About
I have a PhD from the University of California, Riverside. While my degree is from an English department my work is primarily resides in media studies with a focus on cultural theory. I am now revising my dissertation into a book proposal. If published, it will be one of the first book length examination of race in videogames. This project provides a theoretical exploration of race in videogames and an exploration of strategies for activist design and artistic intervention.
I currently work as Research Lead at The GameDesk Institute where I do research into play, making, discovery, and student-driven education, technology, and curriculum for K-12 schools. I’ve had the opportunity to not only do research, but actually develop curriculum including units on culture, media literacy, and game design for use in GameDesk’s PlayMaker School in Los Angeles (and hopefully all across the nation in spring 2013). Some of my more exciting projects include a sci-fi themed live action roleplaying scenario, a unit where students recreate ancient civilizations in Minecraft, and an alternative reality game (ARG) that runs throughout the semester. I’m developing a research project for the ARG which will study how and what is learned when students engage in alternative reality play.
I invite you to browse the site, and comment or email me to extend the conversation.
Feel free to browse and comment.
Email: tanner [dot] higgin [at] gmail [dot] com
