Scholarship & Inquiry
Over $19 million secured as principal or co-principal investigator to study Serious Educational Games deployed through computer, virtual reality, augmented reality, and spatial computing.
Research Trajectory
Early in his career, Dr. Annetta's research focused on distance learning and the effect of instructional technology on science learning for teachers and students in rural and underserved populations — exploring untapped analyses of learning science through various distance delivery strategies.
His research evolved from comparing distance delivery strategies for science teacher professional development to studying the impact of video games and the design and development of Serious Educational Games — a term he coined in his 2008 book — as a teaching and learning tool and as a vehicle for synchronous online instruction.
Drawing on his programming background, he built a synchronous 3D virtual environment that became the platform for a research agenda spanning distance learning, game-based learning, virtual reality, augmented reality, and spatial computing.
$19M+
External funding secured
2008
Coined "Serious Educational Games"
4×
Nifty Fifty speaker, US Science & Engineering Festival
2022
ASTE National Mentor of the Year
Areas of Expertise
Designing, building, and rigorously evaluating Serious Educational Games as teaching and learning tools across K–12 and higher education.
Developing and studying professional learning experiences that equip educators with technology-rich, game-based instructional strategies.
Securing and managing over $19 million in external funding as principal or co-principal investigator across NSF, DOE, and institutional grants.
Deep expertise in K–12 and university science pedagogy, curriculum design, and standards-aligned instructional approaches.
Early career focus on distance delivery strategies for science teacher professional development in rural and underserved communities.
Broad expertise spanning virtual reality, augmented reality, spatial computing, and immersive simulation environments for learning.
Serving as Dean of the Zucker Family School of Education and Zucker Chair of Entrepreneurial Education Leadership at The Citadel.
Funded Research
HI FIVES
National Science Foundation
Highly Interactive Fun Virtual Environments in Science
Investigates the viability of video games as a supplement to science instruction in grades 5–9. Teaches teachers and students to design and build multiplayer Serious Educational Games aligned with state and national STEM standards.
Project I4
U.S. Department of Education (SEED)
Innovate, Inquire, Iterate, and Impact
A $9.7 million grant — the largest ever received by the College of Education — using the Leadership Learning Exchange model to promote access and equity in math and science through professional learning, micro-credentials, and virtual reality.
STIMULATE
National Science Foundation (CCLI)
Science Teacher Immersive Modules for University Learning Around Teacher Education
Partners with Wake Technical Community College to design science teacher training for laboratory safety through immersive Serious Educational Games.
OUTBREAK
National Science Foundation
Opportunities to Use Immersive Technologies to Explore Biotechnology Resources, Career Education And Knowledge
Collaboration with the University of Florida, Kent State University, and Virtual Heroes, Inc. to build and test a Serious Educational Game teaching high school students biotechnology content and careers.
GRADUATE
National Science Foundation (ITEST)
Games Requiring Advanced Developmental Understanding and Achievement in Technological Endeavors
Partners with the Kenan Fellows program and Virtual Heroes, Inc. to have students in Lee County and Durham, NC author Serious Educational Games as a product of scientific research for North Carolina's graduation requirement.
STEM UP
National Science Foundation (REAL)
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics with Untapped Potential
Integrates the GRADUATE game design model with High Incidence Learning Disabled middle school science students in Prince William County Schools, VA, partnering with Spark Plug Games.
GRID-C
National Science Foundation
Green Research for Incorporating Data in the Classroom
Develops curriculum to teach STEM concepts using data from renewable energy technologies at the NC Solar Center on the campus of NC State University.
XR for Reading Science
National Science Foundation
Extended Reality for Reading Science
Works with Pitt County Schools and the ECU Community School to immerse struggling Grade 5 readers in Mixed Reality to learn science and develop a love of reading.
Publications, presentations, awards, and service.