Brian Nelson
Biography
Brian C. Nelson is a professor of educational technology with the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. His research focuses on the theory, design, and implementation of immersive learning and assessment environments.
Professor Nelson was the project designer on the River City Virtual World project through two National Science Foundation (NSF) funded studies, and co-principal investigator on the NSF-funded SAVE Science and SURGE studies. Each of these studies explored the use of computer games to teach and assess science inquiry and content. He is currently working on a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded app project called Ask Dr. Discovery. Nelson is collaborating on this project with Judd Bowman, cosmologist in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at ASU, Cassie Bowman, a scientist and educator with NASA; and staff from the Arizona Science Center and Arizona Museum of Natural History. The mobile app is designed so that visitors can use to ask questions and enhance their experience with science exhibits at the two museums.
Professor Nelson is committed to strengthening the computational literacy of K-12 students and teachers in Arizona. He teaches computer science education courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level and is working with the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College and Fulton Schools of Engineering to develop professional development modules that could be available to in-service teachers not currently enrolled in degree programs.
Professor Nelson is co-founder of Computer Science for Arizona, a statewide computer science taskforce that focused on bringing computer science education and professional development statewide. CSforAZ brought together a coalition of partners from government, K-12 districts, higher education, business, and non-profits; all focused on enabling high-quality, equitable computer science learning opportunities for all students in Arizona.
Education
- Ed.D. Educational Technology, Harvard University 2005
- M.A. Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL), St. Michael's College, VT 1994
- B.A. Communications and Theater Arts, Washington State University 1990
Research Interests
Guiding Research Questions:
- How can immersive computer environments be designed to best support learning and assessment?
- How can the curricula and activities in educational games and virtual worlds be structured to produce rich data as evidence for learning?
- How can we best support K12 students and teachers in building computational literacy?
Current Research Projects:
Nelson is currently working on a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded project called Ask Dr. Discovery. In this project, he is collaborating with Dr. Judd Bowman, cosmologist in the College of Earth and Sciences at ASU, Dr. Cassie Bowman, a scientist and educator with NASA, and staff from the Arizona Science Center and Arizona Museum of Natural History to build a mobile app that visitors can use to ask questions and enhance their experience with science exhibits at the two museums.
Nelson is also committed to strengthening the computational literacy of K12 students and teachers in Arizona. In this capacity, he teaches computer science education courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level, and is working with the Teachers College and Engineering Schools to develop professional development modules that could be available to in-service teachers not currently enrolled in degree programs.
Publications
Nelson, B., Erlandson, B., & Denham, A. (2011). Global channels for learning and assessment in complex game environments. British Journal of Educational Technology 42(1): 88-100.
Nelson, B. & Erlandson, B. (2008). Managing cognitive load in educational multi user virtual environments: Reflection on design practice. Educational Technology Research and Development, 56(5-6): 619-641.
Nelson, B. (2007). Exploring the use of individualized, reflective guidance in an educational multi-user virtual environment. The Journal of Science Education and Technology 16(1): 83-97.
Research Activity
- Bowman,Judd David*, Bowman,Catherine, Nelson,Brian Carl. Facilitating Museum Evaluation with Real-Time Data Mining. NSF-EHR(9/1/2014 - 8/31/2017).
- Nelson,Brian Carl*, Nelson,Brian Carl*. RD: SAVE Science Science: Situated Assessment Using Virtuial Environments for Science Content. UNIV OF MARYLAND(9/1/2011 - 8/31/2015).
- Nelson,Brian Carl*. SURGE: Scaffolding Understanding by Redesigning Games for Education. VANDERBILT UNIV(1/15/2010 - 8/31/2011).
- Clark,Douglas B*, Clark,Douglas B*, Nelson,Brian Carl, Nelson,Brian Carl. Scaffolding Understanding by Redesigning Games for Education (SURGE). NSF-EHR(9/1/2008 - 2/28/2010).
- Nelson,Brian Carl*, Nelson,Brian Carl*. SAVE Science: Situated Assessment Using Virtual Environments for Science Content and Inquiry. TEMPLE UNIV(9/1/2008 - 8/30/2013).
- Gee,James Paul*, Calleros,Charles Richard, Haas,Nancy S, Hinde,Elizabeth Rose, Nelson,Brian Carl, Wood,Linda Alice Sargent. Our Courts. MACARTHUR FDN(5/1/2008 - 5/30/2010).
- Gee,James Paul*, Gee,James Paul*, Gee,James Paul*, Nelson,Brian Carl, Nelson,Brian Carl. 21st Century Assessment Project. MACARTHUR FDN(10/1/2007 - 1/31/2013).
- Rikakis,Thanassis*, Akay,Metin, Bedard,Roger Lee, Benin,Mary Holland, Birchfield,David A, Brungart,Jennifer, Campana,Ellen, Campana,Ellen, Candan,Kasim Selcuk, Clark,Douglas B, He,Jiping, Homa,Donald L, Ingalls,Todd Matthew, Isaac,Gwyneira, James,Jodi H, Karam,Lina, Kelliher,Aisling G, Kelliher,Aisling G, Laubichler,Manfred Dietrich, Leanos,John Jota, Mcbeath,Michael, Nelson,Brian Carl, Panchanathan,Sethuraman, Panchanathan,Sethuraman, Presson,Clark Cortelyou, Qian,Gang, Qian,Gang, Rodriguez,Armando A, Santello,Marco, Savenye,Wilhelmina C, Somerville,Susan Clare, Spanias,Andreas Savva, Spanias,Andreas Savva, Steinmetz,Peter Nathan, Sundaram,Hari, Sundaram,Hari, Thornburg,Harvey Devoe, Thornburg,Harvey Devoe. IGERT: An Arts, Sciences, and Engineering Research and Education Initiative for Experimental Media. NSF-EHR(10/1/2005 - 9/30/2012).
- Nelson,Brian Carl*. Studying Robust-Design Strategies for Developing Innovations Effective and Scalable in Challenging Classroom Settings. HARVARD UNIV(9/1/2005 - 8/31/2008).
Courses
| Spring 2021 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| CSE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| CSE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| CSE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| CSE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| CSE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| CEN 599 | Thesis |
| DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
| CSE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| DCI 791 | Seminar |
| DCI 792 | Research |
| DCI 799 | Dissertation |
| Fall 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| CSE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| CSE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| CSE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EDT 590 | Reading and Conference |
| CSE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
| DCI 791 | Seminar |
| EDT 792 | Research |
| EDT 799 | Dissertation |
| DCI 799 | Dissertation |
| Spring 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| CSE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| CSE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| CPI 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| CSE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| CSE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| CSE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| CEN 599 | Thesis |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| EDT 684 | Internship |
| EDT 784 | Internship |
| EDT 790 | Reading and Conference |
| CSE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EDT 792 | Research |
| DCI 792 | Research |
| EDT 799 | Dissertation |
| DCI 799 | Dissertation |
| Fall 2019 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| CSE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| CSE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EDT 590 | Reading and Conference |
| CSE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| CSE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| DCI 691 | Seminar |
| APH 691 | Seminar |
| DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EDT 792 | Research |
| EDT 799 | Dissertation |
| Spring 2019 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| CSE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| CSE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| CPI 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| CSE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| CSE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| CSE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| CEN 599 | Thesis |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| EDT 684 | Internship |
| EDT 784 | Internship |
| CSE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EDT 790 | Reading and Conference |
| DCI 791 | Seminar |
| EDT 792 | Research |
| EDT 799 | Dissertation |
| DCI 799 | Dissertation |
| Fall 2018 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| CSE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| CSE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EDT 590 | Reading and Conference |
| CSE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| CSE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| EDT 792 | Research |
| EDT 799 | Dissertation |
| Summer 2018 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| CPI 484 | Internship |
| CSE 584 | Internship |
| CSE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| Spring 2018 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| CPI 111 | Game Development I |
| CPI 484 | Internship |
| CSE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| CSE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| CSE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| CPI 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| CSE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| CSE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| CEN 599 | Thesis |
| EDT 684 | Internship |
| EDT 784 | Internship |
| EDT 790 | Reading and Conference |
| DCI 791 | Seminar |
| EDT 792 | Research |
| EDT 799 | Dissertation |
| DCI 799 | Dissertation |
| Fall 2017 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| CPI 462 | Dsgn for Lrning in Vrtual Wrld |
| CSE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| CSE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EDT 590 | Reading and Conference |
| CSE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| CSE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| DCI 791 | Seminar |
| EDT 792 | Research |
| EDT 799 | Dissertation |
| Summer 2017 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| CPI 484 | Internship |
| CSE 584 | Internship |
| CSE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| Spring 2017 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| CPI 111 | Game Development I |
| CPI 484 | Internship |
| CSE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| CSE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| CPI 493 | Honors Thesis |
| CSE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EDT 504 | Modalities of Learning |
| CSE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| CSE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| CEN 599 | Thesis |
| EDT 684 | Internship |
| EDT 784 | Internship |
| EDT 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EDT 792 | Research |
| EDT 799 | Dissertation |
| DCI 799 | Dissertation |
| Fall 2016 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| CPI 111 | Game Development I |
| CPI 484 | Internship |
| CPI 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| CSE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EDT 494 | Special Topics |
| CSE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EDT 590 | Reading and Conference |
| CSE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| CSE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EDT 598 | Special Topics |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| EDT 792 | Research |
| EDT 799 | Dissertation |
Presentations
- Erlandson, B., Savenye, Wilhelmina, Kelliher, A., Nelson, Brian. Improved research through mediated communication tools in a transdisciplinary community of practice. Paper presented at the Conference on Technology,Knowledge and Society (Jan 2007).
- Ketelhut, D, Nelson, Brian, Clarke, J, Dede, C. Studying Near and Far Transfer in a Multi-User Virtual Environment. AECT 2006, Dallas, TX (Oct 2006).
- Nelson, Brian. The River City Project: A Multi-user Virtual Environment for Learning Science and 21st Century Skills. Classrooms without Quizzes event, Arizona State University (Oct 2006).
- Nelson, Brian, Ketelhut, D, Clarke, J, Dede, C, Nelson, Brian, Ketelhut, D, Clarke, J, Dede, C. Designing for Real-World Inquiry in Virtual Environments. AECT 2006, Dallas, TX (Oct 2006).
- Nelson, Brian. The Efficacy of Individualized, Reflective Guidance for Student Learning in an Educational Multiuser Virtual Environment. Invited talk presented at the Distributed Learning and Collaboration Symposium on Theory, Research, and Practice. Shanghai, China (Jun 2006).
- Ketelhut, D, Nelson, Brian, Dede, C, Clarke, J. Inquiry Learning in Multi User Virtual Environments. NARST 2006, San Francisco (Apr 2006).
- Nelson, Brian. The Efficacy of Individualized, Reflective Guidance for Student Learning in an Educational Multiuser Virtual Environment. American Education Research Association, San Francisco (Apr 2006).
- Clarke, J, Dede, C, Ketelhut, D, Nelson, Brian, Bowman, C. Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVEs) as Research Tools to Assess Student Learning. American Education Research Association, San Francisco (Apr 2006).
- Ketelhut, D, Dede, C, Clarke, J, Nelson, Brian. A Multi-User Virtual Environment for Building Higher Order Inquiry Skills in Science. American Education Research Association, San Francisco (Apr 2006).
- Nelson, Brian. Investigating the Impact of Individualized, Reflective Guidance On Student Learning in an Educational Multi-User Virtual Environment. AECT 2005, Orlando, FL (Oct 2005).
- Dede, C, Clarke, J, Ketelhut, D, Nelson, Brian, Bowman, C. Fostering Motivation, Learning, and Transfer in Multi-User Virtual Environments. American Education Research Association, Montreal (Apr 2005).
- Dede, C, Ketelhut, D, Clarke, J, Nelson, Brian, Bowman, C. Students' Motivation and Learning of Science in a Multi-User Virtual Environment. American Education Research Association, Montreal (Apr 2005).
- Ketelhut, D, Clarke, J, Dede, C, Nelson, Brian, Bowman, C. Inquiry Teaching for Depth and Coverage via Multi-User Virtual Environments. Paper presented at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Dallas (Apr 2005).
- Dede, C, Ketelhut, D, Nelson, Brian. Design-Based Research on Gender, Class, Race, and Ethnicity in a Multi-User Virtual Environment. AERA 2004, San Diego, CA (Apr 2004).
- Dede, C, Nelson, Brian, Ketelhut, D, Clarke, J, Bowman, C. Design-based Research Strategies for Studying Situated Learning in a Multi-User Virtual Environment. International Conference of the learning Sciences, Los Angeles (Jul 2003).
- Ketelhut, D., Nelson, Brian. Exploring Embedded Guidance and Self-efficacy in Educational Multi-user Virtual Environments. Computer Supported Collaborative Learning Conference
- Nelson, Brian, Erlandson, B. Multimedia design principles for learning in multiuser virtual environments. American Educational Research Assoication Conference
- Nelson, Brian, Ketelhut, D., Clarke, J., Dieterle, E., Dede, C., Erlandson, B. Robust design strategies for scaling educational innovations: The River City MUVE case study. American Educational Research Assoication Conference
- Clarke, J., Ketelhut, D., Nelson, Brian, Erlandson, B., Dieterle, E., Dede, C. Investigating students' behaviors,patterns, and learning in multi-user virtual environment designed around inquiry. American Eduacational Research Assoication Conference
- Erlandson, B., Nelson, Brian. Designing for learning with multimedia principles in educational multi-user virtual environments. American Educational Communication and Technology Conference
Service
- Science Education, Manuscript reviewer (2007 - Present)
- College Election Committee, Member (2006 - Present)
- Computers in Human Behavior, Editorial board member (2006 - Present)
- Division Awards Committee, (2006 - Present)
- Educational Psychology Review, Manuscript reviewer (2006 - Present)
- Educational Technology Research and Development, Manuscript reviewer (2006 - Present)
- Journal of Science Education and Technology, Manuscript reviewer (2006 - Present)
- Division Curriculum Committee, (2005 - Present)
- Educational Technology Admission Committee, Committee Member (2005 - Present)
- Journal of Educational Computing Research, Manuscript reviewer (2005 - Present)
- Journal of the Learning Sciences, Manuscript reviewer (2005 - Present)
- American Educational Communications and Technology Association, Electronic Services Committee (2007 - 2007)
- College Election Committee, Chair (2007 - 2007)
- Division Affirmative Action committee, (2007 - 2007)
- American Educational Communications and Technology Association, Curriculum Committee (2006 - 2007)
- Dobson Montessori, Parent volunteer (2006 - 2006)
- Sakai Professional Graduate School, Consultant (2006 - 2006)
- Nanyang Technological University, Consultant (2005 - 2006)
- Esperanza Elementary School, Parent volunteer (2005 - 2005)
- Harvard Yard Child Care Center, Parent volunteer (2005 - 2005)
- Virtual Reality, Manucript reviewer (2005 - 2005)