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Bill Watson

Associate Professor
Director, Purdue Center for Serious Games and Learning in Virtual Environments
Learning Design & Technology
Department of Curriculum & Instruction

Research

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.



Education

Ph.D. Indiana University, 2007 Instructional Systems Technology
M.S. Indiana University, 2000, Information Science
B.A. Indiana University, 1998, English


Publications

  • Watson, W.R., Watson, S.L., & Reigeluth, C.M. (In Press). Education 3.0: Breaking the mold with technology. Interactive Learning Environments.
  • Watson, S. L. & Watson, W. R. (In Press). Toward critical, emancipatory, and pluralistic research: Critical systems theory for qualitative research methodology. In B. Dennis, L. Carspecken, & P. Carspecken (Eds). Qualitative Research: A Reader in Philosophy, Core Concepts, and Practice.
  • 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.
  • Reigeluth, C. M., Watson, W. R., & Watson, S. L. (2012). Personalized Integrated Educational Systems: Technology for the Information-Age paradigm of education in higher education. In S. P. Ferris (Eds.), Teaching And Learning With the Net Generation (pp. 41-60). Hershey, PA. IGI Global.
  • 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. (2011). The role of technology and computer-based instruction in a disadvantaged alternative school’s culture of learning. Computers in the Schools 28(1), 39-55.
  • Watson, S.L. & Watson, W.R. (2011). Critical, emancipatory and pluralistic research for education: A review of critical systems theory. Journal of Thought, 40(4), 63-77.
  • Watson, W. R. (2010). Games for social studies education. In A. Hirumi (Ed.), Playing games in school: Video games and simulations for primary and secondary education (pp. 173-202). Washington DC: International Society for Technology in Education.
  • Watson, W. R. (2010). Once upon a time: The role of stories in educational video games. In D. H. Andrews, T. D. Hull & K. DeMeester (Eds.), Storytelling as an instructional method: Research perspectives (pp. 105-118). Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
  • Reigeluth, C.M., Carr-Chellman, A.A., Beabout, B., & Watson, W. (2009). Creating shared visions of the future for K-12 education: A systemic transformation process for a learner-centered paradigm. In L. Moller, J.B. Huett & D.M. Harvey (Eds.), Learning and instructional technologies for the 21st century (pp. 131-150). New York: Springer.
  • Reigeluth, C.M., Watson, W.R., Watson, S.L., Dutta, P., Chen, Z., & Powell, N. (2008). Roles for technology in the information-age paradigm of education: Learning Management Systems. Educational Technology, 48(6), 32-39.
  • 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. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
  • Watson, W. R., Lee, S., & Reigeluth, C. M. (2007). Learning Management Systems: An overview and roadmap of the systemic application of computers to education. In F. M. M. Neto & F. V. Brasileiro (Eds.), Advances in computer-supported learning (pp. 66-96). London: Information Science Publishing.
  • 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.

Experience

2007-Present Assistant Professor, Curriculum & Instruction in Educational Technology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
2002-2007 Lecturer, Computer and Information Technology, Indiana University, - Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN
2000-2002 Visiting Lecturer, Computer and Information Technology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN


Courses

EDCI 57200 Learning Systems Design
EDCI 55600 Computer and Video Game Design for Education
EDCI 58800 Motivation in Instructional Design
EDCI 56900 Introduction to E-learning Design
EDCI 67200 Advanced Practices in Learning Systems Design