Ryan

Schaaf

School of Education

Education

• Ph.D candidate in Instructional Leadership for Changing Populations, Notre Dame of Maryland University, 2012- present
• Masters of Science in Educational Technology, Johns Hopkins University, 2007. Concentrations: Tech Leadership, Web-Based Instruction, Emerging Technology, eLearning, Instructional Design, Distance Learning & Technology Integration
• Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education, Towson University, 1999

Bio

As a professor, author, blogger, consultant, and keynote speaker, Ryan L. Schaaf wants to help educators reach the learners of the digital generations. Before higher education, he was a classroom teacher, instructional leader, technology teacher, and mentor teacher in the Howard County Public School System. In 2007, he was nominated for Maryland Teacher of the Year.

Joining the illustrious faculty at Notre Dame of Maryland University in 2010, Ryan’s passion is helping teachers, students, and thought leaders see the potential of using digital tools for instruction and how to leverage their incredible potential for meaningful, real-world, and relevant learning experiences. His mission is to empower educators and school administrators into taking the necessary steps to prepare students for their futures and not our past.

As faculty lead for the Digital Technology Leadership program, Ryan wants to guide education and thought leaders in building practical skills as well as theoretical perspectives for administering an effective and safe technology infrastructure, as well as planning high-quality technology integration and implementation programs.

Publications

• Schaaf, R. & Jukes, I. (2019). A brief history of the future of education. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
• Schaaf, R. & Engel, K. (2018). Learning with digital games. Amplify Reading.
• Schaaf, R. & Mohan, N. (2016). Game on: Using digital games for 21st century teaching, learning, and assessment. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Jukes, I., Schaaf, R., & Mohan, N. (2015). Reinventing learning for the always-on generation: Strategies and apps that work. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Schaaf, R. (2015). Using digital games as assessment and instructional tools. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Schaaf, R., & Mohan, N. (2014). Making school a game worth playing: Digital games in the classroom. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Pr.
• Schaaf, R. (2014). Cyberbullying: Policy for digital protection. New Horizons for Learning,11(1).
• Schaaf, R. (2012). Does digital game-based learning improve student time-on-task behavior and engagement in comparison to alternative instructional strategies? Canadian Journal of Action Research,13 (1), 50-64.
• Schaaf, R. (2012). What are the effects of utilizing digital games during instruction? New Horizons for Learning. 10, (1).

Presentations

• Schaaf, R. (2018). Game on: Using digital games for 21st century teaching, learning, and assessment. Serious Play Conference. Manassas, VA.
• Schaaf, R. (2018). Game on: Using digital games for 21st century teaching, learning, and assessment. FETC. Orlando, FL.
• Schaaf, R. (2017). Game on: Using digital games for 21st century teaching, learning, and assessment. Serious Play Conference. Manassas, VA.
• Schaaf, R. (2017). How to Make a Winning Play with Games. Content in Context Conference: AAP, Philadelphia, PA.
• Schaaf, R. (2016). Game on: Using digital games for 21st century teaching, learning, and assessment. EduGaming 2016. Lehigh Valley, PA.
• Schaaf, R., King, M., & Potter, L. (2016). Between a book and Grand Theft Auto: Lesson from Game-Based Learning. Content in Context Conference: AAP, Philadelphia, PA.
• Schaaf, R. (2016). Using digital games for deep and immersive learning. Young Innovator’s Fair. Philadelphia, PA.
• Schaaf, R. (2015). Reinventing learning for the always-on generation: Strategies and apps that work. Common Ground Conference, Ocean City, MD.
• Schaaf, R. (2015). Reinventing learning for the always-on generation: Strategies and apps that work. ISTE, Philadelphia, PA.
• Schaaf, R. (2015). Using digital games for 21st century teaching, learning and assessment. ISTE, Philadelphia, PA.
• Schaaf, R. (2014). Using games for digital age teaching, learning and assessment. ISTE, Atlanta, GA.

Honors and Awards

• 2016 Silver Medal, IPPY Publisher’s Award for Outstanding Education Resource Book
• 2008 Dr. M. Hickey Courage to Change Award
• 2007 Received Advanced Professional Teaching Certificate (MD)
• 2007 Howard County Teacher of the Year Nominee
• 2007 Maryland Teacher of the Year Nominee
• 2005, 2007 IBM Internet Safety Grant & Community Grant
• 1996 Columbia Association Employee of the Year