This week we have been asked to write about someone "famous". I actually have a problem with that word. Perhaps it's because I see the world a little differently than most, I believe a person can be famous to someone and never have their name published or placed on a marquee. In fact, there are many people who are only famous for those few moments that we choose for them and then we move on to the next celebrity of the day. My "famous" person was chosen because of her interests and her projects. I have no idea if her name is even well-known in academic circles, however the projects she has worked on are of great interest to me and I would love to hear her speak at one of our lecture series some day.
While doing research for another project I stumbled across this person and became intrigued by the more I read. Her name is Mary Flanagan. She is currently at Dartmouth College and according to an on-line article from the the Chronicle of Higher Education on Information Technology she is the first holder of the digital-humanities chair. However, that isn't what caught my attention, it was the research work she has done with computer games and middle school students. Josie is a web-based game designed to encourage girls to explore math and promotes confidence in the math and sciences. The other project she worked on with other collaborators was the Rapunsel Project designed to teach girls about computer programming. I also find it interesting that she is working on infusing ethics and values into computer games, with the Values at Play project.
My interests have always been in encouraging our young people to stay in school. Many times the courses students avoid in high school, such as math and science, divert them from a career in technology. This isn't because they can't do the coursework, it's because they don't believe they can.
While doing research for another project I stumbled across this person and became intrigued by the more I read. Her name is Mary Flanagan. She is currently at Dartmouth College and according to an on-line article from the the Chronicle of Higher Education on Information Technology she is the first holder of the digital-humanities chair. However, that isn't what caught my attention, it was the research work she has done with computer games and middle school students. Josie is a web-based game designed to encourage girls to explore math and promotes confidence in the math and sciences. The other project she worked on with other collaborators was the Rapunsel Project designed to teach girls about computer programming. I also find it interesting that she is working on infusing ethics and values into computer games, with the Values at Play project.
My interests have always been in encouraging our young people to stay in school. Many times the courses students avoid in high school, such as math and science, divert them from a career in technology. This isn't because they can't do the coursework, it's because they don't believe they can.
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