Presentations

Here's the files from some past presentations. I'll update with new ones as I go.

Little Hands, Foul Moods, and Runny Noses 3: Research for Kid-Friendly Social Gaming Experiences presented @ 2010 Game Developers Conference (pdf, 12.8 mb)

Little Hands, Foul Moods, and Runny Noses 2.0: The Research You Should Know When Making Games for Kids presented @ 2009 Game Developers Conference (pdf, 10 mb)

Fun Follows Function: Ten Tips for Developing Quality Toys. Presented with Carly Shuler @ 2008 Sandbox Summit (pdf)

Little Hands, Foul Moods, and Runny Noses: Researching Games with Kids presented @ 2008 Game Developers Conference (pps file)

Back to Blogger...

After a failed go with Tumblr, I'm coming back to here. I'll be reposting some of my favorite posts over the past few months. Otherwise, onward!

About Me

Most now know me as Carla Fisher, but I’ve also been known as Carla Engelbrecht (in various spellings), Radish, or simply Red. (But let the record show that calling me Red only reminds me of Toni the lunch lady in 3rd grade. Do you really want to be associated with that memory?)

I design, research, and produce kids’ games (mostly digital, mostly educational) and online learning environments. Depending on the client’s needs, I’m available to oversee the production process or consult at various stages of research and development if a development team is already in place. (See this pdf of my freelance services for more information.)

As much of my work focuses on helping game designers incorporate developmental psychology and research into their game design paradigm, I also offer workshops for clients who wish to educate their staff on bridging game design with developmental psychology and research methods. 

One day soon, I’ll also complete my studies for a doctorate in instructional technology and media at Teachers College, Columbia University.

If you want the full story of my career, my resume/c.v. and a list of freelance services are both online. 

If you’re interested in working with me, please drop me a line at carlaeng /at/ gmail /dot/ com. Or connect with me on Facebook or LinkedIn. I'm always happy to connect with others in the field!

Blue skies,
Carla

Moving to Tumblr

I'm switching to Tumblr. I like that I can post little bits. Maybe I won't feel so guilty about not updating all the time! Or maybe it's just a mental thing. Anyway, check me out at http://playinvestigator.tumblr.com

My recent manga binge...

I've been on a manga kick. Don't know why. It just happened.

It started off simply enough. I read a few issues of Fruits Basket, Vol. 1. Then I read Hana-Kimi, Volume 1: For You In Full Blossom. (I only made it through one of those. Just didn't like it that much.)

Then I devoured all four books for Miki Falls, starting with Miki Falls: Spring.

Now I just finished reading The Manga Guide to Statistics by Shin Takahashi.

It's a basic text (data types, standard score and standard deviation, probability, correlations, and chi-squares). It actually explains things in a relatively straight-forward manner and includes a cheesy romance story line. There's not a lot of exercises, so if I were learning the concepts for the first time, it would need supplemental information. But as a basic primer, I'm impressed. It was actually kind of fun to have a romance bud in between equations and hypothesis testing! I wonder how it would translate to hierarchical modeling... hmmm...

So that's a little of where I've been hiding. We all know I stink at blogging now. More sooner or later!

Good bye, Foster's

My favorite kids' tv show, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, has aired it's last episode. It's just a funny, creative show. Not only is it nice to think about where imaginary friends go, but the characters they developed are hysterical. The sky really was the limit.

Two of my favorites... "It's Hot in Topeka" and this nice person who put together a mix of Cheese moments

As far as games, I particularly recommend the Big Fat Awesome House Party. They just kept building and building and building an interactive version of the Foster's world until it became quite a fun place to spend ridiculous amounts of time!

Meanwhile, I'll Until Craig McCraken has another creation for us, I'll be watching Phineas and Ferb.

A favorite resource for child development milestones

One of my favorite quick and dirty references for what's appropriate at what age is the PBS Parents Child Development Tracker at http://www.pbs.org/parents/childdevelopmenttracker/. Of course, I might be slightly partial since I worked at pbskids.org, but still, I've continued to use the tracker, despite leaving PBS three years ago. That must count for something.

One of the reasons I like it so much is because it's so comprehensive. For example, for three-year olds, you can look at guidelines for language, literacy, math, physical health, and social and emotional growth. (And note that I still left out a few categories.) It's just not your puny table that you find in a lot of basic child dev books.

Bookmark it. Use it well. But remember, they're guidelines... not absolutes!