A Conversation with STEMPlay Labs Director, BA Laris
An interview exploring game-based learning, career paths, and making STEM accessible for all students
Tell us about yourself and your role at STEMPlay Labs.
I’m the Director and innovator of STEMPlay Labs, powered by dfusion. Creating this new division was really important to us—we wanted to elevate the educational technology work happening at dfusion and dedicate focused attention to it.
Throughout my career, developing innovative and responsive approaches to communicate ideas and information has been my driving force. Over the past seven years at dfusion, I’ve led our game-based learning initiatives as Principal Investigator of Fantasy Sports Math League and Project Director for S3E and STEMadium.
Before this, I spent many years conducting research and evaluation of school and community-based education interventions, working to identify effective programs and approaches for education and health.
How did you become interested in STEM education and game-based learning?
My path into game-based learning and STEM stems from my own school experience. Early on, I received really conflicting messages: “You can be anything you want—but you’re so outgoing and silly, you should be an English major. Math, chemistry, physics—those are too serious for you.”
So I started as an English and Political Science major, which led me to International Development work, then to Public Health, then to education, and finally to creating innovative solutions to deliver essential content. The theme running throughout? Being silly and fun is what makes teaching and learning stick.
Over the past few years, delving into game-based learning design and theory has been like finding the golden thread that connects the fabric of work I’ve woven together for 35 years.
I know that science, technology, engineering, and math skills are foundational to so many careers. Having a solid base in these core areas gives students the opportunity to choose any path as they learn, grow, and experience the world. I want to make sure that every young person experiences a connection to learning and that doors to their next career interest stay open.
Not everyone needs to follow a STEM career, but everyone should be able to understand how relevant STEM is to their lives.
What excites you about the work you and your team are doing at STEMPlay Labs?
What excites me most is that we’re filling a critical need—broadening participation in STEM fields to include those who haven’t had the opportunity or inspiration to thrive in this space.
By increasing access to STEM content and boosting students’ motivation by showing the relevance of STEM, we’re challenging stereotypes about who is “good at STEM.” We get to be part of this critical and exciting process.
We believe that our thoughtful instructional design and evaluation research approaches have the power to strengthen educational technologies and improve access.
Why do you think women are not often seen in STEM careers? And what steps can be initiated to empower and support more women into the field?
I think we still have work to do to redefine what STEM careers look like.
As women, many of us are drawn to social spaces and connection with others to engage and communicate. That hasn’t been the traditional impression of what a STEM career looks like in action. Many people imagine being stuck in a lab or in front of a computer.
But really, the exciting aspect of STEM for me is testing, using, and communicating ideas and concepts—which is very much the essential part of the scientific method.
Educating girls and young women about the many ways STEM can be applied in careers is essential. As part of this approach, we’ve created several STEM career lessons and activities in conjunction with all of our games to help begin this process in middle school. And we’re always happy to talk with young people interested in our work!
Do you have any advice for young women who are just starting their careers in education and technology?
Try everything. Keep exploring. Create the job you want to have.
Talk to other women who are doing interesting things and listen to where they find their inspiration.
What is most gratifying about your work at STEMPlay Labs?
I love the opportunity to learn every day and apply new ideas to evidence-based ways of making information accessible.
Learning through play—that’s the dream we get to be a part of!
What is your vision for the future of learning and how will STEMPlay Labs be part of that?
My vision for the future of learning is to keep curiosity and fun front and center.
I want to give every student—from K to gray—the opportunity and inspiration to explore and understand new ideas and concepts in new ways that I can’t even begin to imagine today.
STEMPlay Labs will give more learners the confidence to see themselves as players and makers of new knowledge.