June FableFriday: Andrew Start, Developer

FableVision developer Andrew Start is certainly not a newcomer to building educational games and interactives. With a background in programming and years working in the industry, Andrew brings a breadth of knowledge and experience not only to the projects he tackles at the studio, but also to the teams he works with.

“My favorite types of projects are ones where I can build tools that enable others to make awesome things,” says Andrew Start. “I am always happy to discuss needs, capabilities, and limitations in order to come out with the best possible product. At FableVision, I’m able to do that while working on a range of projects.”

An avid fan of games and an experienced learning games developer, Andrew “starts” his FableVision career bringing his knowledge and passion to help designers and artists build amazing games and interactives. His collaborative mindset, a key trait of FableVisionaries, ensures that FableVision doesn’t lose sight of designers’ creativity while building innovative projects for our clients. And the structures that he creates allow producers and designers to convert the clients’ visions into tangible products. 

Read more to learn about Andrew’s love for games, approach to learning, and favorite llama factoid!

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You’re a new FableVisionary. Welcome to the team! What is your “journey to FableVision” story?
I’ve always loved games, and I realized that I could enter the learning games industry to create games that also teach. I developed educational web games for years at CloudKid and continued that at Jibo, a social robotics company. After Jibo shut down, I focused on freelancing projects, which is how I discovered FableVision. After learning more about the studio development team, and overall culture, I accepted a full-time position here.

What does a typical day in the life of a FableVision developer look like? 
The vast majority of my time is spent head-down building out code structure or fixing bugs. Each day has its own tasks and fixes needed, so no two are the same, but overall there’s a lot of staring at computer screens and pondering involved. I’ll also spend time talking with producers and artists to keep abreast of known bugs and assets that are ready to be integrated, so collaboration and creative problem-solving play a large role in my daily routine.

What is your favorite part of being a developer, and how does FableVision differ from other studios? 
FableVision has a large range of clients and products, which keeps my daily work interesting. I like working on new challenges, whether I’m creating a game for a big-name client, an interactive for a museum, or a website for a small non-profit. FableVision’s varied clients and projects help me learn something new every day.

Technology has changed a lot in the years that you’ve been a programmer. How do you adapt to stay on top of current trends? 
I keep track of the tools that I use and then expand my knowledge to technology and situations adjacent to those tools. I also learn a lot about current trends and resources from helping out with open source projects and chatting with other developers.

What was your favorite game growing up, and how has your love of games impacted your career path? 
I don’t know that I had a single favorite game growing up, but the ones that I played multiple times were Golden Sun, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, and Pokémon Gold. Beyond the puzzles honing my analytical skills, the hours lost in the games fostered a lifelong love of video games, and that pushed me toward majoring in Electronic Game Programming in college. 

As someone who works in educational media, you also love to learn! Where do you go to learn new things, and what is your favorite random factoid that you’ve picked up?
I tend to learn from a variety of YouTube videos and Wikipedia rabbit holes. Most of that information gets packed deeply away, only to come out unbidden when tangentially related to whatever topic I am discussing. A fun fact that I can bring to mind, though, is the herding behavior of llamas: a single llama will form a herd with non-llama animals and aggressively defend them from threats, but two or more llamas will form a herd with each other and ignore other farm animals.

We hear that you’re a big fan of science fiction and fantasy. What are your favorite franchises, and what about those genres appeals to you? 
Star Wars got its hooks into me at a young age and has stuck with me ever since. My favorite part of fantasy and sci-fi media is the world-building—I have admittedly low standards for quality of dialogue and characters, but really value an expansive and coherently crafted universe that I can spend hours (or years) exploring in my imagination.

More About Andrew

Favorite video game: I think I’ll go with my soft spot for the first Company of Heroes game, whose cover mechanics ruined other RTS games for me.

Most challenging board game you’ve ever played: Diplomacy—it’s always a challenge to come out on top of six other players who are looking to betray you (or have already been betrayed by you).

Spring or summer: Trick question—winter is best, with hot cocoa, cozy fires, and no mosquitos.

A new skill you’d like to learn: I’d like to experiment with 3D printers.

Favorite outdoor activity: Ultimate frisbee.

Three people, dead or alive, you’d invite to a dinner party: A random assortment of the game-related YouTubers that I subscribe to—the conversation should be interesting, or we could just retire to the living room for some good gaming action.

May FableFriday: Andrea Hoerner, Associate Producer

Organization, communication, and trust: FableVision associate producer Andrea Hoerner has perfected the recipe for flawless project management down to a science. With a background in journalism and experience in higher education, Andrea combines strong people skills with her knowledge of pedagogy to lead teams that produce media that engage viewers and inspire change. 

The journalist in her seeks to honor the story being told by building strong connections with her team and clients. “The hours and hours I’ve spent with subjects either writing or photographing them has enabled me to build trust with clients and help them articulate their needs,” she shares. “Holding space for people to work through their ideas and observing what excites people are all ways of interaction that I bring with me into every meeting.” 

In her role, Andrea manages the studio’s technical and creative teams, as well as supports the production team on a variety of media projects. Read on for her organization hacks, advice to budding producers, and the sense of wanderlust that inspires her in all her endeavors.

Welcome to FableVision! What initially drew you to the studio, and what do you enjoy most about working in educational media?
When I first heard about FableVision, I had been trying to marry my passion for social impact and education with the work that I was doing day to day. Having come from a background working in higher education, I closely aligned with the studio’s mission. I spent some time doing my own research and connected with a FableVision staff member to learn more about the various types of projects the studio tackles. I was drawn to the work being done at FableVision, and now here I am! 

Here at FableVision, we tell “stories that matter, stories that move.” How do you, in your role as an associate producer, try to honor the different stories being told?
While each project has its own mission, deliverables, and clients, my universal goal as a producer is to ensure that our team’s creative collaboration on every project is a catalyst for the desired result of audience engagement and education. Regardless of the learning goal, I like that the work FableVision does is positive and instills a feeling of empowerment through play or interaction. As storytellers and creatives, the best way to honor different stories being told is through creating connection with audiences emotionally and visually. 

Before joining the FableVision team, you reached out to other professionals to learn more about the industry. What’s one piece of advice you would pass on to someone interested in entering the field?
As someone who loves learning from others and their experiences, I’d recommend a two-part piece of advice. I’d encourage someone interested in entering the field to network to get a sense of how the work and culture can vary at different organizations within the industry. And more importantly, I’d advocate for some internal reflection on your skill sets and experiences (“Me-search,” as I like to call it). I’ve learned that you can talk to as many people as you’d like, which is great; however, if you don’t really know who you are or what you’re looking for, it’s easy to lose sight of your own purpose.    

You manage and support multiple teams at the studio. How do you keep the lines of communication open between departments and ensure everyone works together to get a project over the finish line?
The needs of any given project fluctuate at different times, but constant effective communication remains a pervasive part of day-to-day management. When it’s crunch time for a project or we’re about to enter a new phase of production (QA Testing, animation, etc.), I am a fan of daily team huddles or meetings. These meetings typically last all of 15 minutes every day, usually bright and early, but they provide an opportunity for all team members from different departments to have a 360-degree view. This process helps build trust on our teams, which are different for each project, and I’m often sad when a months-long project wraps after the team has found a great rhythm! 

There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to managing a project. What is your secret to staying organized? 
Personally, I love organization on a Marie Kondo level, so it’s not surprising to those who know me that I have many tricks up my sleeve. One of my favorite ways I like to stay organized across my different projects that all have moving parts is through very colorful post-it note lists on my wall. I like the visual display with color and the flexibility to prioritize or de-prioritize action items listed in front of me. 

You have a lot of hobbies. How do you cultivate your interests both in and out of work, and what is your go-to way to relax after a busy week at the studio? 
My hobbies and activities are a bit more limited these days given COVID, but I like to spend as much time outside as possible on the weekends. I’m a National Parks lover, and one of my goals is to visit as many national parks as possible! If I’m not hiking with my camera or kayaking on the Charles, I can be found meandering through the Museum of Fine Arts or dabbling with watercolor. Additionally, I’m always trying to perfect new recipes for baked goods or meals and enjoy sharing them with friends!  

We hear that you’re an avid fan of photography. Who are your favorite photographers and what do you enjoy photographing the most?
Photography has always been about “clicks and connections” for me, meaning connection through my lens with my own photos or the photos of others. I am always connecting to a specific sense of place, time, and often people, which in turn usually helps me learn more about myself. 

Two of my favorite photographers are quite different from each other in style, subject, and time. The first is Ansel Adams, as his images inspired my hiking travels to Wyoming a few years ago. It was incredible to float down the Snake River and see the Tetons emerge on the horizon like he did. I love the way he utilizes light, especially in his black and white pieces. 

The other photographer is James Nachtwey, who is an American photojournalist and war photographer. I remember watching a documentary about his work in high school and it left me stunned by the beauty and raw quality of his work; he has covered tragic events/crises globally from the Rwandan Genocide to famine in Somalia. While many would run away from capturing the individual human experience in conflicts like these, Nachtwey runs towards those at the heart of these experiences to tell their stories and give them a voice through his work.   

We also hear that you love to travel. What are some of your favorite trips that you’ve taken? Where do you look forward to visiting once it’s safer to do so?
I’m itching to get back out West (Wyoming, PNW) again on another hiking trip with my camera. Staying inside most of the last year has made me really miss being out in nature and spending time in environments that are radically different from city life. Outside the U.S., I would really like to visit Norway either in the summer or winter to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights!

If you could: 

Pick up any new skill: Play guitar well.

Live anywhere in the world: London.

Listen to only one album for the rest of your life: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac.

Learn any language instantly: Portuguese.

Have any animal as a housepet: Mini horse.

Have authored any one book that already exists: Too tough to choose!

The Bill Norris Memorial Scholarship Fund

The FableVision family suffered a devastating loss last month when FableVisionary and longtime “Dot Connector” Bill Norris passed away suddenly. The outpouring of love and memories that FableVision and Bill’s family and friends have received from around the world truly shows the deep and enduring impact Bill had on everyone he met and connected with.

Bill joined FableVision after 22 years as an elementary and middle school teacher, Title I director, and district leader in Watertown, Massachusetts, and senior project director at MCET. He held a degree in elementary education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, two advanced degrees from Lesley University in curriculum design and administration, and a certificate in organizational development from Bentley College. 

As the Senior Project Director at MCET/Mass Interaction and the JASON Foundation for Education, Bill helped bring to life the award-winning FableVision and Research Institute for Learning and Development-created BrainCogs software to support struggling and mainstream learners. At FableVision and the Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning and Creativity, he spent another two decades championing creativity, literacy, and purposeful learning, as well as helping advance the mission of nurturing every learner’s full potential. With his support and tireless efforts, International Dot Day—his favorite day of the year and a global celebration of creativity and courage to make one’s mark—has reached nearly 17 million teachers, librarians, and students in 185 countries. This year Dot Day will be dedicated to Bill, celebrating the mark he made around the world with his love, creativity, and thoughtfulness.

To honor Bill’s memory, The Reynolds Center has established a scholarship fund in his name. Bill believed that everyone deserved the opportunity to reach their full potential, especially those struggling along their journey. Donate now to help continue Bill’s legacy.

June FableFriday: Jordan Bach, Technical Director

FableVision Technical Director Jordan Bach is definitely not new to the edtech game. A member of the FableVision team for almost 10 years, Jordan has decades of experience in developing educational games and media with a focus on accessible technology and innovations in tech. He’s also just a really nice guy.

Jordan first joined the team as a developer and now, in the role of Technical Director, oversees the technical department, contributes to planning and budgeting proposals and projects, and continues serving as lead developer on a number of the studio’s large game projects. Working with tools such as Unity and HTML5 to merge physical and digital play, Jordan is an expert in all things AR and VR. And through the advancements and innovations in technology over the years, Jordan has also consistently been the go-to person on staff for questions about accessibility, designing and leading projects to support people with learning disabilities and different educational needs to provide a safe and engaging space to learn.

“Accessibility means so much more than making a game compatible with a screen reader,” Jordan tells us. “It means that many people experience learning games differently and we need to communicate with as many of them as we can.”

Using his vast skills in design and developmental technology, Jordan has adapted to the many changes that have happened to the edtech and media fields over the past decade and helped FableVision to stay on top of and actively respond to growing trends in the industry. Working closely with other members of FableVision staff, freelancers, and clients over the years, he approaches his dedication to his work with endless patience, a calm demeanor, and a creative eye—actively looking for the best ways to help others and making possibilities realities. Continue reading to learn more about Jordan’s journey to FableVision, how he approaches projects in his role as Technical Director, and what advice he has for developers at the start of their careers!

How did you first hear about FableVision, and what initially drew you to the studio?
I first heard about FableVision through friends and former colleagues who loved working here, so I connected with Brian Grossman, the former Technical Director. During my first visit and first interview at the studio, the mission and the creative spirit were so clearly visible in everyone I met and in the physical space that the decision was already made from my perspective.

What does a typical day look like for you?
My day-to-day schedule has changed a lot since I’ve become the Technical Director! Every day I’m trying to do two things: first, I’m contributing to current, upcoming, and potential projects. This includes offering support to the developers, participating in planning, and completing budget estimates for proposals.

And second, I’m reserving a little time to continue being a developer, which is something I love. Most recently I’ve been helping set up the architecture of a new project, and then sharing it with the developer who will take it through the rest of development and over the finish line!

You’ve been at the studio for ten years! How has the technology the studio uses changed, and how do you stay on top of edtech trends?
Ten years ago, Flash was the most common way to develop highly interactive applications for the web browser, and mobile apps were still relatively new to the world. Unity has emerged as a go-to tool for building cross-platform mobile apps, and we’re also using various web frameworks to speed along complex browser-based development projects. We’re more used to change than we were then! 

The best way to stay on top of trends is to ask questions. When someone mentions something and I don’t know what it is, I just ask. And then go look it up if I need more information. There’s so much to know and sometimes there’s pressure to pretend like you know everything. As a mission-based company, FableVision is all about learning, so I just ask.

How do you approach each project from a technical perspective? How does the process differ depending on the scope of a project or the medium (game-based app, Augmented Reality experience, website, etc.)
Determining the technical approach for a project goes hand-in-hand with the creative design. After we have started the creative brainstorming, we think about what technology might make sense to help us with the project. The scope, medium, audience, and platform all feed into this thinking process. We focus on HTML5 and Unity, but also work with other technologies. Then the strengths of the chosen development platform can further inform the creative definition of the project. 

Once the design and technology are set, we'll pick what’s hard, what hasn’t been done before, and start there. 

What is a FableVision project you’ve worked on that you’re particularly proud of?
I feel particularly proud of the projects we’ve done that are used in research studies. The Zoombinis remake and the Reach Every Reader apps for the Harvard Graduate School of Education are examples of apps that are not only fun to use, but also move educational research forward. It’s definitely rewarding to be a part of such important projects such as those.

Here at FableVision, we’re dedicated to making sure our work follows accessibility standards. What do you have to keep in mind when making sure our projects are accessible? 
When we create accessible media, we need to think beyond the platform it's housed on and what features we can add to accommodate certain disabilities. Many of our users have different experiences and use our games, interactives, and other media in different ways, so we have to design for as many different learning contexts as possible.

Right now we’re making a game that is “born accessible,” meaning we’re designing it to be accessible to many from the start, instead of retrofitting an existing game for a more diverse audience. We’ve learned that an important tool is customization: for example, if a player struggles with focus, we can expose a setting to turn off distracting background imagery. If someone has low vision, we can expose a setting to turn on audio descriptions. On the other hand, there are some elements of a game we can make accessible to many without the need for customization. For example, we can design artwork to be easily distinguishable by people with the most common forms of color blindness.

You have a background in music! How does music continue to impact your life, and how has your degree influenced your work at FableVision?
In college, I got degrees in both math and cello performance. Doing both was a great opportunity to see all the connections (and differences) between the two. It was also a great opportunity to understand the similarities between learning each. When working on an abstract math proof, you start with what you know and build from there. When learning a difficult passage in music, you break it down to the smallest pieces you can play and start stringing them together. And now, when starting a new project at work, I approach it with the same mindset: what do I know, and how can I start putting it together to get somewhere I’ve never been before?

You’re currently a Teaching Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Technology, Innovation, and Education program. What’s rewarding about your role, and what has teaching taught you?
I was involved in a course called Advanced Design Studio this past semester. In the first half of the semester, I taught Unity development in the lab sessions; together with the class, we made one of the puzzles from Zoombinis (“Cap’n Cajun’s Ferryboat”). During the second half of the semester, I coached groups of students as they developed their own designs into prototypes. It’s exciting to see the students coming up with great concepts. After 20 years working in this space, I saw ideas I hadn’t seen before. And the students all wanted to participate in learning; they didn’t just want to be fed information. This encouraged me to think about what I needed to provide to facilitate learning without getting in the way of it.

What advice do you have for students and professionals starting out in the technology field? What skill is important for a programmer to develop early on in their career?
Consider also focusing on a non-programming skill or interest. Programming is a tool; it also helps to have experience in education, games, some kind of production, or something else that you love. Beyond that, well-rounded programmers think big (code architecture and efficiency) and small (detail-oriented, predicting every way a user might interact with the application). I’ve found that most people are usually naturally good at one of those ways of thinking and need to focus on improving the other. (Also, see above: asking questions!)

You made an amazing quilt for Creative Juices last year! Are you currently working on any new projects?
I’m working on an underwater-themed quilt for my niece. It’s somewhat improvised, which is new for me, so I don’t know what it’s going to look like yet!

Quick questions

Recipe you haven’t tried but would like to: Anything from Pastry Week on the Great British Bake Off.

TV show you’re currently binging: I, Claudius, while listening to the I, Podius podcast. I’d never seen it before, but I vividly remember the “Me Claudius” spoof on Monsterpiece Theater when I was young.

Best consolation of Staying at Home: curbside pickup to support small restaurants. Vietnamese Fresh Roll Friday is now a thing!

Game you love to recommend: Carcassonne, as a board game or as an app. I just gave it to my nieces and they love it.

Top two tips you give to new gardeners: 1) A plant in the wrong place will never be happy. Pay attention to the sun/shade requirements! 2) If you’ve only ever planted annuals, try a perennial. It’s magical to see them come back from nothing in the early spring. It’s my favorite part of gardening.

A book you love to reread: Lizard Music by Daniel Pinkwater, a favorite from elementary school. A weird story for a weird kid.

FableVision’s Cross-Country Tour

Summer is here, so you know what that means: sun, fun, and our annual Summer Road Trip! We’re excited to hit the road once again to visit conferences and summits across the country. We’re sure to meet amazing people and take part in the important conversations happening in education, media, and technology. Follow along with our travels on Twitter, and if you find yourself at any of our stops, come say hi!

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Back in the Bay Area

We’re heading off to sunny California from June 10-12 to hear from some of the brightest minds in educational technology at the SIIA Conference. With keynote panels focusing on diversity and inclusivity in educational services, this conference is sure to be a deep dive into the future of edtech in the United States as well as internationally! Catch our colleagues from the Reynolds Center from Teaching, Learning, and Creativity in the Cisco booth presenting the FabMaker Studio STEAM program to create practical, affordable makerspaces using paper, cardstock, and inexpensive digital fabricators (details TBA!).

Building Your Internal Capacity Without Hiring: Working with Service Providers
What: Panel of experienced providers in conversation about company growth and making the most of your workforce. Featuring FableVision Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Product Solutions Shelby Marshall.
When: June 12, 2019 at 10:15 a.m.

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Taking a Byte of the Big Apple!

Next up: New York! Join FableVision’s Communications Director Sarah Ditkoff, Executive Producer Peter Stidwill, and President and Co-founder Gary Goldberger at the Games for Change Festival, where attendees will hear from designers, developers, and others who are making games for social good. Along with Learning Games Network’s Shannon Frederick Meneses, Peter will speak about FableVision’s game, Quandary, which was awarded Game of the Year at the 2013 Games for Change Festival. We’re looking forward to convening with people leading meaningful changes in gaming through immersive media and applied principles in civics and game-based learning.

Life After “Game of the Year”: Sharing Six Years of Learning
When: June 18, 2019 at 11:45 a.m.
Where: Parsons School of Design at The New School, 63 Fifth Ave, NYC

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Exciting Edtech in Philadelphia

Join FableVision’s Sarah Ditkoff and Shelby Marshall in Philadelphia for the International Society for Technology in Education Conference. This conference highlights visual, cultural, and digital literacy. We can’t wait to meet teachers, business leaders, and others spearheading the movement for inclusive, accessible education technology (and perhaps pick up a tasty cheesesteak in the meantime)!

When: June 23-26, 2019
Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

FabMaker Crew: Paper Prototyping for STEAM-powered learning

FableVision’s Paul Reynolds and Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning, and Creativity’s Andrea Calvin will showcase FableVision’s Fab@School Maker Studio at two workshops hosted in the CISCO Active Learning Space. Discover how schools, libraries, and programs around the country have used the FabMaker Studio STEAM program to create practical, affordable makerspaces using paper, cardstock, and inexpensive digital fabricators. During this hands-on session participants will experience the benefits of rapid paper prototyping, which allows for quick cycles of testing and iterative design enhancements.

When: June 24 from 3-3:45 p.m., June 25 from 11-11:45 a.m.
Where: Breakout Room 106AB

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Making Moves in Maine!

Ever wondered about how animation can revolutionize learning? Join FableVision’s Jane Reynolds and Dr. Denine Jimmerson at the Side x Side Summer Arts Institute in Portland, where they will explore just that! Take part in a comprehensive workshop focused on introducing important animation techniques and starting a conversation about using animation as a platform for every lesson imaginable.

What: “Using Animation as an Innovative Tool for Teaching and Learning” Workshop
When: June 24-25, 2019
Where: Portland, Maine

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Seriously Smiling in Montreal

We’re heading to the University of Quebec for the 2019 Serious Play Montreal Conference, highlighting the biggest achievements in serious games. We’re so excited to hear from developers, designers, and more who are leading the way in educational gaming and immersive learning. FableVision and our partners are accepting two Serious Play Awards for our games Lights, Camera, Budget! and Project Here Games. 

Silver Award Winner: Lights, Camera, Budget!, Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) and the Georgia Council on Economic Education (GCEE)
Lights, Camera, Budget! puts high school students in the shoes of a Hollywood movie producer in order to enhance their knowledge about personal finance, money management, and budgeting. In partnership with GPB and GCEE, FableVision created this game to reflect real life lessons in economics and help to increase students’ financial literacy.

Bronze Award Winner: Project Here Games, The Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts, Health Resources in Action, and the GE Foundation
Project Here Games is part of a state-wide initiative to promote substance use prevention and healthy decision making among middle school students. Working with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office and Health Resources in Action, FableVision created this series of games that provide an interactive landscape in which students can develop socioemotional skills to handle situations involving substances and peer pressure, as well as stress management.

When: July 10-12, 2019
Where: University of Quebec, Montreal, Canada