Ben Dyson
@benjdyson.bsky.social
Decision making in games, art, sound / vision & the brain beneath it all. Game designer? Immigrant. He / him. @benjdyson
Reposted by Ben Dyson
We are live at @ualberta.bsky.social Open House! Lab tours at 10am and 2pm, Psychology presentation at 12 noon. Come by and say hi!
October 18, 2025 at 3:50 PM
We are live at @ualberta.bsky.social Open House! Lab tours at 10am and 2pm, Psychology presentation at 12 noon. Come by and say hi!
Reposted by Ben Dyson
Applications for MA, MSc and PhD programs in Psychology @ualberta.bsky.social are now open! For application information and FAQ, please visit our website below. Deadline December 1st. Join us!
www.ualberta.ca/en/psycholog...
www.ualberta.ca/en/psycholog...
September 22, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Applications for MA, MSc and PhD programs in Psychology @ualberta.bsky.social are now open! For application information and FAQ, please visit our website below. Deadline December 1st. Join us!
www.ualberta.ca/en/psycholog...
www.ualberta.ca/en/psycholog...
I was extremely happy to contribute to this article about the use of off-the-shelf board games in the classroom. Thank you @keithlaw.bsky.social for the invite!
for @endlessmode.bsky.social I spoke to a number of educators about how and why they're using off-the-shelf board games in the classroom, and what games they've used successfully with students from primary school to college: www.endlessmode.com/article/how-...
How Board Games Are Used in the Classroom
There's a long history of educational games, but how are board games used in the classroom today? We talk to eight educators to find out.
www.endlessmode.com
August 28, 2025 at 3:22 PM
I was extremely happy to contribute to this article about the use of off-the-shelf board games in the classroom. Thank you @keithlaw.bsky.social for the invite!
Reposted by Ben Dyson
for @endlessmode.bsky.social I spoke to a number of educators about how and why they're using off-the-shelf board games in the classroom, and what games they've used successfully with students from primary school to college: www.endlessmode.com/article/how-...
How Board Games Are Used in the Classroom
There's a long history of educational games, but how are board games used in the classroom today? We talk to eight educators to find out.
www.endlessmode.com
August 27, 2025 at 5:11 PM
for @endlessmode.bsky.social I spoke to a number of educators about how and why they're using off-the-shelf board games in the classroom, and what games they've used successfully with students from primary school to college: www.endlessmode.com/article/how-...
All table reservations for fine Takoyaki dining at #FallCon25 are fully booked!
Although our restaurant is at capacity for scheduled opening hours, walk-ins may be accepted- just come by and say hi!
Although our restaurant is at capacity for scheduled opening hours, walk-ins may be accepted- just come by and say hi!
August 21, 2025 at 12:14 AM
All table reservations for fine Takoyaki dining at #FallCon25 are fully booked!
Although our restaurant is at capacity for scheduled opening hours, walk-ins may be accepted- just come by and say hi!
Although our restaurant is at capacity for scheduled opening hours, walk-ins may be accepted- just come by and say hi!
A great new GameTek Post by @gengelstein.bsky.social (hope you had a nice birthday Geoff!) regarding a YouGov poll on the non-random selection of options during chance situations.
The cool thing is each of the three findings discussed replicate previously observed findings! Here we go…
The cool thing is each of the three findings discussed replicate previously observed findings! Here we go…
August 18, 2025 at 4:09 PM
A great new GameTek Post by @gengelstein.bsky.social (hope you had a nice birthday Geoff!) regarding a YouGov poll on the non-random selection of options during chance situations.
The cool thing is each of the three findings discussed replicate previously observed findings! Here we go…
The cool thing is each of the three findings discussed replicate previously observed findings! Here we go…
Some huge games of Tenure Track going down at #BerlinBrettSpiel25! Thanks to all the fantastic playtesters who came by today.
August 2, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Some huge games of Tenure Track going down at #BerlinBrettSpiel25! Thanks to all the fantastic playtesters who came by today.
Tenure Track is live at Table 16 in Prototype Alley at #BerlinBrettSpiel25. Come by and say hi!
August 2, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Tenure Track is live at Table 16 in Prototype Alley at #BerlinBrettSpiel25. Come by and say hi!
@fallconyyc.bsky.social playtesting times for my 2025 Canadian Game Design Award #CDGA finalist Takoyaki have been announced. Sign up via Cardboard Events and I look forward to showing you the game!
Friday 22nd August 1pm - 3pm
Friday 22nd August 3pm - 5pm
Saturday 23rd August 12pm - 2pm
Friday 22nd August 1pm - 3pm
Friday 22nd August 3pm - 5pm
Saturday 23rd August 12pm - 2pm
July 15, 2025 at 2:32 PM
@fallconyyc.bsky.social playtesting times for my 2025 Canadian Game Design Award #CDGA finalist Takoyaki have been announced. Sign up via Cardboard Events and I look forward to showing you the game!
Friday 22nd August 1pm - 3pm
Friday 22nd August 3pm - 5pm
Saturday 23rd August 12pm - 2pm
Friday 22nd August 1pm - 3pm
Friday 22nd August 3pm - 5pm
Saturday 23rd August 12pm - 2pm
Received Playtesting Best Practices by Chris Backe as part of @gengelstein.bsky.social Guides To Tabletop Game Design
Nice to see the concept of 'double coding'- in Cognitive Psychology we call this 'redundancy gain': better discrimination when objects differ on 2 (rather than 1) features
Nice to see the concept of 'double coding'- in Cognitive Psychology we call this 'redundancy gain': better discrimination when objects differ on 2 (rather than 1) features
July 10, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Received Playtesting Best Practices by Chris Backe as part of @gengelstein.bsky.social Guides To Tabletop Game Design
Nice to see the concept of 'double coding'- in Cognitive Psychology we call this 'redundancy gain': better discrimination when objects differ on 2 (rather than 1) features
Nice to see the concept of 'double coding'- in Cognitive Psychology we call this 'redundancy gain': better discrimination when objects differ on 2 (rather than 1) features
What can games tell us about science?
What can science tell us about games?
New @cognitionjournal.bsky.social paper @psychualberta.bsky.social @ualberta.bsky.social
"Evaluating commercial game design decisions via the scientification of games"
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
(1/3) 👇
What can science tell us about games?
New @cognitionjournal.bsky.social paper @psychualberta.bsky.social @ualberta.bsky.social
"Evaluating commercial game design decisions via the scientification of games"
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
(1/3) 👇
Evaluating commercial game design decisions via the scientification of games: Asymmetrical task switching errors predict self-reported fun in Ghost Blitz
By decomposing the structure, rule set and stimuli of games, it becomes possible to examine the impact of specific choices made by designers and publi…
www.sciencedirect.com
July 8, 2025 at 5:48 PM
What can games tell us about science?
What can science tell us about games?
New @cognitionjournal.bsky.social paper @psychualberta.bsky.social @ualberta.bsky.social
"Evaluating commercial game design decisions via the scientification of games"
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
(1/3) 👇
What can science tell us about games?
New @cognitionjournal.bsky.social paper @psychualberta.bsky.social @ualberta.bsky.social
"Evaluating commercial game design decisions via the scientification of games"
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
(1/3) 👇
My Canadian Game Design Award 2025 Finalist prototype 'Takoyaki' is now on its way to the CGDA judges.
And not a moment too soon according to the file status of my rule book... @fallconyyc.bsky.social
And not a moment too soon according to the file status of my rule book... @fallconyyc.bsky.social
July 3, 2025 at 6:38 PM
My Canadian Game Design Award 2025 Finalist prototype 'Takoyaki' is now on its way to the CGDA judges.
And not a moment too soon according to the file status of my rule book... @fallconyyc.bsky.social
And not a moment too soon according to the file status of my rule book... @fallconyyc.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Dyson
Two new books have just been published in myh series Guides To Tabletop Game Design!
Worldbuilding from Steve Dee and Playtesting Best Practices from Chris Backe both give nuanced, and insightful coverage of their topics from noted experts. Please check them out!
www.routledge.com/CRC-Press-Gu...
Worldbuilding from Steve Dee and Playtesting Best Practices from Chris Backe both give nuanced, and insightful coverage of their topics from noted experts. Please check them out!
www.routledge.com/CRC-Press-Gu...
June 23, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Two new books have just been published in myh series Guides To Tabletop Game Design!
Worldbuilding from Steve Dee and Playtesting Best Practices from Chris Backe both give nuanced, and insightful coverage of their topics from noted experts. Please check them out!
www.routledge.com/CRC-Press-Gu...
Worldbuilding from Steve Dee and Playtesting Best Practices from Chris Backe both give nuanced, and insightful coverage of their topics from noted experts. Please check them out!
www.routledge.com/CRC-Press-Gu...
Saturday at #SARMAC2025 (8:45am; Boardroom 1) I'll be contributing to Teaching About Research in Memory & Cognition (TARMAC) @psychualberta.bsky.social @ualberta.bsky.social
'Assessing the replicability of Cognitive Psychology during remote experiential learning via mobile phone technology'
'Assessing the replicability of Cognitive Psychology during remote experiential learning via mobile phone technology'
June 13, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Saturday at #SARMAC2025 (8:45am; Boardroom 1) I'll be contributing to Teaching About Research in Memory & Cognition (TARMAC) @psychualberta.bsky.social @ualberta.bsky.social
'Assessing the replicability of Cognitive Psychology during remote experiential learning via mobile phone technology'
'Assessing the replicability of Cognitive Psychology during remote experiential learning via mobile phone technology'
An extremely fun morning at #LinCon25 playtesting Tenure Track as a finalist for the Swedish Annual Game Award (Anvil Category). Looking forward to seeing some of the other finalists this afternoon! @psychualberta.bsky.social
May 29, 2025 at 12:31 PM
An extremely fun morning at #LinCon25 playtesting Tenure Track as a finalist for the Swedish Annual Game Award (Anvil Category). Looking forward to seeing some of the other finalists this afternoon! @psychualberta.bsky.social
Very fun playtesting session of Tenure Track this afternoon as part of the Festival of Teaching and Learning, including some critical feedback regarding resource management...
May 14, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Very fun playtesting session of Tenure Track this afternoon as part of the Festival of Teaching and Learning, including some critical feedback regarding resource management...
Looking forward to hosting a few sessions at the 2025 Festival of Teaching and Learning tomorrow (14 May) at University of Alberta
a) 10:15 am - 11:15 am ECHA 1-490
Overcoming a barrier in the use of games in education via the use of a generic card game system allowing for specific content overlay
a) 10:15 am - 11:15 am ECHA 1-490
Overcoming a barrier in the use of games in education via the use of a generic card game system allowing for specific content overlay
May 13, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Looking forward to hosting a few sessions at the 2025 Festival of Teaching and Learning tomorrow (14 May) at University of Alberta
a) 10:15 am - 11:15 am ECHA 1-490
Overcoming a barrier in the use of games in education via the use of a generic card game system allowing for specific content overlay
a) 10:15 am - 11:15 am ECHA 1-490
Overcoming a barrier in the use of games in education via the use of a generic card game system allowing for specific content overlay
Reposted by Ben Dyson
New study from the Women in Supramolecular Chemistry (WISC) revealing the unique challenges resulting from being First Gen (first generation of a family to access Higher Education) in science and showing how these persist at every stage of a career in academia:
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
Being a first generation university graduate, the impact on a career in science
Being in the first generation to access Higher Education (First Gen) is a barrier to academic success. First Gens face difficulties transitioning into, completing, and attaining competitive grades in ...
pubs.rsc.org
May 9, 2025 at 2:08 PM
New study from the Women in Supramolecular Chemistry (WISC) revealing the unique challenges resulting from being First Gen (first generation of a family to access Higher Education) in science and showing how these persist at every stage of a career in academia:
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
Thanks to #AGRI25 for hosting such a fun and interesting conference @banffcentre.bsky.social. Lots of great conversations in spectacular surroundings! Here are Yajing and Eunchan doing an amazing job representing @psychualberta.bsky.social
April 25, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Thanks to #AGRI25 for hosting such a fun and interesting conference @banffcentre.bsky.social. Lots of great conversations in spectacular surroundings! Here are Yajing and Eunchan doing an amazing job representing @psychualberta.bsky.social
Thanks to Grade 3 and Grade 5 Norwood School for stopping by @psychualberta.bsky.social today for some #USchool. Lots of budding scientists asking lots of great questions!
April 9, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Thanks to Grade 3 and Grade 5 Norwood School for stopping by @psychualberta.bsky.social today for some #USchool. Lots of budding scientists asking lots of great questions!
Third and final game showcased #UnPub25
Total Chaos
(2 Computationalists; 30 mins)
Promo video:
youtube.com/watch?v=I7wB...
See you there!
Total Chaos
(2 Computationalists; 30 mins)
Promo video:
youtube.com/watch?v=I7wB...
See you there!
March 25, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Third and final game showcased #UnPub25
Total Chaos
(2 Computationalists; 30 mins)
Promo video:
youtube.com/watch?v=I7wB...
See you there!
Total Chaos
(2 Computationalists; 30 mins)
Promo video:
youtube.com/watch?v=I7wB...
See you there!
Second game at #UnPub25 is
Double Creature Feature
(2-4 Casting Agents; 30 mins)
Promo video:
youtube.com/watch?v=1loE...
Double Creature Feature
(2-4 Casting Agents; 30 mins)
Promo video:
youtube.com/watch?v=1loE...
March 25, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Second game at #UnPub25 is
Double Creature Feature
(2-4 Casting Agents; 30 mins)
Promo video:
youtube.com/watch?v=1loE...
Double Creature Feature
(2-4 Casting Agents; 30 mins)
Promo video:
youtube.com/watch?v=1loE...
Getting ready for #Unpub25
Tenure Track
(2-4 Researchers; 120 mins)
Play as competing researchers who need to succeed in Academia in this medium-to-heavy Euro
Promo video here:
youtube.com/watch?v=7bY6...
Tenure Track
(2-4 Researchers; 120 mins)
Play as competing researchers who need to succeed in Academia in this medium-to-heavy Euro
Promo video here:
youtube.com/watch?v=7bY6...
March 25, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Getting ready for #Unpub25
Tenure Track
(2-4 Researchers; 120 mins)
Play as competing researchers who need to succeed in Academia in this medium-to-heavy Euro
Promo video here:
youtube.com/watch?v=7bY6...
Tenure Track
(2-4 Researchers; 120 mins)
Play as competing researchers who need to succeed in Academia in this medium-to-heavy Euro
Promo video here:
youtube.com/watch?v=7bY6...
This year will be my first UnPub and I will be actively seeking feedback on three games. It would be great to meet some of your virtual folks in person!
Design descriptions and times below:
Design descriptions and times below:
March 18, 2025 at 7:13 PM
This year will be my first UnPub and I will be actively seeking feedback on three games. It would be great to meet some of your virtual folks in person!
Design descriptions and times below:
Design descriptions and times below:
Reposted by Ben Dyson
Know someone who is a fantastic mentor to 🇨🇦 women in cognitive science? Nominate them for the @wicscanada.bsky.social 2025 Mentorship Award:
wicsc.ca/wp-content/u...
wicsc.ca/wp-content/u...
wicsc.ca
March 17, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Know someone who is a fantastic mentor to 🇨🇦 women in cognitive science? Nominate them for the @wicscanada.bsky.social 2025 Mentorship Award:
wicsc.ca/wp-content/u...
wicsc.ca/wp-content/u...