FACULTY PROFILES

With a background in computer information and technology, Dr. Watson’s experiences teaching undergraduates fresh out of high school led him to transition to the field of education, where his initial focus on educational video games as a form of engaging instruction expanded into how technology can be used to leverage the realization of a new paradigm of education – one focused on personalized learning. He collaborated on the design of Purdue’s digital badges platform, Passport, which has was featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education, the New York Times, Campus Technology, and U.S. News and World Report. The Director of the Purdue Center for Serious Games and Learning in Virtual Environments, he was nominated and selected as one of the Center for Digital Education’s Top 30 Technologists, Transformers, and Trailblazers for 2015 and gave a TedXPurdueU talk in 2014 describing the new paradigm.
Watch it here: https://youtu.be/Z9dt5qlgO24

Professor Watson’s research interest focuses on the critical, systemic change of education to realize a learner-centered paradigm, including the application of technology such as video games, virtual environments, and learning management software in order to create customized and personalized learning environments.

Selected Publications

• Watson, W.R., & Watson, S.L. (2016). Personalized instruction. In C.M. Reigeluth & B. Beatty (Eds.), Instructional-Design Theories and Models (Vol. 4). New York: Taylor & Francis.
• Watson, W. R., Kim, W., & Watson, S. L. (2016). Learning outcomes of a MOOC designed for attitudinal change: A case study of an Animal Behavior and Welfare MOOC. Computers & Education, 96, 83-93. DOI:1016/j.compedu.2016.01.013
• Watson, W.R., Watson, S.L., & Reigeluth, C.M. (2015). Education 3.0: Breaking the mold with technology. Interactive Learning Environments, 23(3), 332-343. DOI: 10.1080/10494820.2013.764322
• Watson, W.R. & Watson, S.L. (2014). Redesigning higher education: Embracing a new paradigm. Educational Technology, 54(3), 47-52.
• Watson, W. R., & Watson, S. L. (2013). Exploding the ivory tower: Systemic change for higher education. TechTrends, 57(5), 42-46.
• Watson, W.R. & Fang, J. (2012). PBL as a framework for implementing video games in the classroom. International Journal of Game-Based Learning, 2(1), 77-89.
• Watson, W.R., Watson, S.L., & Reigeluth, C.M. (2012). A systemic integration of technology for new paradigm education. Educational Technology, 52(5), 25-29.
• Watson, W. R. Mong, C. J., & Harris, C. A. (2011). A case study of the in-class use of a video game for teaching high school history. Computers & Education, 56(2), 466-474.
• Watson, S.L., Watson, W.R., & Reigeluth, C.M. (2008). Systems design for change in education and training. In J.M. Spector, M.D. Merrill, J.J.G. van Merrienboer & M.P. Driscoll (Eds.), Handbook of research on educational communications and technology (3rd ed., pp. 692-701). London: Routledge.
• Watson, W.R., & Watson, S.L. (2007). An Argument for clarity: What are Learning Management Systems, what are they not, and what should they become. TechTrends, 51(2), 28-34.

• EDCI 55600 — Computer and Video Game Design for Education
• EDCI 56900 — Introdution to E-Learning
• EDCI 57200 — Learning Systems Design
• EDCI 58800 — Motivation and Instructional Design
• EDCI 66000 — Learning Design and Technology Seminar
• EDCI 67200 — Integration and Management of Computers in Education