David McHugh - Teaching Faculty

Contact

Teaching

Free Resources

Projects and Presentations

Personalized coaching for designing educational games that foster engagement and learning outcomes.

Interactive Game Design Coaching

Workshops and guidance on using digital storytelling tools to enhance educational content and learner engagement.

Digital Storytelling for Learning

Instruction on qualitative and quantitative research techniques tailored for information science professionals.

Research Methods in Information Science

I co-founded and co-chair this exciting annual award (since 2020) for the best and most innovative learning games.

GEE! Learning Game Awards

I co-founded (2017) and continue to help lead this annual conference in education where creativity, research, and play converge. It's a delight.

Play Make Learn Conference

I am an advisor to the Wisconsin Department of Instruction on their AI Guidance for Schools &amp; Libraries.I work with superb researchers at UW-Madison on Responsible AI for Learning.

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AI in Education

Current Projects

The object was created using 3D printer technology, with which students work at the Faculty of Education of the Trnava University in Trnava.

I'm a librarian at heart, so if you want some of my materials check out the Free Resources page or...

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Wallpaper by @jdiegoph (https://unsplash.com/photos/-xa9XSA7K9k)

I am a teaching faculty member at UW-Madison's Information School. My instruction there is informed by my master's in Library &amp; Information Studies, advanced studies in learning experience design, and over a decade of experience working for the Wisconsin Department of Public instruction, culminating as Director of an instructional technology team.I teach in all three of our degree programs and serve on a variety of projects/taskforces/etc.My current focus areas are generative AI and games for learning.

Teaching at the intersections of technology, design, and playful pedagogy

Dynamic presentations on AI, technology, and education at conferences, seminars, and public forums.

Academic Speaking Engagements

Interactive workshops exploring AI concepts, applications, and ethical considerations tailored for educators and professionals.

Artificial Intelligence Neural Processor Unit chip

AI and Technology Workshops

Creating innovative curricula that integrate emerging technologies and learning theories for information science programs.

Curriculum Development for Information Science

Playful learning - inspired by my years in games &amp; learning and learning science - to lead learning with curious creativity.

Game-Based Learning

Library-grounded values and critique; examining how digital tools amplify and numb us. I believe in constructivist pedagogy and openly sharing information. Educational technologist analyzing the design, privacy, and pedagogical implications of new tools.

Pedagogical Expertise & Librarian Values

Collaborative research projects and mentorship in AI, technology integration, and library science.

Where is the love sung by The Black Eye Peas recreated in a tunnel underpass.

Generative AI Use and Evaluation

Focus Areas

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Designing and leading dynamic workshops that engage participants in hands-on learning about technology integration and game-based methods.

Interactive Workshop Facilitation

Creating comprehensive curricula that enhance digital literacy skills for diverse learner groups in academic and community settings.

Woman sitting down using an iPad with an apple pen in her hand

Digital Literacy Curriculum Development

Offering expert consultation on research methodologies involving AI, gaming, and library sciences to support academic projects.

Service Title

First taught in Spring 2025, this innovative course is a non-technical exploration of the uses, abuses, and unexpected impacts of generative AI.

Generative AI: Strategic Application, Evaluation, and Critique

This is an example framework I've created for evaluating potential generative AI use cases.

PHEAR Framework for AI Use

Check out my Official* List of Starting Board Games for Your Library. Let me know if you have updates for it.*As arbitrarily defined by me at the time.

Games in the Library

Open Resources

Advisory services to help schools and universities develop responsible AI policies that align with ethical standards and educational goals.

AI Policy Development for Educational Institutions

Expert guidance on designing engaging and effective educational games tailored to specific learning objectives and audiences.

Playing Call of Duty: Mobile online game on iPad



Educational Game Design Consulting

Consultations that provide insights into emerging technology trends in libraries to help institutions stay current and innovative.

Library Technology Trends Analysis

Programs focused on improving digital literacy skills and fostering critical thinking to navigate information in the digital age effectively.

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Digital Literacy and Critical Thinking

This course offers an introductory exploration of generative AI from a strategic perspective, particularly as it applies to the workplace.&nbsp; Topics include societal, legal, policy, and ethical issues related to AI, and practicing the ability to evaluate, plan for, and securely work with these digital technologies. This course does not focus on specific tools, since those are constantly in flux, but on the strategies, skills and self-sufficiency necessary to evaluate, implement, and critique them. No technical background necessary.&nbsp;

LIS 408 GenAI: Strategic Application, Evaluation, & Critique

Games of all kinds are designed for information and stories, distinct in their emphasis of agency for art and problem solving.&nbsp; We will explore the relevance of games in information studies contexts, beyond simply entertainment to examining their profound social, educational, and cultural significance.&nbsp; The vast economic and social impacts are hard to overestimate, with the video game industry alone accounting for more revenue than the entire music industry and film industry combined... multiplied by three (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesagencycouncil/2023/11/17/the-gaming-industry-a-behemoth-with-unprecedented-global-reach/">Forbes</a>, 2023).&nbsp;&nbsp;Syllabus and other resources to be added soon.

 Games and Information Society 

My Favorite Course Creations

Training educators to leverage AI tools for creating adaptive learning materials, assessments, and personalized feedback.

AI-Driven Content Creation for Educators

Hands-on sessions demonstrating the use of VR technologies to create immersive learning experiences and enhance student engagement.

Interactive Workshop on Virtual Reality in Education

Facilitated sessions where educators and students co-create educational games to foster collaboration, creativity, and deeper learning.

Collaborative Game Design for Learning Communities

This course provides an overview of information and communication technologies (ICT), digital media, and standards in relationship to information agencies, within the context of current societal trends and controversies. Promotes technical knowledge and critical analysis of controversies surrounding ICT development, use, and modification. We use the lenses of privacy, security in our critical analysis, and look at other ethical considerations.

LIS 644: Digital Tools, Trends, & Debates

Introduces interaction design, an approach to designing digital information systems that places humans and their needs at the center of the design process. Explores how core principles of design, design processes, cognition, information science, and human values inform the design of interactive information systems. Discussion and practice apply the data-driven process of human-centered interaction design to develop new digital products and services.

LIS 470: Introduction to Interaction Design Studio

I created a new version of this course in just a few months to meet the needs of our rapidly growing student population.Students work with a partner organization (e.g., local governments, UW agencies) to tackle a meaningful real-world problem/data-set in small teams. This hands-on project-focused course emphasizes teamwork, strategic planning, meeting partner needs in a timely fashion, and skills that support those goals.&nbsp; The culmination of the course is a final report and final presentation that will be given to the partners.

Projects lettering, lighting with colored gels