Brett uses a variety of mixed-method research approaches to study vision, perception, cognition, and the design and assessment of innovative technologies for learning. Other interests include immersive and interactive learning environments, data visualizations, open education, instructional simulations and educational gaming. He is the former director of the Center for Open and Sustainable Learning whose mission involves extending educational opportunity to all those who desire it, including the building of hybrid open coursework to maximize accessibility of educational resources. He now directs the IDIAS Institute which has projects based on the development of hand-held application development for learning, as well as virtual world training applications that use unique design attributes to facilitate after action review and assessments.
Articles
Aligning Game Activity with Educational Goals: Following a Constrained Design Approach to Instructional Computer Games (with Jon Scoresby), Educational Technology Research and Development (2011)
We discuss the design, creation and implementation of an instructional game for use in a...
Expert Versus Novice Tutors: Impacts on Student Outcomes in Problem-Based Learning (with Heather M. Leary, Andrew E. Walker, and M. Harrison Fitt), ITLS Faculty Publications (2009)
The tutor is an essential part of problem based learning (PBL). However, tutor characteristics and...
Literary and Historical 3D Digital Game–Based Learning: Design Guidelines (with D. Neville), Simulation and Gambling (2009)
As 3D digital game–based learning (3D-DGBL) for the teaching of literature and history gradually gains...
Problem-Based Educational Games: Connections, Prescriptions, and Assessment (with Andrew Walker), Journal of Interactive Learning Research (2008)
The overwhelming success of the commercial game market has brought increased attention to emerging work...
Challenges, Frustrations and Triumphs of Remixing an Open Source Game Engine for Educational Purposes (with Timothy Stowell), TechTrends (2008)
The use, reuse, and remixing of commercial games has influenced the field of educational gaming....
Books
The Design and Use of Simulation Computer Games in Education (with David Wiley), ITLS Faculty Publications (2007)
This book, edited by Brett Shelton and David Wiley, is a view of models and...
Contributions to Books
Designing Educational Games for Activity-Goal Alignment, The Design and Use of Simulation Computer Games in Education (2007)
What indeed, can we expect from our newest trend in education, implementing moving pictures and...
OpenCourseWare
INST7870 - Data Visualization Theory & Practice, Fall 2006, Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences (2006)
In this course you will explore the question of what visualization is, and why you...
INST5400 - Computer Applications for Instruction and Training, Spring 2005, Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences (2005)
Introduction to basic computer applications on a Macintosh computer, with special emphasis on software that...
INST7870 - Instructional Games, Spring 2005, Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences (2005)
The goal of this course is to explore the field of instructional gaming through a...
Paper Presentations
Expert versus Novice Tutors: Impacts on student outcomes in problem based learning (with Heather Leary, Andrew Walker, and M. Harrison Fitt), Association for Educational Communications and Technology (2009)
Problem based learning (PBL) is well known for the large amount of literature in Medical...
Integrating an OpenCourseWare and Institutional Repository (with Heather Leary), Library Faculty & Staff Presentations (2009)
This presentation was given at the 2009 Open Education Conference in Vancouver, BC. It shows...
Other
Axe (with Interdisciplinary Media Research Consortium and Jeff Maxwell), ITLS Images (2006)
The Institute of Emergency Services & Homeland Security (IESHS) at Utah Valley State College (UVSC)...
Hazard Emergency & Accident Training Firefighter (with Interdisciplinary Media Research Consortium and Jeff Maxwell), ITLS Images (2006)
The Institute of Emergency Services & Homeland Security (IESHS) at Utah Valley State College (UVSC)...
HEAT environment, outside view 5 (with Interdisciplinary Media Research Consortium and Jeff Maxfield), ITLS Images (2006)
"The Institute of Emergency Services & Homeland Security (IESHS) at Utah Valley State College (UVSC)...
HEAT movie - Phase I (Overview) (with Interdisciplinary Media Research Consortium and Jeff Maxfield), ITLS Videos (2006)
The Institute of Emergency Services & Homeland Security (IESHS) at Utah Valley State College (UVSC)...
Working on 3D enironment (with Interdisciplinary Media Research Consortium and Jeff Maxwell), ITLS Images (2006)
The Institute of Emergency Services & Homeland Security (IESHS) at Utah Valley State College (UVSC)...