Penny Baillie-de Byl

Dr Penny de Byl is a founder and CEO of Holistic3D.com an online teaching company aimed at delivering high quality game development education courses covering programming, artificial intelligence, computer graphics, animation and more. Since its inception in 2017, Holistic3D has attracted over 140K students internationally on Udemy and H3Dlearn.com. Previously Penny was a Professor of Games and Interactive Multimedia at Bond University. She commenced employment in tertiary teaching in 1992 at the University of Southern Queensland as a tutor in Mathematics and Computer Science. Since then she has worked in a variety of settings in science, art & design and humanities departments in two countries. Dr de Byl has coordinated research units and developed degree programs in the areas of computer games, multimedia and educational technology. Penny also has industry experience in research information systems, web design and development, computer games design and development. Dr de Byl has taught at all levels from first year to doctoral supervision. For over 15 years, she has focused on strategic directions in tertiary teaching in particular games-based learning and the implementation of educational technology. She is the recipient of two, university-level awards for teaching excellence, a Queensland state government award for designing game-based educational experiences and she is a nationally acknowledged teaching and learning practitioner having received an Australian Citation for University Teaching Excellence in 2011. As an artificial intelligence, games-based learning and educational technology researcher, Dr de Byl has been at the forefront of evidence-based research integral to our understanding of how gameplay, games technology and interactivity enhance learning outcomes. Known internationally for her innovative and creative approach in applying games technology and artificial intelligence for classroom use her research has allowed for compelling new understandings of gamified experiences and the sustainable use of educational technology. Dr de Byl has been at the forefront of the dialogue between the game and technology developers, designers and teachers, helping to bridge the gap between emerging technology and its use in non-traditional environments. Her research was recognised by the Queensland Government with receipt of a 2007 Smart Women in ICT award and 2008 State Government Research Fellowship and numerous departmental awards in research from the University of Southern Queensland. Dr de Byl was a founding researcher at the Australian Teaching and Learning Futures Institute. Currently she serves as Associate Editor for the International Journal of Games-Based Learning and the International Journal of Games and Computer-Simulated Media. She is also a member on the Humanities and Social Sciences Teaching and Learning Committee. Penny's literary héros include Michael Crichton, Douglas Adams, Mark Billingham and Linda la Plante. It was Douglas Adams that influenced her Holistic titles if by name only and Gene Roddenberry and Laurence Krauss who influenced the Star Trek book. The website for the books is http://www.holistic3d.com/ and found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/holistic3d/