Sasha A. Barab PhD

Dr. Barab is a proponent of the social change agenda and summarizes the intent of his research to "have significant practical, pedagogical, and theoretical implications."  The idea of transformational play holds merit and adds value in the classroom.  "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" (sashabarab.org).

Check out his project journey.do at the link on the side for a look at an app developed using learning theory to encourage personal growth and engagement. This innovation uses learning theory outside the boundaries of school and builds upon personal growth and professional development.  His apps can be tailored for the situation and activity.  

ThriveCast is a project at the Center for Games and Impact, Arizona State University that connects the gaming world to instruction.  These games use a combination of all his learning theory knowledge and game design to bring content to life for students, to engage them socially and in context while they discover and problem solve.  He can do this by using activity theory and working within the layers of learning for students to achieve more and more information as they learn and develop inside the game.  Similar to project.do, these games help transform student success and offer a social structure to the learning environment.

Teachers and even businesses can partner with these projects to develop learning applications and games that center around play as a learning model by working with LifeLab Studios and the University's Center for Games and Impact.