Angela Vanden Elzen: Exploring makerspace tech, video games

About the series: On Main Hall Green With … is an opportunity to connect with faculty on things in and out of the classroom. We're featuring a different Lawrence faculty member each time - same questions, different answers.

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Angela Vanden Elzen has a passion for video games and the tools of a makerspace-3D printers, laser cutters, and more. As an associate professor and reference and learning technologies librarian at Lawrence University, she gets to dive deep into both.

Vanden Elzen, who came to Lawrence in 2006, oversees the university's makerspace in Mudd Library, working with students and faculty to utilize makerspace technology in everything from course work to senior capstone projects. She also teaches courses on video game history, game culture and identity, and related topics.

Learn more about Lawrence's Makerspace

She joined Marcy Quiason, assistant professor of gender studies, earlier this year in presenting at the 2024 Women's and Gender Studies Consortium Conference in Madison, discussing ways to incorporate maker-based assignments into gender studies classrooms.

Vanden Elzen holds a Master of Library and Information Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

We caught up with her to talk about interests in and out of the classroom.

In the classroom

Inside info: What's one thing you want every student coming into your classes to know about you?

As a teacher, I expect everyone to approach content and information critically and with an open mind, but not maliciously. The point of criticism is to push forward improvements, guide us toward making connections, and teach us an awareness of how information is shared in all forms of media. It's especially important that we're critical of the media we love.

I also want students to know that each one of us has our own unique strengths and gifts, thoughts and opinions, and knowledge and background that, if we're all willing to share, can make the classroom experience welcoming and fulfilling.

Getting energized: What work have you done or will you be doing at Lawrence that gets you the most excited?

I love collaborating with faculty and staff from around campus to come up with new approaches to teaching and delivering content. This can be when coming up with creative makerspace projects, thought-provoking information literacy instruction, or ways to continually improve classroom engagement. Working with other educators who are passionate about their field is so exciting. Also teaching game studies courses is a dream.

Going places: Is there an example of somewhere your career has taken you (either a physical space or something more intellectual, emotional, or spiritual) that took you by surprise?

Pretty much the only element of my career that I was expecting is the reference and research assistance part. Everything else-building and running a makerspace and teaching game studies-was unexpected. I'm also surprised at how much I've developed as a public speaker. I'm not amazing, but I used to have bad stage fright.

Out of the classroom

This or that: If you weren't teaching for a living, what would you be doing?

I think I'd be working in forestry or some environmental sustainability career. That was my initial path in college. But honestly, I would probably be teaching in that field as well.

Right at home: Whether for work, relaxation or reflection, what's your favorite spot on campus?

The trail along the river behind campus is a great spot for an afternoon walk on a sunny day. I love stopping to visit the SLUG beehives and taking a rest in the woods behind Warch.

One book, one recording, one film: Name one of each that speaks to your soul? Or you would recommend to a friend? Or both?

Book: Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. It's about an orc woman who retires from fighting and adventuring to open a coffee shop. It's "cozy high fantasy" and it's a delight.

Recording: Offair: From the Forest Floor by Jenny Owen Youngs and John Mark Nelson. The whole album is instrumental and folksy, and it makes for an excellent soundtrack for daily life.

Film/video game: Final Fantasy X-2. When this game came out in the early 2000s, women gamers were much less noticed in the gaming community (even though we've been there from the start). This game-with three women running around uniting religious and political factions, solving problems, looking for lost love, and preventing people from making the same mistakes of the past, all while wearing fun outfits that gave them different abilities-felt like it was made for someone like me.

See more faculty profiles in the On Main Hall Green With ... series here.

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