Research output per year
Research output per year
Dr
Research activity per year
My research interests focus on the integration of technology in teaching and learning, particularly in the use and pedagogic potential of games, escape rooms, and virtual/augmented environments in educational settings. A representative list of my research interests is the following:
My supervisory interests focus on projects exploring the pedagogic potential of games, escape rooms, virtual/augmented environments, and social media in the context of computing and design education. Additionally, I am interested in projects that combine creative computing with arts, music, and fashion. (e.g., projection mapping, data visualisation, wearable technology, immersive media etc.).
I am Principal Lecturer and Course Leader for BSc (Hons) Digital Games Development and BSc (Hons) Computer Science for Games at the University of Brighton. In my academic career to date, I have lectured at a number of British and Greek institutions in a broad range of computing, games, multimedia, and design-related topics at all levels, including posts at the University of East London (Course leader for BSc Digital Media Design), University of West London (Lecturer in Computing), King’s College London (Learning Technologist), Hellenic Open University (Visiting Lecturer in MA Graphic Arts and Multimedia), and Abertay University (Lecturer in Computing).
I am Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and researcher in the fields of gamification and technology-enhanced learning with 5 research grants, 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals and international conference proceedings, and 390+ citations. I am peer-reviewer for several journals (IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies, Computers & Education, Virtual Reality, Education Inquiry, Higher Education Quarterly, OLC Online Learning Journal, Electronic Journal of e-Learning, International Journal on Advances in Intelligent Systems) and have guest edited a number of journal special issues. I chaired the 14th European Conference on Games-Based Learning (ECGBL 2020) and will also chair the 15th European Conference on Games-Based Learning (ECGBL 2021). I have been a technical committee member for over 30 international conferences.
Before entering academia, I held a variety of roles in the Creative Industries, including learning technologist, graphic designer, full-stack developer, radio producer, DJ, mashup artist, video editor, and music/videogames journalist. I am also a Certified Scrum Master (CSM).
My current research is focused on the pedagogic potential of immersive technology, virtual/augmented environments, escape rooms, and games in the context of computing and design education.
As a researcher in the field of technology enhanced learning, I am very passionate about inspiring and engaging students using innovative techniques and technology. This includes gamification, escape rooms, peer learning, live coding, MOOCs, social learning, infographics, AR/VR, and flipped classroom. My teaching style and philosophy are based on putting the student at the heart of the learning experience so as to make the subject interesting and relevant. Students learn best when they have fun, so I tend to use game-based learning activities wherever possible.
Some examples of this approach include 'gamifying' the delivery and assessment of programming modules to strengthen students' programming skills using tools such as Codecademy, Kahoot, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Codingame, Hacknet, and HackerRank. I also take students to ‘Escape rooms’, use collaborative games (e.g., 'Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes') as team-building activities, and incorporate 'choose-your-own-adventure'-style games addressing business problems in employability modules.
To help students develop critical skills and keep in line with design industry practices I use in-class critiques on a weekly basis to encourage discussion and peer assessment. Additionally, I follow a flipped classroom, use interactive quizzes for formative assessment, and organise student visits to museums, art galleries, and exhibitions for inspiration.
To improve student employability skills I have established collaborative relationships with industry partners (Creative Assembly, Unity Technologies, Hangar 13, Mediatonic Games, Studio Gobo, Electric Square, Blippar, Capgemini, JustGiving, Cyber-Duck, Endemol, TT Odyssey, nDreams) who have provided live briefs, given guest talks, and offered student internships.
PhD, University of Macedonia
Award Date: 5 Apr 2011
Master, Hellenic Open University
Award Date: 10 Nov 2010
Master, Heriot-Watt University
Award Date: 1 Dec 2000
Bachelor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Award Date: 1 Dec 1999
External Examiner for BSc (Hons) Interactive Digital Immersion, University of Plymouth
1 Sep 2020 → 1 Sep 2024External Examiner for MA Digital Design and Interactive Applications, Middlesex University
1 Sep 2019 → 1 Sep 2023External Examiner for BA (Hons) Game Design, Brunel University London
1 Mar 2019 → 30 Sep 2022External Examiner for BSc (Hons) Games Technology and BSc (Hons) Multimedia Computing, Coventry University
1 Sep 2016 → 1 Sep 2020Visiting Lecturer for MA Graphic Arts and Multimedia, Hellenic Open University
1 Sep 2016 → …External Examiner for BA (Hons) Creative Media Design, University of the West of England
1 Sep 2016 → 1 Sep 2020Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding with ISSN or ISBN › Conference contribution with ISSN or ISBN › peer-review
Panagiotis Fotaris (Chair)
Activity: Events › Conference
Panagiotis Fotaris (Participant)
Activity: Events › Conference
Panagiotis Fotaris (Chair)
Activity: Events › Conference
Panagiotis Fotaris (Member of programme committee)
Activity: Events › Conference