EDUCATION
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Ph.D. in Educational Psychology & Technology
Dissertation title: Major Tom, You’ve Really Made the Grade:
Science & Engineering Practices in Videogame Affinity Spaces
Advisor: Matthew Koehler
Serious Games Graduate Certificate
The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
M.A. in English
B.A. in English
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Assistant Professor & Program Coordinator, Master of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET)
Fall 2016 – Present
Co-coordinator for globally-recognized Master of Arts in Educational Technology program, including online, hybrid, and overseas modalities. Responsible for curriculum revisions, teaching multiple graduate-level courses, advising, coordination of annual MSU College of Education Technology Conference, program marketing, and recruitment.
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Research Assistant, Master of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET) Program
Spring 2015
Reviewed, analyzed, and provided recommendations for the program’s online presence, including official university website and associated blogs.
Lourdes University, Sylvania, OH
Web Content Administrator
August 2005 – May 2013
Assistant Director of University Relations
Responsible for overall management of main university website, campus portal system, and mobile website. Collaborated with academic departments, student services, and IT to ensure that content and functionality met the needs of future/current students, faculty, and staff. Served as founding member of campus Technology Committee. Maintained Sharepoint document libraries and forums for hybrid courses and employee collaboration. Provided technical support for faculty, staff, and students.
Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce, Bowling Green, OH
Marketing & Communications Specialist
June 2004 – August 2005
Facilitated Youth Leadership program and annual Career Forum for high school students. Wrote and designed monthly newsletter. Managed Chamber website and marketing efforts.
PUBLICATIONS
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Lachney, M.; Boltz, Liz O.; Dillman, B.; Robertson, C.; Yadav, A. (in press). Local Classrooms, Global Technologies: Toward the Integration of Socio-technical Macro-ethical Issues into Teacher Education. Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society.
Greenhalgh, S. P., Koehler, M. J., & Boltz, L. O. (2019). The fun of its parts: Design and player reception of educational board games. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education.
Boltz, L. O. (2017). “Like Hearing from Them in the Past”: The Cognitive-Affective Model of Historical Empathy in Videogame Play. International Journal of Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations, 9(4).
Koehler, M., Arnold, B., Boltz, L. O., & Greenhalgh, S. (2017). A Taxonomy Approach to Studying How Gamers Review Games. Simulation & Gaming 48(3).
Boltz, L. O., Henriksen, D., Mishra, P., & The Deep-Play Research Group (2015). Rethinking Technology & Creativity in the 21st Century: Empathy through Gaming – Perspective Taking in a Complex World. TechTrends, 59(6).
Book Chapters
Boltz, L. O. (2019). “Nervousness and maybe even some regret”: Videogames and the cognitive-affective model of historical empathy. In B. Dubbels (Ed), Exploring the Cognitive, Social, Cultural, and Psychological Aspects of Gaming and Simulations. IGI Global.
Boltz, L. O., Henriksen, D., Mishra, P., & Deep-Play Research Group. (2015). Rethinking technology & creativity in the 21st century: Empathy through gaming-perspective taking in a complex world. TechTrends, 59(6), 3-8. Reprinted in Henriksen, D. (2017). The 7 transdisciplinary cognitive skills for creative education. New York, NY: Springer.
Heintz, A., Hagerman, M.S., Boltz, L. & Wolf, L.G. (2016). Teacher awarenesses and blended instruction practices: Interview research with K-12 teachers. In K. Hourigan & A. Marcus-Quinn (Eds), Handbook for Digital Learning in K-12 Schools. London: Springer.
Mishra, P., Henriksen, D., Boltz, L. O., & Richardson, C. (2015). E-leadership & Teacher Development Using ICT. In Huang, Ronghuai, Kinshuk, Price, Jon K. (Eds.), ICT in Education in Global Context. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Boltz, L.O., & Arnold, B. (2018, October). These Games Are Made for Walkin’: Walking Sims Step Up & Fill In. Paper presented at Meaningful Play 2018, East Lansing, MI.
Farber, M., Darvasi, P., Schrier, K., Boltz, L. O., & Dunlap, K. (2018, October). Achievement unlocked? Exploring the Complexities of Empathy in Games. Panel presented at Meaningful Play 2018, East Lansing, MI.
Staudt Willet, K. B., Moudgalya, S., Boltz, L. O., Greenhalgh, S. P., & Koehler, M. J. (2018, March). Back to the gaming board: Understanding games and education through board game reviews. Paper presented at the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education Annual Conference 2018, Washington, DC.
Marcotte, C. & Boltz, O. (2017). Building the Ultimate PD Experience. Poster presented at the Michigan Association of Computer Users in Learning Conference, Detroit, MI.
Boltz, L. O., Arnold, B., & Mehta, R. (2017). Three Simple Tricks that Will Change the Way You Think about Listicles Forever. Roundtable session at the annual conference of SITE, Austin, TX.
Boltz, L. O. (2017). Videogames for Historical Empathy. Paper presented at the annual conference of SITE, Austin, TX.
Boltz, L. O. (2016). Between the Familiar and the Strange: Exploring the Cognitive-Affective Model of Historical Empathy through Multiple-perspective Videogame Play. Paper presented at the Meaningful Play Conference, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.
Chen, M., Malone, K., Tran, K. (October, 2016). Finding Meaning in Emergent Play and What That Means for Design. Panel presented at the Meaningful Play Conference, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.
Campbell, D., & Boltz, L. O. (March, 2016). Taking history off the timeline: A constructivist, multimodal, nonlinear approach to multiperspectivity in history education. Paper presented at the annual conference of SITE, Savannah, GA.
Greenhalgh, S., Koehler, M., & Boltz, L. O. (March, 2016). What Features We Like When We Like Educational Games. Paper presented at the annual conference of SITE, Savannah, GA.
Koehler, M., Greenhalgh, S., & Boltz, L. O. (March, 2016). Here We Are, Now Entertain Us! A Comparison of Educational and Non-Educational Board Games. Paper presented at the annual conference of SITE, Savannah, GA.
Wever, M., Good, J., & Boltz, L. O. (March 2016). From Maybe to Making in One Hour. Presented at the Michigan Association of Computer Users in Learning Conference, Grand Rapids, MI.
Boltz, L. O., and Heeter, C. (2015, April). GroupTweet for Engagement: Instructor and Student Perspectives. Presented at MSU Faculty Technology Showcase, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.
Boltz, L. O., Keenan, S., and Henriksen, D. (2015, March). Best Practices for Learning by Design Online. Presented at annual conference of SITE, Las Vegas, NV.
Boltz, L. O. (2015). Players, features, and enjoyment: Entertainment games as models for educational games. In D. Slykhuis & G. Marks (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2015 (pp. 822–829). Chesapeake, VA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).
Greenhalgh, S., & Boltz, L. O. (2014, October). What’s in an (educational) game? Ub3r mechanics and 1337 motifs! Paper presented at the Meaningful Play Conference, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.
Boltz, L. O. (2014, October). Soldats Inconnus: Challenging metanarratives and fostering historical empathy through multiple-perspective play in Valiant Hearts. Poster presented at Meaningful Play Conference, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.
Boltz, L. O. (2011, October). Core Values & Sustainability: Values clarification process for the Sylvania Franciscan Village. Presented at Sustainability U: Perspectives on Sustainability in Higher Education and Beyond, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH.
Boltz, L. O. and Meyer, A. (2009, July). From Bricks to Bandwidth: Building the Virtual Wall. Presented at Independent College Advancement Associates (ICAA) Summer Conference. Columbus, OH.
Boltz, L. O. (2009). LourdesWorld: Building Community with Web 2.0. Presented at Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Ohio/Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (AICUO/OFIC) Communicators Summit. Mount Carmel College of Nursing. Columbus, OH.
FELLOWSHIPS & AWARDS
MSU Hub Catalyst Innovation Program Award (2019)
MSU AT&T Award in Instructional Technology (2017-2018): 1st Place, Fully Online Course (CEP 812)
Top Paper Award, Meaningful Play Conference (2016)
MSU College of Education W. Patrick Dickson and Robin Kyburg Dickson Award for Research on Innovative Technologies in Learning (2016-2017)
MSU College of Education Summer Research Development Fellowship (2014)
MSU Recruitment Fellowship (2013)
Lourdes University Staff Excellence Award for exceptional professionalism and dedication to the mission of the University (2011)
Lourdes University Franciscan Award for service and embodiment of University values (2010)
Crystal Award for Non-Profit Website over $10,000 – for development of Lourdes University website. Presented by The Association for Women in Communications, Toledo Chapter (2009)
Pride of CASE Best Practices in Fundraising and Development, Gold Award – for development of Lourdes University Virtual Wall. Presented by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, District V (2008)
Pride of CASE Teresa Du Bois Exline Award for Best Practices, Gold Award – For development of Virtual Student Union. Presented by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, District V (2008)
National Merit Scholar, full scholarship (1996)
TEACHING
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Instructor, CEP 816: Technology, Teaching, & Learning Across the Curriculum
Fall 2019
Lead instructor for online graduate course in educational technology.
Instructor, CEP 817: Learning Technology by Design
Spring 2019
Co-instructor for online graduate course on design thinking in education.
Instructor, Master of Arts in Educational Technology Overseas Program
Summer 2016 – 2017, 2019
Co-instructor for four-week, three-course overseas graduate program in educational technology at the National University of Ireland – Galway.
Instructor, Master of Arts in Educational Technology Hybrid Program
Summer 2015
Co-instructor for six-week, three-course hybrid graduate program in educational technology at Michigan State University.
Instructor, CEP 820: Teaching Students Online
Spring 2015 – 2016
Co-instructor for online graduate course on teaching and learning online.
Instructor, CEP 452: Universal Design for Learning
Fall 2014 & Fall 2015
Instructor for face-to-face undergraduate course on UDL.
Instructor, TE 150: Reflections on Learning
Fall 2013 & Spring 2014
Co-instructor for face-to-face undergraduate course on theories of learning.
Teaching Assistant, CEP 800: Psychology of Learning in School and Other Settings
Fall 2013 & Spring 2014
Co-instructor for online graduate course on educational psychology.
The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Instructor, College Composition I & II
August 2002 – May 2004
Instructor for face-to-face undergraduate composition/writing course.
SKILLS
- Experienced in web design, HTML, CSS, information architecture, accessibility, writing for the web, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, video editing, social media, and web analytics.
- Some familiarity with Python, R, R Studio, PHP, and Visual Basic.
- Years of hands-on experience with learning and content management systems (DotNetNuke, D2L, Angel, Sakai), WordPress, and domain/hosting services.
- Excellent writing, proofreading, and editing abilities.
- Effective communicator with proven instructional abilities and interpersonal skills.
- Songwriter, musician, and artist.
SERVICE & OUTREACH
Reading at a Crossroads project
Website Team Member (2015 – 2016)
Companion website for Reading at a Crossroads (Spiro et al., 2015)
Starmus Festival
Social Media Manager (2015 – 2016)
International Festival of Astronomy, Art and Music
Friends for Inclusive Sport (FIS) at MSU
Student Organization Advisor (2014 – 2015)
Promoting social growth for youth with disabilities through sport
Stop Trafficking of Persons
Web Developer & Content Manager (2012 – present)
Education and advocacy for victims of human trafficking
Zonta Club of Toledo
Web Developer & Content Manager (2012 – 2015)
Women’s service organization
Harbor House of Toledo
Web Developer & Content Manager (2007 – 2015)
Supporting women in recovery from chemical dependency