Just a heads up for anyone who checks this page rather than the blog. I've been running around like a crazy person lately and October looks to be much of the same. Please check the blog as it is much simpler for me to update while on the road. October presentations, hopefully November will be relatively uneventful and then the new baby will be hitting in December (hopefully NOT in October). So of course this page and my blog will then likely take a turn for the non-academic, but that is a good thing. So, moral of the story? Check the blog for the most up-to-date information.

The NIH SEPA group that I have been working with has recently begun assembling a Google Sites page as a starting point for disseminating information about the project. The site: Teaching Biology 3D is still being put together and is not yet fully ready for prime time. That said, it is nice to see information about the project beginning to see the light of day. The kinds of simulations and learning materials they are putting together are extraordinary.

The game I have been working on with this group is currently being called “Osy Osmosis,” though I do not know if this will be the name of the game as it moves forward. However, I have purchased a domain name of the same name. It is my hope that information about Osy will also begin trickling out. Our first full set of play-testing occurred this week with exceptional results. The students for the most part grasped both the underlying mechanic of the game and seemed to enjoy playing the game. Feedback regarding the look and feel of the game was very productive. Below I've outlined some of the major issues we need to examine and possible future avenues the game can take. More reflections on the play-test can be found over at the wiki we are keeping for the project.

This same group of scientists is the group I am planning on submitting and NSF grant to study the interdisciplinary dynamics that occur when scientists, game developers, engineers, artists, educators, and students come together. I really think it is a unique research opportunity and am excited about its possibilities.

Tags: NIH, SEPA, OSY

I realized over the break that the main page of my website doesn’t get nearly enough updates. So in an effort to change that I’m switching over the front page to something that demands updates a bit more often. Of course I update my blog the most often, but the front page deserves a little more love than I give it currently.