Category Archives: Theory

Where We Stand: A Decade of Digital Media and Learning

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Barry

My post this month on DMLcentral asked readers to reflect on the first ten years of the MacArthur Foundation’s Digital Media and Learning Initiative, and reviewed in brief why it will be their last: This October will mark nine years … Continue reading →

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Using an Iterative Design Process to Re-vision Cultural Halls Through Digital Media

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Barry

Last year we had an idea — one of those late-night-shouldn’t-you-be-sleeping kind of crazy ideas — for helping visitors form deeper connections with our the Hall of Northwest Coast Indians. To my delight it was included within a slate of … Continue reading →

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On Beyond Gaming: Minecraft and The Future of Transmedia Learning

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Barry

At this year’s annual Games for Change Festival, “transmedia” was a topic right out of the gate, first with the talk by Nick Fortugno, and then, following soon after, in one by Martin Elricsson. Later that first day I brought … Continue reading →

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What’s on your lanyard? What Disney World Can Teach Us About Museum-based Learning, Part 2

Posted on March 27, 2015 by Barry

“Barry has crushes,” my supervisor explained to one of my colleagues. “You just have to let him talk them out.” Truer words have never been spoken, at least not about me. My crush of the week – that is, my … Continue reading →

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Augmented Wearables and the Future of Museums

Posted on March 5, 2015 by Barry

[NOTE: Below is a re-blog of my column on DMLcentral where I first introduced the idea of here/there and me/us. I later revisited and revised the concept – to the more obvious me/we – after the New York Times sent … Continue reading →

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Badges For Learning Series, Part 3: A Case Against Standardized Badges

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Barry

Below is my latest monthly post for the DMLcentral blog. Please feel free to read below but I’d love to know your thoughts and read your comments here. In my first two posts in this series (“My Beef With Badges” … Continue reading →

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Moving Beyond Aspirations on Mozilla Open Badges Call

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Barry

Last week I was delighted to to be invited by the Mozilla Foundation’s Open Badges Call – a weekly call that has been going on for years open to anyone interested in badges for learning – to raise issues I … Continue reading →

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My Beef With Badges: A Call for Conversation

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Barry

Below is my latest column on DMLcentral. It addresses concerns I have had for some time and, writing it, helped me to crystallize how to address them. I hope this is seen not as a statement but as the start … Continue reading →

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How Much Tech Is Too Much?

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Barry

How much is too much technology in a science center or museum, or is the sky the limit? Does it engage or distract? These were the questions posed to me and my colleagues at museums and science centers around the … Continue reading →

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Makers and DML – Separated At Birth?

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Barry

For my column on DMLcentral I decided to take inspiration from our booth at the World Maker Faire NYC this past September. I enjoyed writing and thinking about the history of both the Maker Movement and the DML Initiative, and … Continue reading →

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