October FableFriday: Erin Carvalho, Junior Developer

With her wealth of knowledge in both programming and education, junior developer Erin Carvalho offers unique insight into developing educational games and interactives. Erin has a bachelor's degree in secondary education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a masters degree in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and it’s this background in education that pushes her to not only consider the code, but also the pedagogy in every project.

“Having teaching and administrative experience definitely helps me consider how people will use the programs I develop,” says Erin. “I’ve been fortunate enough to see how education affects everyone. I feel like I owe it to my mentors, colleagues, and students to develop programs that are student-centered and teacher approved.” 

As junior developer, Erin serves as a programmer on a variety of polished projects across mobile and web platforms. Her creative problem solving and technical skills enable her to quickly adapt to new programming challenges. So let’s get to know the newest member of the FableVision team and take a deep dive into Erin’s insightful advice for up-and-coming developers, her favorite activities, and her strong opinions on pumpkin spice lattes.

Welcome to the team! Tell us more about your journey to FableVision. 
Honestly, if you had told me in college that I would be a developer within the next three years, I probably would’ve laughed hysterically. I was sure that once I graduated I would just become a teacher. I had applied to a teaching residency in Boston when my sister contacted me about a course she worked for called CS50, Harvard University's introduction to the intellectual enterprises of computer science and the art of programming. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up. I helped develop content for their high school version of the course that mapped to the new (at the time) AP Computer Science Principles course launched by the College Board. It wasn’t long before I started taking on small development projects like the project5050.org website. That was probably the first time I thought, “I like this and I want to do a lot more of this.” 

Brian Grossman, FableVision’s Technical Director, was a teaching assistant for one of the courses I took at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and he informed me of a developer position at FableVision. I politely declined to which he replied, “I’m gonna keep emailing you, hoping to find an opportunity to work together at some point. Hope that’s ok.  ;-)” It’s a year later, and here I am.

What does a typical day in the life of a developer look like at the studio?
One of the reasons that first got me interested in programming is that no one is an “expert.” My browsers always have a million tabs open, just like my brain. Programming changes rapidly, so you need to be comfortable being uncomfortable. While I was hired as a developer, I love being able to contribute to other aspects of projects like the UI and overarching pedagogy.

You were a Zoombinis fan before coming to work here. What’s your favorite part about the game, and how did learning about FableVision’s role in the 2015 relaunch influence your decision to join the team?
I have always been a HUGE fan of logic puzzles and brain teasers. I love challenging myself to consider various perspectives. One of my coworkers suggested that I try out Zoombinis, and I was hooked. I loved the variety of the various minigames and all the trial and error. The first time Brian reached out about potentially working at FableVision, I Google’d the studio’s projects and  as soon as I saw Zoombinis, I knew I had to do whatever it took to join the team.   

What team dynamic do you feel is most important for a development team?
I think communication is huge! People tend to think of a stereotypical programmer as someone who is alone in a dark basement drinking Mountain Dew. That’s simply not the case...I prefer Coke Zero. All joking aside, developing is almost entirely about collaboration. You may be the only developer on a project, but you typically work with a team of people who bring their ideas, perspectives, and backgrounds to help produce the best project possible. I don’t expect the people I work with to understand every technical term and I certainly don’t always have knowledge in other aspects of a project either. It is key to develop a shared vocabulary so that everyone can feel comfortable contributing. 

What are you most looking forward to in your career at FableVision Studios?
I’m excited to work with everyone in the studio. I feel privileged to work with such an amazing group of individuals who all provide critical pieces to produce amazing projects. I’ve dipped my feet into art a little and have also worked on content development,  so I love seeing the unique ideas people bring to the table.

We heard you’re a gamer! What are your favorite video and board games, and what has being an avid player taught you about designing and developing educational games?
Video Games:

• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

• SpeedRunners

• Borderlands 2

Board Games:

• Carcassonne 

• Code Names

• Jaipur

I think my biggest takeaway from the games I play is that a good game can be won in a variety of ways. I love using my knowledge of my opponents to inform my strategy. My favorite games are the ones that aren’t over until it’s over. As a developer, I strive to create experiences that are appealing and accommodating to all learners. I want people to be able to solve my games in whatever way is best for them. 

You’re also a certified Yoga instructor. What do you enjoy most about doing and teaching yoga?
In high school and college, I ran cross country and track. After moving to Boston, I started running, but the colder it got, the less I wanted to be outside, so I started doing hot yoga and quickly fell in love with it. My favorite part of yoga  was the mental aspect. I found that taking an hour to just focus on my breathing really helped me feel more at ease throughout the day. It also gave me strategies I could use outside of a yoga class if I was feeling particularly stressed. The community at the yoga studio became a family and teacher training just felt like the next logical step. It definitely added another level to my practice because I learned more about the anatomy behind the poses and various modifications to differentiate.

Tell us one thing that others never thought you would do, but that you have done. 
People probably thought that I would never move to Boston. A lot of people who grow up in Hawaii stay in Hawaii. It was a big move and very scary moving somewhere where I only knew a couple people. I think it was necessary, though. I’d advise anyone moving to get a dog. I got my dog as soon as I moved, and while it was stressful starting a new job and raising a puppy, it got me out of my apartment. I made a lot of friends in my building and at the dog park. Taking her for walks helped me get to know the neighborhood and all the hidden gems you only find by walking around. 

More About Erin: 

Dogs or cats: DOGS!
Favorite place to visit in Boston: The Charles River.
Favorite animated movie: The Croods.
Pumpkin spice lattes. Yes or no? No...just no.
Something you couldn’t go a day without: Spotify.
Favorite Halloween candy: Sour Patch Kids.

April FableFriday: Beth Santarpio, Senior Producer

Senior Producer Beth Santarpio took a risk early on in her career to find what she truly wanted to do professionally. Upon graduating from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Science in Communication, Beth drove to Los Angeles with no job or housing lined up in search of a meaningful job.

“The desire for a fun job wasn’t a new revelation upon graduation, but rather one that had been evolving for quite some time,” says Beth. “I knew that I wanted to do something that would be impactful to people, and it was Jerry Bruckheimer who ultimately inspired me to go against the grain and pursue something in the media arena. There’s something unforgettable about reaching and resonating with an audience and having them affected by your work.”

After working for Disney Character Voices and Buena Vista Games in LA, Beth moved to Boston and worked as a producer for a game developer for a few years before ultimately joining the FableVision team. As Senior Producer for FableVision Studios, Beth manages a number of multi-faceted creative and technical projects. A seasoned media producer, Beth expertly balances product quality and client service in all of her work with FableVision partners.

Beth’s path to FableVision shows the importance of taking risks and adapting to change in the pursuit of her passions. A skillful and accomplished producer, Beth has a lot of advice for up-and-coming professionals interested in entering the media and edtech fields. So let’s dive in and learn more about how Beth came to FableVision and how she creates a supportive and creative team dynamic!

You’re a new FableVisionary. Welcome aboard! What brought you to FableVision and what are you most looking forward to?
I actually encountered FableVision a couple of times in different capacities throughout my professional career. I was first introduced to FableVision by a business colleague a long time ago when I moved to Boston. Then, a handful of years later, I worked with FableVision as a client during my time at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. As a result, several months ago, when I began to reevaluate what I wanted to do professionally, FableVision immediately came to mind. One thing led to another, and here I am! I’m excited by the diversity and purpose of our projects and the amazingly talented team of people I get to work with on those projects.

What advice do you have for budding producers?
Be confident, be humble, and work your butt off.

As a senior in college, I interned at the Miami-Dade Film Office and worked 40+ hours a week at a local advertising agency, handling South Florida film marketing and PR for Buena Vista, Paramount, and MGM. After graduation, a great student resume put me on the short list at a few go-to temp agencies in LA. One of my first jobs was with Disney Character Voices as Production Coordinator. To say I loved it was an understatement. I learned every inch of the department and even designed an online production management system (that was innovative back then!) for them. After about 6 weeks, though, the position I was trying to fill was temporarily given back to a former employee. I was devastated. However, I trudged forward and paid some dues, putting in a week at Hollywood Records and a week at Def Jam Records (both in Finance) before getting the call that Disney wanted me back! And that’s how it all started.

How do you create a supportive environment where everyone feels they can share ideas?
I really encourage my team(s) to be as involved as possible from the launch of a project. This gets everyone invested from the beginning and helps to establish a good foundation for the inevitable production tensions. I also communicate with my team regularly and try to create a dynamic where they feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, even when there are disagreements. Although the producer is in charge of keeping the team on course to meet the client’s objectives, the process won’t run smoothly if operated like a dictatorship. My role as producer is to provide information, resources, support, and guidance, as well as to empower my talented team members to do what they do best.

How do you balance the creative and production processes?
I tend to share a lot of the big picture thinking behind any particular project. There are often a lot of competing objectives on a project, and I feel like everyone has a much smoother time tackling the “what” when they’re informed of the “why.” When working with tremendously passionate people, it’s natural to get attached to your own part of the process and lose sight of how it fits into the larger goals, especially in the context of change. Change is inevitable in production, as are creative differences and sacrifices. Production is as much managing the human element as it is dollars and deadlines. There’s an art to it all; every day and every project brings new opportunities to learn from and build upon.

What team dynamic do you feel is most important for a production team?
There’s never just one, or a couple of things, that make or break a great team. Personally, I’m big on accountability. Early on in my career I was told: “As the producer, it’s always your fault.” This sounds harsh, but it taught me that, to be a successful leader, you can’t defer blame or make excuses. You have to own it and move on. Getting bogged down in mistakes or setbacks doesn’t benefit anyone. There’s a tremendous amount of respect that comes from accepting responsibility and maintaining the focus and determination needed to reach a successful outcome.

It looks like you’re a Disney veteran. What were some of your most magical moments as a Disney employee?
Every moment was magical, of course! I had an amazing role with Disney Character Voices for a number of years. I’m grateful for the time I spent there because we really were like family. The hours were long, but we all truly loved what we did, so we couldn’t imagine it any other way. It was an incredible time in the company too. From attending VIP Walt Disney World press events, to being on board the maiden voyage of the Disney Wonder to roaming New Orleans with the Fab Five, I don’t even know where to begin!

We heard that you’re a “tinkerer.” What project(s) are you currently working on and how does making in your spare time relate to your professional life?
My chickens are my latest personal passion. I love animals, but I never thought I’d be a chicken whisperer. When my flock grew from six girls to twelve, I decided I would design and build a larger coop out of primarily salvaged materials. Let’s just say that it’s coming along at its own pace. It’s kind of an enigma really, to thrive and enjoy working in a deadline-induced panic professionally, but to have personal projects that seem to get caught in the perpetual hamster wheel.

Rumor has it you and your husband enjoy the outdoors. What are your favorite activities?
We’re a couple of adrenaline junkies. At various times in our lives, we’ve been avid motorcyclists, motocrossers, and snowmobilers. These days, mountain biking is something we enjoy and can do as a family. Even our German shepherd gets in on the action!

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More About Beth:

Favorite Disney character? Scuttle from The Little Mermaid.
Cubs or Red Sox? Bruins.
Sweet or salty? Sweet.
Favorite season? Fall.
Favorite animated movie or TV show? I love SO many of them, but I will always have a soft spot for The Little Mermaid.
Which has the worst winters: Boston or Chicago? Chicago, no doubt!
Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? “It’s always your fault.”
Favorite vacation spot? Disney!
Favorite place to mountain bike? I’ll try any location as long as the odds are decent that I won’t break something!

March FableFriday: James Collins, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Government Relations

There is a common thread spanning across James Collins’ personal and professional life: storytelling. Hailing from the U.S. Department of Education, and the Smithsonian Institution before that, James is on the frontline of education innovation. With a constant eye towards improvement, James has made it their mission to tell the stories that so often go untold. Their belief that storytelling can both inspire imagination and minimize digital inequity is the foundation upon which they forge new relationships and partnerships in his role as Director of Strategic Partnerships and Government Relations at FableVision Studios.

According to James, “People have a habit of repeating the same stories over and over again. Familiar stories are comforting, but education asks us to look more broadly at the world. Where are the stories of those who do not have a voice? The underserved school districts in rural states and on tribal lands, the non-profits working to protect vulnerable populations, the scientists and think tanks trying to turn their research into a call to action… These stories can be easy to forget, but it is vital that they are shared. I would love to work with anyone who feels that their story is not being told.”

Roll the dice and draw a card to learn about how James is building a home for FableVision in Washington D.C., their goals to push the boundaries of storytelling in his new role, and their tabletop game recs!

James, tell us about your journey to FableVision!
When I was a kid, I played a lot of DOOM. My mother (an engineer) bought me my first computer science book and challenged me to do something more than just shoot demons. I learned how to hack the game and realized that I had more fun building, exploring, and coding than I did shooting. My path since then has focused on finding ways to change the narrative. We learn from every game that we play – why not learn something beautiful? We tell stories every day – why not tell ones that inspire?

I knew that I wanted to work with a team that understood that.

James and the team at the U.S. Department of Education participating in the #ReadWhereYouAre campaign.

You talk a lot about stories. How has your love of stories shaped your professional path?
When I worked at the Smithsonian, we devoted a huge amount of resources to telling the stories of physical objects. Curators, exhibits, special events. The digitization crew there was just starting to really convert some of those physical objects into digital ones. But what do you do with those? How do you tell the story of a digital rock?

For me, the answer was clear. Museums put objects into context. A rock in a glass container is interesting just as a rock. A rock in a prehistoric forest with dinosaurs grazing nearby tells a more meaningful story. With technology, we are not bound by physical limitations. We can hang a painting on a digital wall in a digital museum, but we can just as easily show Picasso hiding that painting from the Gestapo as he lives in 1940s Paris. Which is going to fire the imagination more? Which is going to help us better understand our role in history and the importance of art in times of darkness? How does the approach change the connection we have with objects?

I took some of that same perspective with me to the Department of Education where we wrote vision documents including the National Education Technology Plan and a joint policy brief on using education technology for early learners. Each focuses on positive stories and principles being used out in the field today. We even hosted a story map telling the stories of all of the amazing work that schools are doing across the United States.

Our world revolves around stories. Stories that matter, stories that move.

Image by Darren Milligan licensed under CC-BY-NC 2.0

You worked in education technology for the U.S. Department of Education and the Smithsonian prior to joining the FableVision team – how were they different?
I worked as a liaison across all of the offices at the Department. At one point, I was leading our work on early learning, informal learning, and broadband/school infrastructure. Those can look unrelated from the outside, but what you begin finding is how interconnected education is. For example: what about a preschool that partners with a museum to create new learning experiences for their students? That’s an amazing partnership for a preschool near a museum, but what about those that are in rural areas without a strong museum presence? Improving broadband infrastructure could provide a similar experience to those disadvantaged students.

At the Smithsonian, we would ask the same question: how can the children of Maryland, Michigan, and Montana all have a meaningful experience with the Smithsonian’s collections? It shouldn’t matter whether you were born in Baltimore, Detroit, or Billings.

Even though we asked similar questions, we would approach them in different ways. At the Smithsonian, we would partner with outstanding youth organizations like the Boys and Girls Club of America, 4-H, or the Girl Scouts to reach children where they already were. At the Department, we would find ways for those organizations and others to work together to advance equity in education more broadly.

I am looking forward to working with more of those partners now that I am here at FableVision, and I am thrilled to be associated with FableVision’s studio so that we can build the tools, experiences, and stories that we have been dreaming up.

James pictured here with the Office of Ed Tech and Education Secretary John King

Where do you see the future of ed tech going?
Full disclosure: My research background is in machine learning, so I am biased toward data, data, data.

If I had to guess, I would say that a significant seachange will be when highly individualized technologies like blockchain and broad state-wide data systems begin working together. At that point, you will be able to capture a full picture of a learner’s trajectory.

As former Education Secretary John King once said to me, data can reveal inequity. I believe that using and capturing data smartly (and with adequate privacy safeguards!) will show us the path to removing institutional barriers to education.

As a parent, you have a front row seat to observing how media can influence children’s education – what are some ways you incorporate ed tech in your personal life?
The important part isn’t the technology, it’s being present in the moment. We love walking through the forest when it’s muddy, looking for squirrels and birds. We love trying to dance ballet while we watch Swan Lake on our tablet. And we love making troll pizza in Zoombinis too!

Whatever the format, we look for experiences that we can share together.

This March, you’re taking wing at SXSW EDU! What’s warranting this exciting trip?
Two years ago, I led a roundtable at SXSW EDU on game-based assessment. We had an amazing group of educators, students, corporations, non-profits, and others join us. That conversation showed me how valuable SXSW EDU and other conferences can be at bringing together people who don’t normally get an opportunity to collaborate. I am looking forward to meeting even more new people and finding ways to connect more of this wide-ranging community together.

I have to give a special shout-out to The Tribe of educators that will be out there too. Being able to meet up with so many expert teachers using games in the classroom is always energizing.

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James’ Favorites:

The "Tribe" of Game-Based Educators

Classic Tabletop Game: Diplomacy
Released in 1959, this light WWI simulation was Kissinger and Kennedy’s favorite game. It’s completely luck-free (a rarity for war games), and it even has a Youngstown, Ohio variant (my hometown)!

New-Cool Game: Gloomhaven
I’m on the bandwagon on this one. Gloomhaven is 20 lbs. of epic, strategy-based dungeon crawling.

Museum in the D.C. area: The Smithsonian Arts & Industries Building
A&I was the first national museum ever opened – and has just been reopened with an eye toward innovative, tech-infused programming. I’m so excited to see what living, breathing exhibits they share with the world.

Most recommended D.C. restaurant: The Board Room
How could I not recommend Dupont Circle’s only board game bar?

Fantastical world you wish you could vacation in: Stardew Valley
I hear they have really good produce.

Must-listen video game soundtrack: Chrono Cross
But an honorable mention to the underappreciated Baten Kaitos OST.

Item that’s always within reach of your desk: A ready to play copy of Quarto!
See how I snuck in another tabletop reference?

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Catch James Collins and the Rest of the FableVision Team at
SXSW EDU 2018! 

Join FableVision’s Peter Stidwill and Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Andrew MacCartney and Laura Evans as they discuss the intricacies and production process behind the award-winning Georgia Race Through Time game at SXSW EDU!

Immersive Learning: Teaching History Through GBL
When: March 5 at 12:30 p.m.
Where: Room 17B, Austin Convention Center