Jordan Tynes

Lecturer in Computer Science

Immersive learning environments and playable media as a technology-based approach to communicating about the world around us. */

My work at Wellesley College and beyond focuses on the creation and study of immersive and interactive learning experiences. I am fascinated by the way technology-based immersion can be used to enhance pedagogical aims and communicate complex ideas. I have years of experience developing Virtual Reality applications that are currently being used in classrooms across the Liberal Arts curriculum. My latest research involves working with the iLRN CHEX consortium to identify standards that may be used to develop more effective methods for using immersive learning technologies.

I currently teach a three-course sequence in the Computer Science Department that asks students to develop their own digital games and other projects in Playable Media. These courses are situated at an interdisciplinary crossroads that is supported by the Media Arts & Sciences program, combining a wide range of academic perspectives found in digital playable media. My own research in Games Studies is exemplified by my latest project, SubjectMatter:TableTop, an academic podcast that explores “games and the subjects that animate them.” This podcast seeks to expose the many ways that games communicate from both technical and Cultural Studies perspectives.

I am also a major supporter of academic makerspaces. In my previous role in higher education, I oversaw the evolution of the Knapp Media Center by introducing “maker” technologies, as well as developing the Knapp Internship program for students to learn and support the newest academic technology available on campus. Using emergent technology and workflows, I continue to enable previously unexplored ways of teaching, learning, conducting research, and communicating scholarly efforts. I spend time in the campus makerspace, exploring new methods for 3D scanning and the production of aerial imagery in support of curricular experiments in VR/AR. I am also excited to be a part of a growing consortium of higher education professionals, Liberal Technology, interested in expanding the “maker mindset” on college campuses.

When I am not teaching or traveling for research, you can find me driving from one campsite to the next, playing with dogs, or “spoiling my walk” in nature by attempting to play a good round of golf. Please feel free to join my Twitch stream (jstored) during the semester on Tuesdays (8-8:30), or tune in to SubjectMatter:TableTop!

Current and upcoming courses

  • Digital games visualize compelling worlds that can resemble real-life environments and imagine other-worldly spaces. These virtual realms frame our experience of games and their design dramatically impacts our interpretation of their narratives and mechanics. Designers code environments to shape player agency and weave complex relationships between game characters. This course will teach students to create digital worlds and critically assess them as politically rich spaces that convey meaning. Students will build both 2D and 3D digital environments, coding elements such as interactivity and non-player entities, crafting game experiences that tell meaningful stories. CS221 continues to explore the Unity Game Engine and topics introduced by CS121, but enrollment is suitable for any student with 100-level coding experience and an interest in game design. (CS 221 and MAS 221 are cross-listed courses.)
  • Video games are a popular form of interactive media that engage players in dynamic experiences through unprecedented combinations of storytelling, visualization, interactivity, and multi-sensory immersion. This course will introduce students to video game production and concepts. We will develop a framework for critically analyzing this medium, learn to identify effective strategies for creating games and describe what elements of design impact the final experience of a game. We’ll also identify the function of user agency in this medium to better understand how players are affected by representation in video games. Throughout the course, students will be asked to apply these concepts while building their own games and become familiar with the fundamentals of video game design. (CS 121 and MAS 121 are cross-listed courses.)
  • Video games are a popular form of interactive media that engage players in dynamic experiences through unprecedented combinations of storytelling, visualization, interactivity, and multi-sensory immersion. This course will introduce students to video game production and concepts. We will develop a framework for critically analyzing this medium, learn to identify effective strategies for creating games and describe what elements of design impact the final experience of a game. We’ll also identify the function of user agency in this medium to better understand how players are affected by representation in video games. Throughout the course, students will be asked to apply these concepts while building their own games and become familiar with the fundamentals of video game design. (CS 121 and MAS 121 are cross-listed courses.)