Michael J. D. Sutton

If anyone knows how to introduce oneself and be humble, I would forever be in your debt. In my upcoming co-authored book (EMOTIFY! The Power of the Human Element in Game-Based Learning, Serious Games and Experiential Education), I have quite an autobiographical chapter tracing my interest in games from when I was a teenager, raised on the “wrong side of the tracks,” being beat up by gangs on the way to school and seeking refuge in the local public library to read veraciously about the game of GO and Chess, and subsequently finding folks there who played Risk, Stratego, Diplomacy, etc.

I went into the academy quite late in life and achieved my PhD in Knowledge Management from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, (the first pure KM doctorate in Canada) in 2007 after a career of more than 35+ years in management consulting, information systems consulting, entrepreneurship, and corporate executive management. I established an emergent reputation as a Game-Based Learning Innovator, Architect, and Edupreneur. I have been applying serious games, simulations, RPGs, etc. in my problem-based courses as a learning, training and development consultant and instructor for many decades, before it had a monniker and became popular.

I have delivered serious games and simulation workshops and courses for universities around the world including Texas A&M, Boise State University, Westminster College, Anaheim University, Prescott College, Grand Canyon University, and Kent State University. I am deadly passionate about crafting performance-based faculty development and corporate Learning and Development (L&D) experiences, along with research, teaching, and learning engineering in higher education. I still aspire to be the educator who facilitates an epiphany moment for other faculty members and learners I can “emote” in the role of coach and mentor. I have never subscribed to the "sage on the stage" paradigm in higher education or corporate learning and development. Working as the "guide on the side,” I have tried to demonstrate success in the delivery of facilitated experiences that create reflective educational practices to stimulate personal and professional development.

I pray the book cover of EMOTIFY that Kevin and I created, (along with the content of course), will bring a smile to your face.