2026 Blackboard Exemplary Course Program Award

My UISC 105: Video Games and Cultural Dynamics course was recognized as a 2026 Blackboard Exemplary Course Program Award winner. I am so proud!

Video games are how millions of people experience storytelling, identity, conflict, economics, and community. They have been for decades. In my course, we examine what that means. My course is not some course where students just play games and get an easy A. They are reading games like texts, arguing about them like critics, and connecting them to conversations about culture and society on national and global levels.

The ECP is peer-reviewed. That means a group of educators and instructional designers went through the course and said it cleared the bar. That recognition means so much to me! Thank you! 🙏

And thank you to the University of Hartford, my Academic Technology colleagues, and Blackboard for the support and the tools to build something like this.

Check out the list of winners here! https://community.anthology.com/home/blogs/ecp-may-2026