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Contact the Webmaster: webmaster [at] minkhollow [dot] ca
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katrin becker, phd 2009 Edition |
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Table of Contents
welcome to the home page of Katrin Becker, Ph.D.
consultant, instructional and user experience designer, developer, educator
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Email: becker [at] minkhollow [dot] ca Blog: The Becker Blog |
Specialty: serious games |
 Photo: Ken Bendiktsen |
 Director and Educational Officer at Mink Hollow Studio Instructor:
Department of Mathematics, Physics and EngineeringMount Royal University (Calgary, Alberta,Canada) |
   The Farm 
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Adjunct ProfessorSchool of Interactive Arts and Technology, Simon Fraser University (BC, Canada) |
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Associate Editor:International Journal of Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations International Journal of Game-Based Learning |
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My Google Profile |
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Webmaster: Southern Alberta Rabbit Breeders Association Basic Health International Foundation |
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current passions / projects:
- cultural preservation through game technology
- teaching CS using games
| MY THESIS: (defended Feb. 6 2008): Understanding Learning Design in Commercial Video Games | |
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| online version | PDF version (425 pages) |
news
June 2009: My term at Mount Royal has come to an end. It was fun.
June 2008: 
I have a new job, at as an Instructor, in the
Department of Computer Science and Information Systems at Mount Royal University (Calgary, Alberta,Canada)
March. 2008: A new look for my website - I have re-designed my web site. Some pages have not yet been changed over, please be patient. Please also let me know of any problems, bad links, or other glitches.
Feb. 2008: I successfully defended my doctoral dissertation on Feb. 6. Yipeeeeee!
latest BeckerBlog headlines
- Fun with Google Docs (Part 2B) (2010/03/20 10:33)First Contact: The Google Docs Tutorial Week Three of Term: Jan 25-29 Part One looked at how Goggle Docs compare to traditional word processors as utilities for creation and submission of student assignments. Part Two (this one) talks about the collaborative editing exercise I did with my class (2A), as well [...]
- Fun with Google Docs (Part 2A) (2010/03/15 13:02)A Collaborative Editing Exercise Using Google Docs Part One looked at how Goggle Docs compare to traditional word processors as utilities for creation and submission of student assignments. Part Two (this one) talks about the collaborative editing exercise I did with my class (2A), as well as the in-class “tutorial” that [...]
- What’s the Difference between a College and A University? (Part 2) (2010/03/12 12:21)Some time ago I did a bit on the differences (or some of them) between colleges and universities. I also did a comparison between them and high school. Somehow it disappeared, so here it is again. What are some of the cultural differences between a college and a university? Here is a *very* preliminary [...]
- Are students LESS tech savvy than they were 5 years ago? (2010/03/11 15:12)I am teaching a first year communications course for engineers. Most of the students seem to be making some real progress. As always, a few need very little guidance from me and others won’t listen to what I say no matter what. I keep hearing about how tech-savvy today’s students are, [...]
- Fail: How NOT to do user experience design (II) (2010/02/08 08:38)Perhaps I should be more forgiving of people who really don’t know how to use “technology” yet. I try very hard to do that – when it is someone like my mother who’s never really had any need or use for it besides being able to surf the web and communicate with family. BUT, we are [...]
where I've been (online)
history
Jan. 2008: Looking for work (academia, consulting, research, or design). Willing to travel but not move. Telecommuting prospects welcome.
June. 2007: I've finally joined the ranks of the bloggers. Not that I feel I have anything really important to say. I am using it mostly as a way to keep track of some of my own thoughts and interesting do-dads I happen across. It is public because sharing is a good thing and you never know…. someone else might find something of value. So, here it is. The Becker Blog
Nov. 2006: I've been awarded the J. B. Hyne Research Innovation Award [The Faculty of Graduate Studies created this award to recognize graduate students in any discipline who excel in research. It is named to honour Dr. James B. Hyne, the first Dean of Graduate Studies (1966-1989).]
Oct. 18 2006: CS problem directory A list of 103 assignment specifications, both collected and invented that can be used in programming classes. Most are suitable for 1st year classes, but some can be applied to other years too. (If you use any of these, please let me know. It's always nice to hear about where this stuff is going.)
July 1 2006: I have resigned as Senior Instructor at the University of Calgary. After 23 years, I quit.
- December 2005: I moved my web pages (including the farm site and my teaching/course pages) here: www.minkhollow.ca. For More info try my resources pages on: professional ethics (bullying in academia)
Sept. 28 2006, U. of C. Gauntlet News, “Professor wins suit against U.of C.” [http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/~gauntlet/eg/eg2/20060928/20060928.pdf] Vol. 47, No. 14, about Dr. Peter Bowal- Feb 16 2006, U. of C. Gauntlet News, “Professor Sues U.of C.” [http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/~gauntlet/eg/eg2/20060216/20060216.pdf] Vol. 46, No. 30, about Dr. Peter Bowal
- Is your Boss a Psychopath? an article about corporate psychopaths: citing one of the leading authorities on psychopaths (a Canadian!!) Thanks to http://www.slashdot.com/slashdot - Aug.19/05
- A short commentary on enrollments in CS and what we might do about it.
