Scott J. Warren

University of North Texas · College of Information

Scott J.
Warren

Professor & PhD Program Director

Department of Learning Technologies

Researcher at the intersection of emerging technologies, ethics, instructional design, and systems thinking. Two Ph.D.s — in Instructional Systems Technology and Business Administration — informing work across educational games, digital transformation, environmental impacts of IT, and complex organizational change.

View Research Access Resources

Areas of Expertise

  • Emerging technologies & interdisciplinary literacy
  • Information technology ethics
  • Games & simulations in education
  • Instructional design & system development
  • Systemic change in complex organizations
  • Environmental impacts of information technologies
  • Operations & supply chain engineering
  • Digital transformation & AI integration
45+
Refereed Articles
30+
Book Chapters
$2.1M+
Funded Research
20+
Years at UNT
01

Tools & Resources

Frameworks, tools, and materials developed through research and practice

⚖️

ECET Framework

The Ethical Choices in Educational Technology (ECET) Framework — a validated, research-based decision support tool for instructors and instructional designers making technology adoption choices.

ecet.systemly.space →
📊

Digital Transformation Risk Evaluation

Decision-making scorecard for evaluating IT adoption risks in organizational contexts. Supports structured analysis across complex digital transformation scenarios.

dtrisks.systemly.space →
🗂️

DT Resources Hub

Curated resources, frameworks, and supporting materials for digital transformation, systems methodology, and organizational change in educational and business settings.

dtresources.systemly.space →
🎓

DSI 2025 Conference

Materials, presentations, and supplementary resources from the 2025 Decision Sciences Institute conference work on digital transformation, systems modeling, and AI integration.

dsi2025all.systemly.net →
02

Recent Research

Selected publications from a record of 45+ refereed articles and 3 books

No publications match your search.
2025

Enhancing Quality Assurance Through Strategic Artificial Intelligence Integration: A Framework for Higher Education Digital Transformation

Quality Assurance in Education — Warren, Vogt, Tincher, & Yang

2025

Leveraging opportunities for self-regulated learning in smart learning environments

Smart Learning Environments, 12(6) — DOI

2025

Choosing Technologies for Education: A Sentiment Analysis and Topic Modeling Approach on Twitter Data

International Journal of Social Media and Interactive Learning Environments — DOI

2024

Ethics of Care and Soft Systems Methodology Employed to Guide a Doctoral Program Redesign

International Journal of Designs for Learning, 15(3) — Full Text

2024

Developing an Ontology to Explore Competencies Needed by Instructional Design Professionals in Higher Education

Journal of Applied Instructional Design, 13(3) — DOI

2024

A Model for Applying Cognitive Theory to Firm to Improve Organizational Learning for Sustained Knowledge Production and Competitive Advantage

Performance Improvement Journal — DOI

2022

Strategic, operations, and evaluation planning for higher education distance education

Distance Education, 43(2), 239–270 — DOI

2019

The historic impact of soft systems methodology on academic research and theory

Systems, 7(10), 1–15 — DOI

2017

Learning Games – The Science and Art of Development (Book)

Springer — Warren & Jones

2011

Opening the Door: An Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Problem-based Learning Game

Computers & Education, 58, 1–15

2009

A MUVE towards PBL writing: Effects of a digital learning environment designed to improve elementary student writing

Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 41(1)

2009

Educational game as supplemental learning tool: Benefits, challenges, and tensions arising from use in an elementary school classroom

Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 20(4)

2007

Situationally embodied curriculum: Relating formalisms and contexts

Science Education, 91(5), 750–782 — Barab, Zuiker, Warren et al.

2013

The Impact of Technology and Theory on Instructional Design Since 2000

Handbook of Research for Educational Communications & Technology, 4th ed. — Springer

Rev.

The environmental costs of 1:1 computing initiatives: A model to determine resource use, pollution, and e-waste impacts

Under Review — Journal of Cleaner Production

Rev.

Measuring University Students' Satisfaction with Traditional Search Engines and Generative AI Tools as Information Sources

Under Review — Reference Services Review — Lund, Teel & Warren

Rev.

Dynamic Systems Engineering: A Holistic Approach to Supporting Complex Media Design

Under Review — System Dynamics

Acc.

Aligning Instruction: Bridging State Standards with Generative AI for Teacher Education

Accepted — Journal of Applied Instructional Design

2025

The Evolution of Learning Technologies (Open Access Book)

In preparation

2025

The Strategic ROI of Training: From Compliance to Competitive Advantage (Book)

Submitted — Routledge

03

Funded Research

Selected funded grants and contracts

NIH — R25 GM150158-01 · 2023–2028

Improving Middle Grade STEM Interest and Learning Using GN and DOC

Co-PI · $1,280,000 total (UNT & U Montana)

NSF FW-HTF-P · 2022–2023

Supporting the Future Industrial Operators Workforce in Warehouse & Distribution Centers

Co-PI · $150,000

U.S. State Dept. / USAID · 2020–2022

Continuity of Education — American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS)

Technical Advisor & Research PI · $1,500,000 total project

U.S. State Dept. / USAID · 2020–2022

Continuity of Education — Kwame Nkrumah University (Ghana) & Philippines CHED

Technical Advisor & Research PI · $1,000,000 total project

NIH STTR · 2017–2019

External Evaluator — Educational Game for Legionnaire's Disease (Phase 1 & 2)

External Evaluator · $300,000 total

Crystal Bridges Museum · 2016

Evaluation of Teacher Preparation

Evaluator · $7,000

04

Career History

From classroom teacher to Professor and PhD Program Director

Academic Appointments

2022 – Present

PhD Program Director

Department of Learning Technologies, UNT

2016 – Present

Professor

Department of Learning Technologies, UNT

2021 – 2023

Technical Advisor / Researcher

Texas International Education Consortium, Austin TX

2013 – 2016

Founder & Co-Director

The Koan School, Denton TX

2011 – 2016

Associate Professor

Department of Learning Technologies, UNT

2006 – 2011

Assistant Professor

Department of Learning Technologies, UNT

2004 – 2006

Research Assistant / Designer / Novelist

Quest Atlantis / NSF, Indiana University Bloomington

Education

2018

Ph.D. Business Administration — Logistics Systems

University of North Texas

2006

Ph.D. Instructional Systems Technology

Indiana University, Bloomington

1998

M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction

University of Houston

1995

B.A. English & Political Science

Western Michigan University

Notable Early Work

Author of Archfall (2005) and Shardflower (2007) — fictional novels embedded within the Quest Atlantis digital learning world at Indiana University, demonstrating narrative-driven learning game design at scale.

05

Writing & Commentary

Accessible writing on systems, technology, and organizational change

Substack · Systemo Systems

Systems thinking for
the real world

Writing at the intersection of systems methodology, digital transformation, and learning technologies — translating research into accessible insights for practitioners, educators, and leaders navigating complex change.

Read & Subscribe →
06

Get in Touch

Department of Learning Technologies · College of Information · UNT

Interested in research collaboration, speaking engagements, consulting on digital transformation, or learning technologies? Please reach out directly.

Email [email protected]
Phone 940-369-7489
Institution University of North Texas
Denton, Texas

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