Will Jordan-Cooley
Blending cognitive science, game design and technology to create next-generation learning systems
Pangea Chat
Pangea Chat is an app to let you "learn any language while texting your friends." The hybrid mobile application uses Natural Language Processing APIs to facilitate conversation and generate practice activities from chats. I lead design and development. I recruited and manage the team of part-time developers working for equity stake. Alpha builds are available in Google Play, App Store, and as web app.
Time Zone X®
Time Zone X is a history game designed to span BrainPOP's many movie topics and provide meaningful assessment data to teachers. The game covers 300+ topics across Science, Social Studies and Art. Data is collected during game play, analyzed and displayed in the students and teachers MyBP dashboards. I designed the game, managed the development team and led artists and writers in content production.
Sortify
Sortify is an assessment game spanning 50+ BrainPOP movie topics. Our team of instructional designers created the game concept, built-in assessment collection and teacher dashboard for classroom analytics. I managed the team during development, led iterative design sprints, and managed artists and writers in content production.
GameUp
BrainPOP's GameUp is a collection of 100+ educational games with standards alignments, lesson plans, and animated movies on related topics. I curated the collection of third-party titles, evaluating educational efficacy and coordinating with NGO, university, and corporate partners to host the games on GameUp.
Founder, Pangea Chat
April 2017 - Present
Designed and developed hybrid mobile application. Recruited and managed team of part-time developers working for equity stake Stack: Ionic, Cordova, Node.js, Heroku, MongoDB, Socket.io, Express
Founder and Designer, LearnPlay Games
August 2015 - June 2018
Assembled and led design and development teams from Columbia University colleagues. Instructional design consulting for clients including BrainPOP, Nickelodeon, Brown Institute and Experiences Unlimited. Designed game to teach Weiqi through AI tutor that improves with learner for peer-to-peer plus one system
Instructional Designer, BrainPOP
August 2011 - August 2016.
Designed educational games and integrated assessment systems. Curated collection of 100+ third-party titles. Managed teams of developers, writers, and artists.
M.A. Instructional Technology and Media, Columbia University
Fall 2011 - Spring 2013
Studied the role of instructional technology in formal and informal education, cognitive and neuro- science, web development, and application design. Worked as graduate assistant and published several research articles.
B.S. Applied Mathematics, William and Mary
Fall 2005 - Spring 2010
Published work in the Journal of Theoretical Biology, Bistability in a differential equation model of oyster reef height and sediment accumulation.
Using cognitive science, game design and technology, I create intelligent and engaging learning environments.
The best of days are spent making something! With code, an instrument, Figma, just words, or LEGO, I love to go where we forget food and sleep.