story by Claire Miller
When Philip Ehrenberg enrolled in the College of Education & Human Development’s instructional design and technology master’s program, he came with a lifelong love of gaming and an understanding of game design and media studies.
He’d spent time working with underserved youth at a game-based learning lab at the University of Chicago, and he was interested in finding a graduate program that incorporated both theory and practice.
“I wanted to get practical experience in whatever graduate program I chose, but I also wanted it grounded in rigorous theory and research,” he said. “I think learning technologies can be powerful tools and have great scaling potential.”
While most of his classes are online, Ehrenberg comes to campus for Associate Professor Jonathan Cohen’s maker-centered learning class, where students learn how to use 3D printers, microcontrollers and other technologies to support student learning.
He’s also a graduate assistant working alongside Assistant Professors Kathryn McCarthy and Ben Shapiro on an impact study for the Tools Competition. This annual competition invites educators, researchers and instructional technology professionals to create tools and technologies that improve students’ learning outcomes.
“It’s been a great opportunity to engage with tech companies from around the world,” he said. “It’s been interesting to see how you measure impact with teams working at different scales and in different learning environments. What are metrics they all have in common? How do we report their findings and tell their stories?”
Ehrenberg was recognized for his academic achievements at the College of Education & Human Development’s annual Honors Day Ceremony on April 16.
He is the 2024 recipient of the Outstanding Master’s Student in Learning Technologies Award, which is given to a student who has achieved distinction in the study of instructional design and technology.
“I’m really grateful for the faculty’s high opinion of me and the opportunities I’ve had to work with them. It makes me feel like this was the right program for me,” he said.
For more information about this year’s Honors Day recipients, visit https://education.gsu.edu/cehd-honors-day.