Professor of Digital Learning and Play Nic Whitton

Professor

Department: Computer and Information Sciences

I have a varied academic background starting with a degree in Business Management from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne followed by several years working in the not-for-profit sector. In my late twenties I returned to education and undertook a masters degree in Information Systems at Edinburgh Napier University followed by a part-time PhD while working in a range of learning technology and academic development roles.

After completing my PhD in the potential of collaborative video games for learning I moved to the School of Education at Manchester Metropolitan University where I stayed until 2018. This was followed by a five-year stint as Director for the Centre for Academic Development at Durham University before moving to Northumbria in September 2023.

Email Nic

Research Themes and Scholarly Interests

My main research interests are in using playful approaches and digital games to support adult learning, as well as impacts on work, social engagement and wellbeing. I am particularly interested in the potential of games and play to support learning, but also how they can unintentionally create barriers to engagement. More widely, I am interested in digital learning and digital practice in Higher Education.

I am interested in the design of digital play and video games for learning, and how playful learning approaches can be used to make learning more engaging and inclusive, and how play can be used to create safe spaces in which to learn from failure.

My work is interdisciplinary and draws on user experience design, video game design, play studies, education, and psychology.

Key Publications

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Digital play and learning, Whitton, N. 18 Jun 2024, How to Use Digital Learning with Confidence and Creativity, Cheltenham, United Kingdom, Edward Elgar
Escape rooms as tools for learning through failure, Whitton, N., O'Brien, R. 18 Mar 2024, In: Electronic Journal of e-Learning
Exploring play as the nexus of games and playfulness, Whitton, N., Moseley, A. 9 Oct 2024, Proceedings of the 18th European Conference on Games Based Learning, Reading, Academic Conferences International Limited
Introduction, Whitton, N., Nørgård, R. 12 Dec 2024, The Playful University, London, United Kingdom, Taylor & Francis
Principles for the Playful University, Nørgård, R., Whitton, N. 12 Dec 2024, The Playful University, London, United Kingdom, Taylor & Francis
Review of Noreen Dunnett (2024). Reimaging Boredom in Classrooms through Digital Game Spaces: Sociomaterial Perspectives, Whitton, N. 19 Sep 2024, In: Postdigital Science and Education
The Naked University, Whitton, N. 12 Dec 2024, The Playful University, London, United Kingdom, Taylor & Francis
The playful university: Philosophy, pedagogy, politics and principles, Nørgård, R., Whitton, N. 12 Dec 2024
State of Play: An Historic Review of Playful Learning Approaches in Higher Education, Whitton, N. 4 Sep 2023, Higher Education Research, Practice, and Policy: Connections & Complexities
Creating a Naked University, Whitton, N. 6 Dec 2022, Leading Innovation and Creativity in University Teaching, London, Routledge

PGR Supervision

Andrew Turnbull The application of the Theory of Constraints in the Operation of Information Systems Start Date: 06/03/2024
Rachelle Rawlinson An exploration of the educational potential of digital escape rooms in Higher Education Start Date: 01/11/2023
Amelia Doran Creative Play: Learning to Fail through Digital Tinkering Start Date: 01/10/2024

Qualifications

Education MSc July 01 2014
Computing PhD November 22 2007
Education PGCert July 01 2005
Computing MSc November 19 1998
Business andManagement Studies BA (Hons) July 01 1994
Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy PFHEA 2018
National Teaching Fellow NTF 2013

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