Dr. Lisa Dawley

  • Manager, K12 Learning Innovations LLC
  • Invited Research Fellow (summer institute), Stanford University – Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (Summer Institute)

[email protected]

scholar.google.com/citations?user=esLTM54AAAAJ

Impact Metrics
1,609
Total Citations
3
PR Journals
11
h-index
11
i10-index
0
Top Conf
3
Other Works
Awards & Honors
Distinguished Research Award

Association of Teacher Educators (ATE)

AECT Presidential Award

Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)

Presidential Service Award (Design & Development Division)

Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)

Top 20 Bestselling Books Award (for The Tools for Successful Online Teaching)

IGI Global

Past Positions

Senior Innovation Fellow, University of San Diego – Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education

2022–2024

Executive Director, University of San Diego – Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education

2018–2022

Director (M.A. in Educational Innovation, Technology & Entrepreneurship) and Clinical Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – School of Education (MEITE)

2017–2018

Chief Executive Officer & Founder, GoGo Labs

2012–2017

Professor & Chair, Department of Educational Technology, Boise State University

2003–2012

CEO & Co‑Founder, TeacherStream

2008–2011

Director of Educational Services, EDmin.com

2002–2003

Associate Professor & EDTECH Program Coordinator, Sonoma State University

2000–2002

Assistant Professor, Instruction & Curriculum Leadership, University of Memphis

1993–1999
Education
Ph.D., Education (Teaching & Learning)
University of California, Santa Barbara
M.A., Education (Teaching & Learning)
University of California, Santa Barbara
B.A., Liberal Studies; Psychology
California State University–Long Beach
Certificate
University of Southern California
Biography

Educational technology researcher, designer, and innovator focused on online learning, virtual/immersive environments, teacher professional development, and youth innovation. She co‑invented the quest‑based learning platform 3D GameLab/Rezzly and co‑created Pactful, a social‑good innovation app for teens. Former Executive Director and later Senior Innovation Fellow at the Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education (University of San Diego); earlier founded GoGo Labs and chaired the Department of Educational Technology at Boise State University. PhD and MA in Education (Teaching & Learning) from the University of California, Santa Barbara; BA from California State University–Long Beach.

Theories & Frameworks
Quest‑Based Learning (QBL)

A game‑inspired instructional approach that structures learning as non‑linear ‘quests’ with choice, leveling, and badges to support motivation, autonomy, and mastery. Operationalized in the 3D GameLab/Rezzly platform for K‑12 and teacher education.

Introduced: 2011
Social Network Knowledge Construction (SNKC)

A pedagogy describing how learners construct knowledge through interactions in social networks and virtual worlds, outlining engagement levels, strategies, and implications for instruction within technology‑mediated communities.

Introduced: 2009
Research Interests
  • Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning
  • Educational Change and Innovation
  • Educational Gaming
  • Entrepreneurship in Learning Technologies
  • Learning Communities
  • Learning Experience Design (LXD)
  • Mobile Learning
  • Professional Development
  • Social Networking
  • Teacher Education
Peer-reviewed Journal Articles & Top Conference Papers
3

British Journal of Educational Technology • Journal

Dr. Lisa Dawley, Kerry Rice

Reports design and delivery of a six‑week introductory online workshop (Summer 2011) that taught educators to build Android apps using App Inventor. The workshop’s three modules combined practice apps, peer/instructor feedback, and design proposals to encourage visual programming, interface design, and interactivity planning. The authors discuss challenges and instructional implications for introducing mobile app design to educators.

DOI 115 citations

On the Horizon (Emerald) • Journal

Dr. Lisa Dawley

Introduces and analyzes an emerging pedagogy—social network knowledge construction—associated with social networks and 3D virtual worlds such as Second Life. The paper describes how networked communication shapes learners’ thinking and participation, highlights strategies for integrating social networks into teaching and learning, and discusses practical implications and limitations for early to mid‑adopters.

DOI 324 citations
2009
The Status of Professional Development for K‑12 Online Teachers: Insights and Implications

Journal of Technology and Teacher Education • Journal

Dr. Lisa Dawley, Kerry Rice

Presents findings from a national survey of 259 K‑12 online teachers, administrators, and PD trainers conducted for the iNACOL‑supported Going Virtual! project. The article highlights evolving contexts for online‑teacher PD, a continuum of practices and models, and global versus situation‑specific needs, with implications for PD practice, policy, and future research.

114 citations
Other Works
3

Handbook of Research on Educational Communications and Technology (Springer) • Chapter

Dr. Lisa Dawley, Chris Dede

Reviews virtual worlds and immersive simulations designed for situated learning. The chapter surveys educational and entertainment examples, discusses theoretical foundations, and identifies affordances such as collaboration, participation, and experience beyond real‑world constraints. It also examines adoption barriers in education and outlines instructional design considerations for using immersive technologies to support learning.

DOI 380 citations

Cases on Digital Game‑Based Learning: Methods, Models and Strategies (IGI Global) • Chapter

Dr. Lisa Dawley, Chris Haskell

Describes the development of 3D GameLab, a quest‑based learning management system, and its use in a pre‑service teacher education course. Grounded in design‑based research, the chapter details iterative phases of building the system, curriculum, and pedagogy to support game‑based and quest‑based learning and theory generation.

IGI Global • Book

Dr. Lisa Dawley

A practitioner‑oriented text that introduces online teaching through core LMS tools (e.g., discussion forums, chat, email, assessment, surveys) and shows how to design effective learning activities with each. Includes examples, objectives, and activities to help instructors create sustainable, learner‑centered online curricula.

DOI 255 citations