Ann DeMarle

Director, Emergent Media Center

Teaching and Research Interests:

advancing the use of emergent media to enhance learning or create positive change

Favorite aspect of teaching at Champlain:

“The chance to bring the world into the classroom and take our students’ work to the world.”

Taking games seriously

“When students arrive at Champlain, their whole vision of gaming is entertainment,” says Ann DeMarle. “I try to get them to use these tools to create change in the world.” One real-world example: She brought students to the Learning 2007 Conference for healthcare professionals in Florida, where they produced two games in three days.

“They worked through the night and even got students back on campus to create music and artwork and send them the files digitally.” With unprecedented growth in the U.S. videogames business, her students have solid careers ahead of them as they work hands-on to produce both entertainment and “serious games” for libraries, middle schools and other clients.