People

David Williamson Shaffer

David Williamson Shaffer is a Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the departments of Educational Psychology and Curriculum and Instruction and a Game Scientist at the Academic Advanced Distributed Learning Co-Laboratory.

Monica Germain

Monica Germain is the Research Coordinator for the Epistemic Game research group. She received her B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies with a focus on Family Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

David Hatfield

David Hatfield is a dissertator in the Epistemic Games research group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is interested in epistemic game engines – the technologies used in epistemic games and designed to help young people learn to think like professionals. David is currently working on an epistemic network analysis of journalism feedback, comparing a journalism practicum and the journalism epistemic game science.net. He is also working on the design of a new version of the Urban Science game engine with Elizabeth Bagley.

Elizabeth Bagley

Elizabeth Bagley is a graduate student in the Epistemic Games research group. She is interested in the design and assessment of epistemic games. In particular, Elizabeth is interested in how players’ perceptions of their cities change after engaging in the professional practices of urban planning in Urban Science.

Padraig Nash

Padraig Nash is a graduate student in the Epistemic Games research group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is interested in the issues, challenges, and opportunities presented when sharing existing epistemic games with new educational communities. In particular, he examines how in-game mentors guide players to see and solve problems like professionals. To learn more about him and his work, visit his page.

Dennis Paiz-Ramirez

Dennis Paiz-Ramirez is a graduate student in the Epistemic Games Research group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is interested in how new technologies (including video games) are used in the classroom, and the affordances they provide the user.

Avery Davis

Avery Davis is a graduate student in the Epistemic Games Research group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is broadly interested in technology-based educational environments. He is particularly interested how epistemic games might be designed in ways that increase students’ motivation and engagement.

Alexander Hanna

Alexander Hanna is a graduate student in the Epistemic Games research group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With a background in sociology and computer science, he is interested in how online social networks and media are utilized in social movement organizing.

Timothy Kennedy

Timothy Kennedy is a graduate student in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Timothy is interested in helping stakeholders make better land use decisions. He is currently working with Dr. David Williamson Shaffer on the Urban Science epistemic game in which players engage in the professional practices of urban planners and learn how to become ecological thinkers in the process.

Emily Lupton

Emily Lupton is a graduate student in the School of Library and Information Studies. Her interest in Epistemic Games lies in solving the problem of how best to convey information to students, as well as in literacy and writing instruction. When not creating text for the project’s games, she can be found writing fiction and running marathons.

Edward Rath

Edward Rath is currently an undergraduate student in the Epistemic Games research group at University of Wisconsin-Madison. He produces videos that document the work of the Epistemic Games group. He is interested in how technologies influence human evolution and psychology.

Group Alumni

Gina Navoa Svarovsky (alumna 2001-2009, MEd, PhD)

Gina Navoa Svarovsky was the first graduate student and first PhD graduate of the epistemic games group. A former engineer and classroom teacher, her research has focused on the design, implementation, and assessment of the Digital Zoo epistemic game.

Alecia Magnifico (alumna 2004-2007, MEd)

Alecia Marie Magnifico studied the relationships among writing, literacy, and learning – and how epistemic games can help players develop in all three areas. She worked with David Hatfield on Journalism.net, exploring how the professional practice of journalism can mediate both students’ science literacy and their knowledge about real-world writing.