapid Response Grant, $27,000
2020 NPRP, Qatar National Research Foundation, $483,000
2020 Internal Research Grant, Northwestern University in Qatar, $15,000
2020 Educational Technology Teaching Fellows Program, Northwestern University
2016 Oxford Summer Research Institute Fellowship, $20,000
2016 Faculty Student Mentorship Grant, Office of the Provost, $5,000
2016 Faculty Teaching Offset Award (FTO), Office of the Provost, $10,000
2012 Grant Writing Fellowship, Digital Media & Learning Competition, $5,000
2012 Inclusive Excellence Initiatives Grant, $2,000
2012 Visiting Artist Grant, $3,000
2011 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | Games, Learning, & Society, $5,000
2011 Academic Staff Development Grant, AERA, New Orleans, $1,000
2010 Academic Staff Development Grant, Next Web Conference, $5,000
2010 College of Arts & Communication/Provost Office, Webby Awards, $4,000
2010 Just-In-Time Award, Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference, $1,000
Media Awards
Winner
2025 w3 Awards | Best Mobile Games: Silver - Chaos Corp: Troll Farm Simulator
2024 Horizon Interactive Awards: Best of Category - Black Death Interactive
2024 Davey Awards | Best Immersive Experience: Gold Medal - Plague of Athens VR
2024 Reimagine Awards | Immersive Education: Bronze Medal - Plague of Athens VR
2024 3rd Anthem Awards: Best Literacy Platform - Empires & Interconnections
2023 2nd Anthem Awards: Bronze Medal - Plague of Athens for Chromebook
2022 Reimagine Education | Middle East: Gold Medal - Plague of Athens
2022 Inaugural Anthem Awards: Silver Medal - History Adventures
2023 dotCOMM Award: Platinum Winner - Empires & Interconnections
2023 Hermes Creative Awards, Platinum Winner - Best Use of Multimedia
2023 Viddy Awards, Gold Winner - Empires & Interconnections, Best Trailer
2022 w3 Silver Award - Best Website for Education
2022 AVA Digital Awards, Platinum Winner - Plague of Athens
2022 Horizon Interactive Award, Gold Medal - immersive learning
2022 LearnX Live! Awards - Best eLearning Design
2021 Tech Edvocate Award - Best Augmented Reality App
2021 w3 Silver Award - Best Mobile App for Education
2020 Horizon Interactive Awards, Gold, Mobile Apps - Education
Empires & Interconnections, 1450-1750
2019 Horizon Interactive Awards, Gold, Mobile Apps - Education
Revolutions & Industrialization, 1750-1900
2010 Webby Award - Online Film & Video
2010 People’s Voice Webby Award - Online Film & Video
2009 Webby Honoree Award - Online Film & Video
2008 Webby Honoree Award - Online Film & Video
Nominated
2025 Reimagine Education | Nurturing Values and Ethics Award | Chaos Corp
2025 GEE! Learning Game Award, Best Indie | Chaos Corp. | Troll Farm Sim
2025 EdTech Digest Cool Tool Award | Plague of Athens VR
2024 QRDI Best Representative Image of an Outcome | Plague of Athens VR
2024 Black Death Interactive | Reimagine Edu | Immersive Experiential Learning
2024 2024 GEE! Learning Game Award, Best Indie | Empires & Interconnections
2023 Reimagine Education | Breakthrough Technology Innovation in Learning
2023 Serious Games Showcase & Challenge - Best Innovation Award
2023 EdTech Digest Cool Tool Award - Best VR/AR Solution
2023 Bett Awards: Best Open Educational Resource - Plague of Athens Chromebook
2023 EdTechX Middle East and Africa - History Adventures
2022 EdTech Digest Cool Tool Award - Dr. Sara: Disease Detective
2021 Best Educational App, Reimagine Edu Awards - Dr. Sara: Disease Detective
2021 Best New Mobile App, Mobile App Awards - Dr. Sara: Disease Detective
2020 Best Educational App, Reimagine Education Awards - History Adventures
2017 Dubai Smartpreneur 2.0 Competition - Conscribo
2012 Digital Media & Learning Competition - GameZombie TV
2010 Mashable Award – Best Web Video
Media Work
History Adventures: World of Characters, 2017 - present
Fully interactive, cross-platform digital learning series, whose accolades include Anthem Awards Silver Medal; Horizon Interactive Gold Award; and winner of Best EdTech Innovation in the Middle East at the Reimagine Education Awards. Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. In partnership with NU’s Center for Talent Development. Presents a fresh approach to history education, designed for a digital generation. Combines mobile entertainment technology with the power of narrative design—bringing the pages of history to life. Series includes several major installments:
Legacy of Light: House of Wisdom | AI-Powered Docudrama, (2026, in production)
Legacy of Light: the House of Wisdom, launching in 2026, is a groundbreaking AI-animated docudrama series that brings to life the Golden Age of Arab science. The series traces groundbreaking innovations from Baghdad's House of Wisdom along the Silk Road, highlighting Islamic civilization's profound contributions to global knowledge and offering a dynamic way to understand how scientific discovery transformed the medieval world. Supported by a competitive Doha Film Institute Grant.
Generation Revolution | Cross-Platform Digital Learning, (2026, in development)
Generation Revolution (New York 1770-1800), featuring a live web app demo, (built for desktop Chrome browser), launched Summer of 2024, is a special edition of History Adventures designed to immerse students and museum attendees in the world of revolutionary-era New York City. Offers a dynamic way to understand that making choices was often fraught for people during this era of Revolutionary War. Funded by a National Endowment for the Humanities Digital Projects for the Public Grant.
Empires & Interconnections | iOS/Android Tablet, 2023
Interactive, multimodal learning experience, built for native iOS/Android using Unity3D, combines mobile entertainment technology with the power of narrative design. 1450-1750: during this period of colossal change, the world got smaller. Explores the lives of 6 amazing men and women around the globe. Funded by Northwestern’s INVO Office.
Empires & Interconnections | Apple Books Interactive, 2021
Interactive, multimodal learning experience, built for Apple Books. Combines mobile entertainment technology with the power of narrative design. 1450-1750: era of massive change, the world got smaller. Explores the lives of 6 amazing men and women around the globe. Nominated for Best Educational App at the Reimagine Education Awards.
Revolutions & Industrialization | Chrome Browser, 2021
Interactive, multimodal learning experience, ported from Apple Books to Chromebooks web app, using Flutter development tool. Students examine whether the technological and economic advancements of the period from 1750-1900 was worth the human cost. Explores the lives of 5 fascinating characters around the globe.
Revolutions & Industrialization | Apple Books Interactive, 2020
Interactive, multimodal learning experience, built for Apple Books. Students examine whether the technological and economic advancements of the period from 1750-1900 was worth the human cost. Explores the lives of 5 fascinating characters around the globe. Nominated for Best Educational App at the Reimagine Education Awards.
Global Pandemics, 2021 - present
The Global Pandemics immersive learning series is designed to enhance student understanding of the role of pandemics in world history. Combines digital storytelling with interactive learning design to craft a complex pedagogical experience that immerses students in the experiences of people who lived through history’s worst pandemics. Major editions explore: The Plague of Athens in Ancient Greece; The Black Death in 14th Century Europe; Smallpox in 16th Century Modern-Day Mexico; The Spanish Flu on the Western Front of WWI; and HIV/AIDs 1980s San Francisco. Supported by Northwestern’s INVO (Innovation & New Ventures Office); the Qatar National Research Foundation; and Northwestern Grants for Applied Educational Research.
Black Death Interactive | iPad App and Responsive Web App, 2024, 2025
“Forty Days,” (live on the Apple App Store for iPad, and as a Responsive Web App), tells the story of Giana, a young girl, daughter of a baker, living in Venice during the Black Death. Her ordeal concerns whether to abandon her sick father and flee to the country or stay and take care of him—a common dilemma for people during Black Death Europe, who were often forced to abandon relatives to a miserable lonely death. Supported by funding from INVO’s N.XT Ed Tech Seed Funding Competition, the Alumnae of Northwestern University, and Artificial Intelligence and Media Lab (AIM-LAB).
Plague of Athens | VR, 2023, 2024
Interactive VR learning experience built for the Meta Quest, Steam VR, and Pico—achieves an immersive verisimilitude of living through major pandemics in world history. Addresses the issue of achieving high-quality, uninterrupted education in times of crisis and lockdown. Supported by competitive funding from the Qatar National Research Foundation and a Northwestern University Provost Faculty Grant.
Plague of Athens | Chromebook Web App, 2022
Digital learning experience built for desktop Chrome browser—designed to enhance student understanding of pandemics in world history. Features cutting-edge web animation, interaction design, and digital storytelling. The story of Nikos, a physician during the Plague of Athens, 429 BCE, sworn to the Hippocratic Oath.
Chaos Corp | Troll Farm Simulator, Android and iOS Mobile Game, 2025
Satirical mobile game teaching digital literacy to Philippine youth through role-reversal gameplay. Cross-platform game-based learning, launched at Web Summit Qatar 2025, available on Google Play for Android phones, and the App Store for iPhones, where players control a disinformation agency to understand manipulation tactics—learning to recognize deepfakes, bot campaigns, and astroturfing by deploying them in a fictional election. Supported by competitive funding from the Institute for Advanced Study in the Global South and the Provost's Office at Northwestern University.
Dr. Sara: Disease Detective, 2021
Dr. Sara: Disease Detective is an action-adventure, visual novel mobile game that combines character-driven simulation of Epidemic Intelligence Officer detective work with gameplay dynamics around network science, fomites, vectors, and contact tracing. Available free to users around the world for Android and iPhone. Teacher Approved on Google Play. The project was supported by a competitive grant from the HBKU Innovation Center.
QatarPodcasts.com, 2020-present
Founded QatarPodcasts.com, a platform for developing Qatar-based podcast series. Qandid Qatar offers in-depth conversations with Qatar-based VIPs/local celebrities, while Qatar in Quotes focuses on “ordinary people with extraordinary stories.” Supported by competitive funding from the Qatar National Research Foundation.
Digital Doha Podcast, 2021-present
Serving as a Principal Investigator in a multi-year, longitudinal study of how AR, VR, and other Emerging Media are being utilized in Qatar. Conducting qualitative research through podcasting. The Digital Doha Podcast examines the vanguard of digital media innovation in the Middle East and the greater region.Digital Doha Podcast Interview Selections
Ep. 2: No Words, featuring Mariam Al-Dhubhani - May 10, 2021
Ep. 4: Chaos Antidote, featuring Hadeer Omar - July 27, 2021
Ep. 5: VR Encyclopedia, featuring Julia Leeb - November 27, 2021
Ep 6: SIGGRAPH Asia 2022, featuring Dan Sarto - Dec 31, 2022
Ep 7: SIGGRAPH Asia 2022, featuring Hyungseok Kim - January 31, 2022
Teaching
- Mobile Game Design
- 2D Computer Animation
- AI Tools for Digital Media Design
- Digital Podcast Production
- Sound Design
- Web Design
- 3D Computer Animation
- VR Game Design
- Interactive Product Design
- Media Literacy for Sports; Master’s in Sports Administration Program
- Social Media Strategy, Tools & Analytics; Executive Education Program
Press
PRESS FOR DIGITAL MEDIA WORK
Chaos Corp.: Troll Farm Simulator
Playing with Fire: A Satirical Game Teaches Youth how to Decode Digital Deceit, World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), WISE Words, August 31, 2025
Chaos Corp. launched at Web Summit Qatar 2025, NU-Q Stories, February 24, 2025
Demo | Chaos Corp.: Troll Farm Simulator, NU-Q Youtube Channel, March 10, 2025
Faculty Spotlight: Professor Spencer Striker, NU-Q Faculty Newsletter, May 27, 2025
New curriculum leverages VR to promote intercultural understanding and AI for enhanced creative production, Northwestern Now, February 24, 2025
#IAS_NUQ announces second Global South Research Grant, NU-Q Stories, April 10, 2023
Plague of Athens: VR
Learning History Through Living It: Northwestern Professor Employs VR in Education, The Peninsula, November 24, 2024
Generation Revolution
Back to the Future of Education, Center for Talent Development, Ed Finkel, May 23, 2023
Northwestern Qatar Project Awarded Flagship NEH Grant, NU-Q Stories, February 7, 2023
NEH Announced a New Round of Grant Winners, John Fea, January 25, 2023
More than $2m in Grants for Humanities Projects in Illinois, Chicago Tribune, Jan 10, 2023
Global Pandemics: Plague of Athens
Digital Stories About Living Through History’s Worst Pandemics, Big Deal Media K-12 Technology Newsletter, June 15, 2022
Global Pandemics App Shares Fantastic Tales, MiddleWeb, June 1, 2022
Faculty and Students Win Inaugural Anthem Award, NU-Q Stories, March 1, 2022
Global Pandemics: Plague of Athens Review, World History Teacher’s Blog, April 25, 2022
Northwestern Qatar Researchers Awarded QNRF QF Grants, January 29, 2023
NU-Q Faculty, Students Win International Award, Gulf Times, March 1, 2022
Immersive History Takes You to the Plague of Athens, E-Learning Corgi, April 29, 2022
Global Pandemics: a Cutting-Edge, Browser-Based Digital Learning Experience, Learning Ecosystems, Daniel S. Christian, April 8, 2022
Cutting-Edge Digital Learning Design, Hankering for History, May 20, 2022
Empires & Interconnections (1450-1750)
In his own words: Digitally dusting off the pages of history, Qatar Foundation, Feb 2, 2021
What are the Best Apps for People With a Keen Interest in History? appPicker, May 3, 2021
Northwestern Awards Research Grants to Faculty, NU-Q Stories, August 16, 2021
NU-Q Faculty Win Silver Medal at Anthem Awards, Qatar Tribune, March 2, 2022
Meet IBHA Member, Spencer Striker, PhD, with Jahnavi Pandya, International Big History Association, February 12, 2021
Review of History Adventures, World of Characters, The Tech Edvocate, May 14, 2022
Revolutions & Industrialization (1750-1900)
Spencer Striker, PhD, on Turning History into Entertainment, Script Magazine, May 7, 2020
History Adventures Shortlisted for Reimagine Education Award for Best Educational App, Gulf Times, October 23, 2020
Here’s How ‘History Adventures’ Makes History of the World Fun, Film Daily, March 24, 2020
Looking for the Best Way to Learn History? Literature Approved, May 19, 2020
NU-Q Professor Produces Digital Book about World History, The Peninsula, October 24, 2020
The British Colonization of Botany Bay - History Adventure spotlight, History is Now Magazine, June 28, 2020
History Adventures - a new way to learn history for free!, Duffy the Writer Blog, May 17, 2020
Life Edge 114: Spencer Striker’s History Adventures - Multimedia-Packed Historical Narratives, RELATECASTS, May 7, 2020
Finding the Voice of History, Casting Elite, April 28, 2020
Interview with Spencer Striker, History Adventures. Innovators in Education Series, E-Learning Queen, April 21, 2020
FilmCraft.club - Indie Film Spotlight, Daisy Franklin, April 19, 2020
#Scriptchat: Spencer Striker Creator of History Adventures, Discussing Igniting a Curiosity for History, scriptchat.blogspot.com, Jeanne Veillette Bowerman, April 5, 2020
World of Characters (1750-1900) - Review, Skavansieur, September 26, 2021
Artificial Intelligence & Media Lab (AIM-Lab)
VCUarts hosts QF partners to discuss AI in higher education, Gulf Times, September 22, 2024
NU-Q to Engage with Web Summit Qatar, Gulf Times, Feb 21, 2024
Digital Media Experts Offer Innovative Courses at NU-Q, Gulf Times, October 21, 2019
Dr. Sara: Disease Detective
Making Science Fun: What Game-Playing Tells Us About Designing a Learning Experience, QF Stories, January 4, 2022
New Mobile Game Lets Students Investigate and Solve Global Disease Outbreaks, Digital Journal, December 3, 2021
Apprendre à gérer une épidémie par le jeu, Média du Jeu, (French language game review), Valérie Gagnon, April 7, 2022
Educational Game Shortlisted for Global Award, NU-Q Stories, November 17, 2021
Student at Qatar Foundation reviews epidemiology game, Story | Education, February 28, 2022
Op-Ed: Learning Science through Gameplay, Qatar Foundation, Story | Education, July 20, 2020
COVID-19: QF university researchers develop ‘disease detective’ mobile game, Doha News, July 10, 2020
NU-Q professors developing gaming app on contact tracing, The Peninsula, July 1, 2020
Dr. Sara: Disease Detective - a mobile game about contact tracing, Gulf Times, July 1, 2020
QatarPodcasts.com | Digital Doha Podcast
NU-Q Podcasts Augment Research, Gulf Times, September 23, 2021
Northwestern Qatar students produce podcasts on Qatar, The Peninsula, November 19, 2020
Northwestern Students Produce ‘Qandid Qatar’ Podcast, The Doha Globe, November 19, 2020
Conference Activity
Invited Talks
2025 “Generative AI as a Creative Collaborator: Reimagining Media Production in Educational Contexts.” Keynote Talk: 5th International Conference on Media Science and Digital Communication (MSDC 2025), Bangkok, Thailand, November 21-22.
2025 “AI & Creativity: Beyond the Trope: Cinematic Creativity in AI-Powered Docudrama Production.” Shaping The AI-Empowered Future of Knowledge, Scholarship, and Creativity; Rawabet Conference, NU-Q, September 1.
2025 “AI Ethics: The Convergence of Technology and Diverse Moral Traditions - Roundtable.” Qatar National Convention Center, Doha, Qatar, September 28.
2025 “Omar's Desert Fox Adventure | Unleash Your Inner Hero! Why Human Learning is Your Superpower in the Age of AI.” British Modern International School, Doha, Qatar, May 28.
2025. “Nurturing Creativity and Critical Thinking through Edtech.” Qatar SMART Education Conference, Pullman Doha West Bay, Qatar, May 15.
2025 “Code and Consequences: A Designer's Perspective on the Generative AI Phase Shift” AIM Lab Lecture Series: AI for a Better World, Northwestern | Qatar, March 24.
2025. “Beyond the Algorithm: Cultivating Human Potential in an AI-Driven World Preparing Students for Success in a World of Constant Change.” Keynote Talk: CIS Middle East Institute on International Admission & Guidance, Doha, Qatar, February 21-22.
2025 “Immersive Learning Design: Creative Work at the Nexus of History, Technology, and Education.” Hiwar Scholars Seminar: Dialogues in Building Understanding, Doha, Qatar, February 9.
2025 “The Alchemy of Grant Writing: Observations from a Production Professor’s Perspective.” Faculty Workshop, Doha, Qatar, February 6.
2024 “Immersive Experiential Learning Product Showcase | Plague of Athens VR & Black Death Interactive.” QS Reimagine Education Conference, QEII Centre, Westminster, London, December 9-11.
2024 “Generative AI in Teaching and Learning.” An Education City-wide Faculty Panel Discussion, VCU-Q, Doha, Qatar, September 10.
2024 “Role of Technology in Improving Learning and Delivery of Education.” Future of Education Summit, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Doha, Qatar, February 20.
2024 “AI and the Future of Creative Media: Navigating Opportunities and Challenges.” AI & Media (AIM-Lab) Launch, Doha, Qatar, Feb 5.
2023 “Multimodal Scholarship in Communication Studies.” Dean’s Forum, Doha, Qatar, March 12.
2022 “Are eSports Real? | a Discussion.” Media Majlis, Doha, Qatar, September 13.
2021 “Crash Course: Designing Next Generation Digital Learning Solutions.” WISE Summit, Doha, Qatar, December 8.
2021 “Game-Based Learning | a Conversation with Spencer Striker.” 2U Online Course, Virtual, November 10.
2020 “Digital Learning Solutions in an Age of Disruption.” liveconvos.tv, International Virtual Event, Launch Week, September 24.
2019 “Digital Media Studies panel.” NU-Q Speaker Series, Doha, Qatar, October 15.
2019 “Social Media Content & Influencers - panel.” 6th Annual Arab Social Media Forum, Muscat, Oman, September 23.
2019 “History Adventures - Playable Demo Version 2.0.” Step Conference, Startup Showcase, Dubai, UAE, February 13.
2017 “Conscribo – First Look Demo.” Presented at Web Summit, ALPHA Exhibition, Lisbon, Portugal, November 7-9.
2011 “New Media in Wisconsin.” UW System Integrated Marketing and Communication Conference, Oshkosh WI, June 1-2.
Conference Presentations
2025 “Surviving Global Pandemics in History: Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) Game-Based Learning Experience.” International Communication Association, Denver, Colorado, June 12-16.
2025 “NU-Q’s Sound Bytes: Chaos Corp.: Decoding Disinformation via Immersive Gameplay.” Web Summit Qatar, Doha Exhibition and Convention Center; Doha, Qatar, February 23-26.
2025 “Chaos Corp. - Hands-On Game Demos.” Web Summit Qatar, Doha Exhibition and Convention Center; Doha, Qatar, February 23-26.
2024 “Empires & Interconnections: Igniting Historical Curiosity Through Choice & Consequence.” Make Play Learn, University of Wisconsin at Madison, July 18-19.
2024 “Creativity in the Age of AI: Forging New Pathways in Media Education.” TEACHx, Northwestern University; Evanston, IL, May 15-16.
2024 “History Adventures - Digital Learning Reimagined.” Web Summit Qatar, Doha Exhibition and Convention Center; Doha, Qatar, February 26-29.
2023 “Breakthrough Technology Innovation in Education | An iPad App to Ignite Curiosity for Learning History.” QS Reimagine Education Conference, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, December 11-13.
2023 “Empires & Interconnections for iPad | Challenging Students with Wicked Problems in History.” International Big History Association Conference, Coldigioco, Italy, July 7-9.
2023 “Multimodal Narrative Design for Digital Learning.” HASTAC Conference, Pratt Institute, June 8-10.
2023 “Storytelling, Multimodality, & Digital Learning Design for the New Generations.” QS Higher Ed Summit: Middle East & Africa, Kuwait, March 14.
2022 “Plague of Athens | an Immersive Learning Experience.” Reimagine Education Conference, Virtual, December 6-10.
2022 "Plague of Athens | a Chromebooks Web App.” Connected Learning Summit, Online, July 27-29.
2022 "Global Pandemics: a Story of Survival & Resilience - Well Played presentation.” Games+Learning+Society (GLS) Conference, Irvine, CA, June 15-17.
2022 "Dr. Sara: Disease Detective: a mobile game about epidemiology - Game Showcase.” Games+Learning+Society (GLS) Conference, Irvine, CA, June 15-17.
2021 “Dr. Sara: Disease Detective - Virtual Demo.” Reimagine Education Conference, Virtual, December 6-10.
2021 “History Adventures, AP World History Modern - a digital learning product.” International Big History Association Conference, Global Virtual, August 3-6.
2020 “World of Characters - Virtual Demo.” Reimagine Education Conference, Virtual, December 6-10.
2020 “Learning through Storytelling.” Qatar Faculty Forum, Doha, Qatar, February 18.
2019 “History Adventures - Playable Demo Version 2.0.” Slush Tokyo, Startup Showcase, Tokyo, Japan, February 22-23.
2018 “Big History Adventures - Playable Demo Version 1.0.” Step Conference, Startup Showcase, Dubai, UAE, March 28.
2017 “Case Study: A New Digital Learning Experience with Big History Adventures.” EduTECH Middle East, Dubai, November 14-15.
2017 “Big History Adventures: Dubai Smart City Initiative.” ArabNet Digital Summit, Smartpreneur 2.0 Competition, Dubai, May 17.
2017 “Big History Adventures: People in Time, Connected by Eternity.” AUD Visual Cultures Forum, Dubai, April 9.
2016 “A Little Big History of Human Collective Learning: From Theory to Digital Book Application.” International Big History Association Conference, Amsterdam, July 14-17.
2015 “Spencer Striker’s Twisted Cargo: A Next Gen Digital Graphic Novel.” UAE Innovation Week, Dubai, November 28.
2012 “The Dark Side of the Web: Hyperpersonalization, the Filter Bubble, and Information Fatigue.” Technology, Knowledge, and Society Conference, Los Angeles, CA, January 16-18.
2011 “The Future of the Book is Now – a case-study.” HASTAC Conference, Ann Arbor, MI, December 1-3.
2011 “GameZombie TV: Using Badges to Assess a Project-Based Learning Environment.” Ubiquitous Learning Conference, Berkeley CA, November 11-12.
2011 “GameZombie TV: Using Game Media Production to Construct a Project Based Learning Environment.” EDUCAUSE Conference, Philadelphia PA, October 18-21.
2011 “Designing Game Based Learning Activities.” Games, Learning, & Society Conference, Madison WI, June 15-17.
2011 “Building the Media Arts & Game Development Program at UWW – A Case Study.” Games, Learning, & Society Conference, Madison WI, June 15-17.
2011 “GameZombie TV. Ignite Talk.” Digital Media and Learning Conference (DML), Long Beach CA, March 3-5.
