DeVane, Ben

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Ben DeVane is an assistant professor specializing in digital arts and sciences in the Digital Worlds Institute at the University of Florida. He's interested in how culture and cultural representations mediate students' understanding in digital game-based learning environments. Prior to working at University of Florida, Ben was a doctoral student in the Games, Learning, & Society research group where he worked with Kurt Squire. While in working with GLS in association with the Co-Lab, Ben collaborated with with Kurt, Levi, and Shree in conducting an after-school program where kids played Civilization 3 to learn about history, culture, economics, and geography from a materialist perspective. He and Kurt also examined how playing Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas affected students' perceptions of race, culture, and violence.
Ben received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech, majoring in computer science with minors in literature and mathematics.