Sharon Emerson
User Experience and Creative Director

Bookmark and Share
Contact: (773) 580-4891 | maxonfire@gmail.com
Download: RESUME & PORTFOLIO
  • ZEBRAFISH
  • GALLERY BUILDER
  • DINOSAUR TRAIN
  • SID THE SCIENCE KID
  • SCIENCE TALES
  • WHAT IF?
Zebrafish

Zebrafish
Writer and creative director

In 2008, I wrote and directed the online animated series Zebrafish for Children’s Hospital Boston. The hospital, known for its innovative research, wanted to show kids that they could drive change. In the story, a motley group of high school students accomplish a small, yet significant feat; they organize a school fundraiser. While they arrive at the starting line with varying levels of commitment and empathy – they rally for a moment in time. They’re able to piece together their individual talents (in art, music, and video gaming) to co-create a music video with a simple message – “make it better.” Simon & Schuster published the graphic novel version in 2010.

Gallery Builder
Creative director, concept and interaction designer, editor

Pearson wanted a PowerPoint application that would let teachers build slideshows using the Art program’s 1,000 licensed artworks. For the same budget, I conceived Gallery Builder, a program that lets teachers and students browse and connect artworks via theme, subject, media, and style. This "curator simulation" lets users design, print, and fold galleries. This program was credited with accelerating art textbook sales. Years later, it was added to Pearson's Reading program.

Dinosaur Train (website)
Creative director, instructional and game designer

I researched and wrote instructionally-rich mini-games to introduce kids to the science of paleontology. The site garnered instant approval among backyard scientists worldwide.

  • AWARDS: PRIX JEUNESSE 2010 INTERACTIVITY PRIZE, PARENT'S CHOICE AWARD (SILVER)
  • SPECIFICATIONS: HUNGRY HERBIVORE
The Dinosaur Train site has had over 2.7 million video stream requests, and our public launch was only one week ago. This is an incredible debut online! The show doesn’t even air until Monday...
—Sara DeWitt, PBS KIDS Interactive

I understand we're number one and we aren't even on TV yet. The site is so cool—it's like crack to four year olds!
—Craig Bartlett, show creator

Sid the Science Kid (website)
Creative director, instructional and game designer

My goal was to design a site that felt like a play date with Sid. The framework supports both independent and companion-based exploration. Each game features a Tell Me More footnote, providing parents with a "script" to extend inquiry offline. For example, Kitchen Magician prompts parents to ask, "Juice can change into an ice pop. Then the ice pop can change back into juice. That's a reversible change. When food can't change back, that's an irreversible change. Can you think of an irreversible change?"

The educational tools, disguised as well-thought-out, age-appropriate games, are impressive, interesting, and beautifully rendered. More...
—Fran Wilde, reviewer, Parents' Choice

Pearson's Science Games
Creative director, instructional designer, writer

In the center ring is Martha the Mauler. Everywhere else are pathogens! I scripted a series of intervention games for kids (K-2) who had difficulty understanding textbook explanations. Rather than restate what was in the book, I used visuals and humor to make concepts relatable and sticky -- just like Martha's mucus!

Get a fresh take on:

Active Classroom (LMS prototype)
Dreamer and instructional designer

The motivation: In 2007, interactive whiteboards were becoming standard equipment in classrooms. Yet, teachers still had to piece together lessons from spiral-bound teacher's editions. To bridge the gap between planning and presentation, I envisioned and prototyped Active Classroom. Each interactive lesson was mapped onto a gameboard to keep students focused. Then, teachers clicked on a lesson segment (or lilypad) to launch an activity or trigger group rotation. The system made lesson planning snappy, fun, and deeply customizable.

Educators commented:

Everything on this screen makes planning easy. (It) eliminates the hard copy of a lesson plan book.

Great classroom management visual. Students can see where they are going and what they are doing.
Also:      
I wrote and directed this feature to make the Schlechty Center's message gulp-sized: that the superordinate goal of schooling is to provide students with engaging tasks that result in their learning those things of most value to themselves... and the larger society. I hired voice talent to read actual student transcripts. This made the feature feel more authentic, and Dr. Schlechty's call-to-action more urgent.
SPECIFICATIONS
 		Outside the Classroom's AlcoholEdu was awarded the 2009 Cine Golden Eagle Award. This online alcohol prevention program is used in over 500 colleges nationwide. I scripted and directed the animations — which served as informational insterstitials in the hours-long Web course.
PRESS RELEASE
 		Learning.com's AEP-winning AHA! Math program improves foundational math skills. I wrote instructional specifications for K-2 games. Each features a "Show Me" sequence that steps students through analytical problem-solving. This way, students learn how to tackle a problem in increments — making the skill understandable and transferable.

BUS DEPOT:
SPECIFICATIONS and DEMO

Aha! Math is an exciting program for the kids. Our kids were definitely seeing the light. They were catching on and were understanding concepts that up until now they just weren’t getting.
— Rod Federwisch Principal, Alicia Cortez Elementary School, Chino Valley, CA		 This kiosk-based activity lets visitors to the NY Hall of Science recreate a portion of Peter and Rosemary Grant's remarkable Galápagos study — in which they observed evolution in action. Roll over, Darwin, and tell intelligent designers the news!
SPECIFICATIONS