Naza Djafarova Director of Digital Education Strategies (DES)
The Chang School of Continuing Education
Ryerson University

ndjafaro@ryerson.ca
+1 (416) 233-6788


NazaDjafarova | @Naza_Djafarova

Research Interests:
game-based learning, serious games, digital accessibility, e-pedagogy, open educational resources, e-learning, engagment and motivation.

With 20 years of business and management experience, Naza has been instrumental in implementing innovative approaches to development, support and delivery of online and hybrid courses and programs with national and international partners. Her team became one of the most innovative and efficient distance education centres in Canada, has grown to be a leader in digital education and one of the largest providers of university credit online courses in Ontario. Over 35 international and national organizations have recognized DES work including the OLC International Award for Excellence in Institution-Wide Online Education. Naza is a lead in grant proposals and in a number of educational initiatives providing technology and operational management expertise in the development of continuing education programs.

Awards

  • Excellence in Online Administration Award, Pearson Education for making a significant contribution to Online Teaching and Administration, US
  • The President’s Blue and Gold Award of Excellence, Ryerson University, Canada
  • The Effective Practice Award, The Online Learning Consortium, US
  • Distance Education Innovation Award, National University Telecommunication Network, US

Education

  • Master’s Degree in Architecture, Moscow Architecture Institute, State Academy
  • Postgraduate qualification Ph.D. program on Management: Social and Economic Systems, International University for Nature, Society and Humanity
  • Master’s Degree of Science in Information Technology Management, thesis research focuses on flow and motivation in serious games (in progress)
  • Designated Diploma in Web Development & E-commerce, Ryerson University
  • Executive Development Program in Strategic Planning, Queen's University
  • 2015 Utrecht University, Faculty of Science (UU) – Multidisciplinary Game Research

Committees

  • Executive Director, Canadian Association for University and Continuing Education (CAUCE)
  • Member of The Chang School Council
  • Member of CAUCE Research and Information Committee
  • Executive Director, the Ontario Universities’ Council on e-Learning
  • Member Accessibility Advisory Committee at Ryerson University
  • Team Lead and Founder of The Chang School Talks conference

Research, Publications and Conferences

  • Research and Development Grants: $1.5 million, 20016-2018.
  • Lead Researcher for innovation in applied research in technology-enabled learning: design and development of serious games, eCampus Ontario, 2016.
  • Djafarova, N., Zefi, L., Dimitriadou, A., & Turetken, O. (2019, June). The Art of Serious Game Design Workshop. Panel presentation, CGSA conference, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
  • Gay G., Djafarova, N., Zefi, L. (2019, May). Digital Accessibility is a Right: Why are we not Teaching it? Panel presentation, CC Global Summit, Lisbon, Portugal.
  • Djafarova, N., Zefi, L., Dimitriadou, A., & Turetken, O. (2019, July). A methodology and practical guide for serious game design. Serious Play conference. University of Quebec, Montreal, QB.
  • Djafarova, N., Zefi, L., Dimitriadou, A. (2018, October). The Art of Serious Game Design. Technology Enabled Seminar + Showcase (TESS), Toronto, ON.
  • Bountrogianni, M., Djafarova, N. (2018, October). Serious Games in Practice: Where Gamification and Cognitive Behaviour Come to Play. Plenary Presentation, Online Learning 2018: Global Summit & EdTech Expo, Teaching & Learning in the Digital Age, Toronto, ON.
  • Djafarova, N., Zefi, L. & Dimitriadou, A. (2018, October). A guide to The Art of Serious Game Design. Online Learning 2018: Global Summit & EdTech Expo, Teaching & Learning in the Digital Age, Toronto, ON.
  • Djafarova, N. & Zefi, L. (2018, October). A methodology and practical guide for serious game design within multidisciplinary teams. International Academic Conference on Meaningful Play: Designing & Studying Games that Matter, Michigan State University, East Lancing, MI.
  • Djafarova, N. & Zefi, L. (2018, May). How do multidisciplinary design teams benefit from an established Game Design Process? The Canadian Association for University Continuing Education, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
  • Foxe J. P. & Djafarova, N. (2018, May). Gamifying academic integrity education. The 4th international conference Plagiarism Across Europe and Beyond, Ephesus, Turkey.
  • Djafarova, N., Zefi, L., Dimitriadou, A. (2018, May). Serious Games Design Methodology. Learning and Teaching conference, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON.
  • Bountrogianni, M., Zefi L., Phirangee, K., & Djafarova, N. (2018, Feb). Online Faculty Professional Development: An Approach to the Design Process. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Education, Melbourne, Australia. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, International Journal of Educational and Pedagogical Sciences.
  • Djafarova, N. & Zefi, L. (2017, June). Toward a framework for effective game-based learning design. Presentation, The Ontario Council for University Lifelong Learning.
  • DES (2017, May). The Art of Serious Game Design. The R.G. Chang School of Continuing Education, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON. Retrieved from http:https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/guide/ - Gay, G., Djafarova, N. & Zefi, L. (2017, April). Teaching accessibility to the masses. In Proceedings of the 14th Web for All Conference on The Future of Accessible Work. ACM.
  • Djafarova, N. (2017, Sept). Maximizing Learner Engagement and Skill Development through Modelling, Immersion and Gameplay. World Conference on Online Learning, The International Council for Open and Distance Education, Toronto, ON.
  • Gay, G., Glynn, M. & Djafarova, N. (2016, April). Lake Devo: accessible online role-play. In Proceedings of the 13th Web for All Conference. ACM.
  • Alexandris G., Bountrogianni M. & Djafarova, N. (2015, Jan). Ground­breaking Program for Ontario’s Law School Graduates, Virtual Law Firms. In Proceedings, of Online Education Berlin (OEB). https://www.icwe-secretariat.com/icwe_webprojects_cms/uploadsgraphics/OEB-15/1446835989_lawpracticeprogram_berlinconferenceresource_final2015.pdf
  • Bountrogianni, M. & Djafarova, N. (2014, May). Addressing The International Issue Of Underemployment Through E-Learning Initiatives: The Digital Education Case At The G. Raymond Chang School Of Continuing Education, Ryerson University, Canada. The International Council for Open and Distance Education, International Conference. Proceedings of the ICDE International Conference “Connecting the World through Open, Distance and e-Learning”, Moscow state university of economics, statistics and informatics.
  • Djafarova, N. (2010, June). Organizational Model for Online Higher Ed in the New Century. In EdMedia+ Innovate Learning (pp. 1092-1092). Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). 
  • Djafarova, N., (2007, Oct). A Better Way to Manage Your Content. World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, & Higher Education. Proceedings of E-Learn 2007, Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education. Québec City, Québec, Canada.