Farmer Education Building, Suite 140
Tempe, AZ 85287-2111
Mail code: 6002
Campus: Tempe
Long Bio
Sasha Barab is a professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. He also co-founded and serves as the executive director of the Center for Games and Impact. Professor Barab is an internationally recognized learning scientist who holds the Pinnacle West Chair of Education, and who has researched, designed, and published extensively on the challenges and opportunities of using games for impact. His research has resulted in numerous grants, dozens of articles, and multiple chapters in edited books, which investigate knowing and learning in its material, social, and cultural context. Leveraging design-based and impact-based research methodologies, his work focuses the design and research of game-infused learning environments to support a more knowledgeable, compassionate, and committed citizenship.
Education
Ph.D. Cognition and Instruction, University of Connecticut 1997
M.A. Education, University of Connecticut 1994
Certification: Special Education Teacher (K-12). State of Connecticut 1994
B.S. Psychology, American University, Washington, D.C. 1989
Beyond a social change agenda, the intent of this research is to develop rigorous claims about how people learn that have significant practical, pedagogical, and theoretical implications. Central to this work has been understanding the value of transformational play . Students who play transformationally become agents-of-change who use real-world knowledge, skills, and concepts to make sense of a situation and then make choices that actually transform the play space and themselves; creating a place in which what you know is directly related to what you are able to do and, ultimately, who you become .
Publications
Barab, S.A., Pettyjohn, P., Gresalfi, M., Volk, C., & Solomou, M. (2012). Game-based curriculum and transformational play: Designing to meaningfully position person, content, and context. Computers & Education 58(3): 518–533.
Research Activity
Barab,Sasha A.*. Motivating Bilingual Hispanic Youth Towards STEM and STEM Cognate Study and Careers (MIO STEM). NSF(7/1/2015 - 6/30/2017).
Barab,Sasha A.*. Game-Infused Assessment: Cultivating Engaged and Purposeful Test Takers. EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE(10/14/2014 - 1/31/2016).
Barab,Sasha A.*. Intel She Will Connect Initiative: A Game-Infused Digital Literacy Journey. INTEL CORP(3/4/2014 - 4/30/2016).
Barab,Sasha A.*, Arici Barab,Anna Dickson, Ingram-Goble,Adam. IntelTeach 20 Initiative: A Game-Infused MVP of the Project-Based Approaches Journey. INTEL CORP(3/1/2014 - 10/31/2015).
Barab,Sasha A.*. Impact Based Research: Cross Sector Insights Toward Aligning Education Research and Real World Impact. NSF-EHR-DRL(9/1/2013 - 5/31/2015).
Barab,Sasha A.*. Feedback as an Element of Designed Environments: An Exploration of Structure and Context. VANDERBILT UNIV(9/1/2013 - 8/31/2016).
Barab,Sasha A.*. Gaming up the Promise of Digital Learning. INTEL CORP(6/15/2013 - 12/15/2013).
Barab,Sasha A.*. Game-Infused Girls and Women Signature Program. INTEL CORP(6/10/2013 - 9/9/2013).
Barab,Sasha A.*. Games and Impact Project. AZ SUPREME COURT(5/14/2013 - 12/31/2013).
Barab,Sasha A.*. Atlantis Remixed: Using a Game-Based Curriculum to Achieve Academic Success. GATES (BILL & MELINDA) FDN(6/1/2011 - 3/31/2013).
