Don Bickley

Background

About Don Bickley

Heavily armed in the creative arts: Cinematagraphy, Writing, Art & Design, Philosophy, all complimented by Computer Science, Spirituality, and Drones. I am best known for designing interactive, engaging learning experiences with an awareness of how design can enhance not only learning, but quality of life, I continue to expand into other aspects of E-Learning. Professionally, I have gravitated toward elaborate, enigmatic projects that lack a defined structure, unclear goals, and require the engineering of new (virtual) realities and learning techniques as necessary. My sophisticated, fully online, live labs utilizing virtual reality to not only manipulate time, but redefine physical lab processes and expectations is a self-built system that won First Place in the Distributed Learning Category for Engaging Learning at the 2012 Federal Virtual Worlds Challenge sponsored by the US Army Research Lab. I handle all 3D modeling, texturing, designing, programming, testing, and technical documentation of the 10+ year project. Originally pioneered with Dr. Julie Fronzuto, these labs span Biology and Chemistry, covering topics like: Osmosis & Diffusion, Physical & Chemical Changes, Titration, Genetics, Forensics, The Scientific Method, Animal Behavior, pH and Buffers, etc. I've also created virtual reality lab safety templates, and designed an online Speech & Hearing Clinic with a multi-user 3D test system. Experienced with all aspects of Unity game creation as a solo developer, I have created several interactive projects simulating heaving machinery mechanics for real-time exploration and experimentation. This project is hosted on SkillsCommons, free of charge, and includes custom technical documentation that explains my game design process. I enjoy all aspects of simulations, particularly when it comes to capturing the essence of an experience through abstraction, as well as coming up with solutions to complex problems by eliminating or restructuring the conditions that lead to those problems in a way that still conveys, philosophically, the nature of the problem. I have presented my work either in person or at a conference to thousands of educators over the years, building a kind of "quiet revolution" within online learning labs. In the "real world," I have provided thousands of collective hours in Blackboard course design via YouTube, lead workshops on meeting quality metrics and accessibility standards for online courses, and have taught several sUAS Part 107 Commercial Drone Pilot ground schools as a licensed pilot and nature cinematographer.