Alberto Motta and I are developing Playconomics - a uniquely integrated learning platform (featuring ebooks, educational videos, traditional assessments & videogames) that allows students to rigorously explore the inner workings of the world via genuine experiential learning in an immersive environment. The goal is to create the first Massive Interactive Immersive Courses that can stimulate student engagement and improve academic performance by motivating and inspiring learning.
Associated with this project, we have started the STEP UP initiative in Education that aims to develop and sustain an innovative, rigorous and interdisciplinary research agenda on Education. Think of it as a laboratory committed to identifying ‘what works’ in education and narrowing the educational achievement gaps. We are based at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), with nodes at the University of Queensland and University of Adelaide. Funding from the UNSW Business School, UNSW Pro-Vice Chancellor Education and CEPAR is gratefully acknowledged.
"Every once in a while, something comes along that is so good and so out of the box that it makes you sit up, pay attention, and just smile. This is one of those rare and precious occasions."
Prof. Geoff Garrett, Dean of Wharton School
Recognition and Awards:
(1) UNSW Business School 2022 Bill Birkett Award for Sustained Teaching Excellence
(2) UNSW President 2019 Award for Building Collaborations
(3) Wharton School 2017 Reimagine Education Social Sciences Gold Award
(4) Australian Government 2016 Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
(5) UNSW Business School 2016 John Prescott Outstanding Innovation Award
(6) UNSW Business School 2013-2015 Student Choice Award
(7) University of New South Wales Heinz Harant Award for Teaching Innovation
(8) UNSW Vice-Chancellor 2013 Award for Excellence in the Use of Learning & Teaching Technologies
(9) Australian School of Business 2013 Outstanding Technology-Enabled Teaching Innovation Award
(10) University of New South Wales 2013 Innovation Award (finalist)
We thank Geoff Crisp, Danny Carroll, Denise Doiron, Gigi Foster, Kevin Fox, Mark King, Geoffrey Garrett, Arghya Ghosh, Stephen Marshall, Peter McGuinn, Valentyn Panchenko, Carlos Pimienta, Prem Ramburuth, Alex Steel, Chris Styles and Nick Wailes for continuous support and encouragement. We are also grateful to Dror Ben-Naim, James Murchison, Malcolm Ryan and Martin Slater for discussions during the early prototype phase.