Carol Redfield
Professor and Graduate Program Director of Computer Science/Computer Information Systems
EXPERTISE:- Computer Gaming
- Mathematics
- Software Design, Development and Management
- Space Development
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:Trevino, A., Redfield, C.L., “Unpredicted Educational Uses of Video Games,” 2009 Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education, AACE, Charleston, NC, March 2009.
Redfield, C.L., “Space Awards at Science Fairs,” Ad Astra, The Magazine of the National Space Society, Silver Marketing, Bethesda, MD, Summer 2009.
TEACHING:- Game Development
- Advanced Software Engineering
- Artificial Intelligence
EDUCATION:- B.S., University of Michigan
- M.S., University of Michigan
- Ph.D., University of Michiga
In this increasingly wired world, how can we keep students interested in the classroom? Dr. Carol Redfield believes the answer is educational gaming. As an expert in the field of eLearning, computer gaming, and educational gaming, she firmly believes that educational gaming can engage students in learning and keep them interested for the rest of their lives.
Outside of the classroom, Dr. Redfield pursues her interest in space exploration through her work as an officer in the San Antonio Space Society. Her dream of spending her 25th wedding anniversary in space might become a reality with the recent advances in this field. In the academic world, she is active in the field of intelligent systems and educational gaming, with dozens of journal publications and conference presentations under her belt.
On space exploration ...
A Star Trek fan at heart, Dr. Redfield has always been interested in what lies beyond our planet. She believes that space exploration can benefit humans, even help prevent war and create peace. “Astronauts who have been in space say that when you look at Earth from space, you see only one planet – no countries, no boundaries. When you think about it that way, peace seems possible because we are all citizens of this planet.”
On women in science ...
While the number of women studying sciences has increased, the numbers are not equal to men. Dr. Redfield’s answer? Start sooner. “By the time students go to high school and college, they already have preconceived notions about what they can and cannot do. To get more female students in science, we have to start at middle school or earlier.”
On the future of education ...
At this day and age, students are more and more reliant on technology in their daily lives. Instead of working against technology, Dr. Redfield thinks educators should be using it more in the classroom. “Educational gaming, even at the most rudimentary level, helps students learn and helps them learn the material in a way they understand.” She thinks that online hybrid courses will become more of the norm especially for advanced and continuing education. Course management systems have the potential to act like human tutors and can present needed course content at the appropriate time for students.