Visualization students in the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University are making a difference one video game at a time. With the help of Andr Thomas, a lecturer in the Department of Visualization who founded the Learning Interactive Visualization Experience (LIVE) Lab after coming to Texas A&M in 2014, students are now creating educational games that help others succeed in various subjects they'd like to master.
In collaboration with the departments of educational psychology, mathematics and computer science, the lab has developed a calculus game called "Variant" with funding from Texas A&M's Tier One Program, which awards grants to fund new hands-on interdisciplinary education programs. The game makes Calculus 1 more understandable for the 42 percent of undergraduates who fail or drop the course, according to national averages. "
"Every game teaches the player rules and skills, but our goal in the LIVE Lab is to develop games that educate students and people on subjects they want to master," said Thomas, who had a stellar career with prominent game producers like Electronic Arts, and believes so much in the lab and the promise of educational gaming that he invested money from his own company, Bryan-based Triseum, to create an endowment through the Texas A&M Foundation to fund equipment, software and student salaries.
Learn more about the LIVE Lab in the fall 2016 issue of Spirit magazine.
Texas A&M Foundation
The Texas A&M Foundation is a nonprofit organization that receives major gifts and manages endowments for Texas A&M University. This year, the Foundation will provide $103.9 million for scholarships, faculty support, leadership programs and construction projects. Request your A&M Support Kit to learn how you can make a difference at Texas A&M through a gift to the Foundation.
In collaboration with the departments of educational psychology, mathematics and computer science, the lab has developed a calculus game called "Variant" with funding from Texas A&M's Tier One Program, which awards grants to fund new hands-on interdisciplinary education programs. The game makes Calculus 1 more understandable for the 42 percent of undergraduates who fail or drop the course, according to national averages. "
"Every game teaches the player rules and skills, but our goal in the LIVE Lab is to develop games that educate students and people on subjects they want to master," said Thomas, who had a stellar career with prominent game producers like Electronic Arts, and believes so much in the lab and the promise of educational gaming that he invested money from his own company, Bryan-based Triseum, to create an endowment through the Texas A&M Foundation to fund equipment, software and student salaries.
Learn more about the LIVE Lab in the fall 2016 issue of Spirit magazine.
Texas A&M Foundation
The Texas A&M Foundation is a nonprofit organization that receives major gifts and manages endowments for Texas A&M University. This year, the Foundation will provide $103.9 million for scholarships, faculty support, leadership programs and construction projects. Request your A&M Support Kit to learn how you can make a difference at Texas A&M through a gift to the Foundation.