Chris Bennett

Engagement expert | 20+ years of game design and behavior design experience | Pursuing gamification and engagement work leveraging an interactive entertainment and education background.

Chris Bennett is an experienced game designer and education technology expert who has been affiliated with Stanford University Graduate School of Education for several years. Here are some key details about his background and role:

Stanford University Affiliation

Chris Bennett has been an Invited Lecturer at Stanford University Graduate School of Education since April 2014. In this role, he:

Co-teaches and lectures in graduate courses on digital learning
Works with students in the Learning, Design, and Technology Masters program
Acts as a project judge for student presentations
Conducts research on using Game Design Thinking to enhance learning outcomes and motivation

Some specific courses he has been involved with include:

EDUC 254: Digital Learning Design Challenge
EDUC 391: Engineering Education and Online Learning

Professional Background

Bennett has over 20 years of experience in game design and development. Some highlights of his career include:

Worked on games for major companies like Electronic Arts, Disney, and Zynga
Shipped successful titles like Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2001 while at EA Sports
Founded his own consulting company focused on Game Design Thinking
Served as Game Designer in Residence at Stanford Peace Innovation Lab from 2013-2022
Advised various EdTech companies on increasing engagement and motivation

Expertise

His areas of expertise include:

Game Design Thinking - Applying game design principles to non-game contexts
Educational technology
Engagement and motivation in digital learning
Bridging game design with behavior design and neuroscience

Current Work

In addition to his Stanford affiliation, Bennett currently:

Runs his own consulting practice applying Game Design Thinking to various industries
Advises EdTech companies on engagement strategies
Conducts research on game design applications in education and other fields

Overall, Chris Bennett brings a unique combination of game design experience and educational expertise to his role at Stanford, where he helps apply gaming principles to enhance learning and motivation.