Barton Pursel

Research and Teaching

Pursel teaches IST 110: Information, People and Technology with a focus on emerging web technologies and tools and how they impact individuals and organizations.  Pursel is also a senior instructional designer within the Solutions Institute, working within a team of designers and developers to create information systems to support classroom and online learning.

Research interests include the exploration of games and virtual worlds for non-entertainment purposes.  Pursel is heavily involved in the College's Second Life initiative, and works with faculty members to design, implement, and assess various uses of Second Life for learning.  In addition to his work with IST, Pursel also works as an educational game designer with Education Technology Services (ETS), assisting in the creation of a university-wide educational gaming initiative.

Publications:

Recent Talks

February 2008 (Panel)
Information Sciences and Technology Graduate Symposium
Cyber Society and Science

December 2007 (w/ Brett Bixler)
Penn State University's eBusiness Strategy Group - Exploring Business Applications of Second Life for Penn State

November 2007
Kutztown University Design Conference - Design Considerations for 3D Environments

November 2007
Corporate Advisory Council (CAC) Conference - Virtual World Technology at Penn State

September 2007
Drexel University, LeBow College of Business - Second Life in Education

September 2007
Villanova University - Second Life in Education

June 2007 (w/ Brett Bixler)
Penn State Web 2007 - Virtual Worlds