Dr Penny de Byl

Senior Lecturer

School of Computer Science and Information Technology

College of Engineering and Information Technology


Dr. Penny de Byl has a robust academic career in university research with a profound commitment to teaching, writing, and developing innovative educational materials in STEM-related subjects. Currently serving as a Senior Education Specialist in Computer Science at the University of Adelaide, Dr. de Byl combines her extensive experience in higher education with her passion for cutting-edge technology. Prior to her current role, she worked as a Senior Games Developer at Makers Empire.As the founder, CEO, and Business Manager of Holistic3D.com, Dr. de Byl focuses on offering online courses in computer game development, computer graphics, artificial intelligence, mathematics, animation, procedural generation, and multimedia. At Holistic3D, she serves as the principal curriculum designer and instructor, crafting engaging and effective learning experiences that leverage her extensive knowledge in the field.Prior to founding her company at the end of 2017, Dr. de Byl held the title of Professor of Games and Interactive Multimedia at Bond University. Her academic journey began in 1992 at the University of Southern Queensland, where she first engaged with students as a tutor in Mathematics and Computer Science. Over the years, she developed and coordinated research units and degree programs focusing on computer games, multimedia, and educational technology.In recent years, Dr. de Byl has shifted her focus towards the practical applications of her research, specifically in games-based learning and educational technology. She has produced numerous video tutorials and has collaborated with industry leaders such as Unity Technologies and Wikitude Augmented Reality to develop educational content for their platforms. Her efforts in creating game-based educational experiences have earned her multiple awards, including a Queensland state government award and a Unity/Google award for Mobile Curriculum Development.Dr. de Byl’s commitment to education extends into her writing. She has authored several technical books aimed at enhancing the understanding and application of games technology in education. Her role on advisory boards, such as the Unity Global Education Advisory Board and Packt Publishing Game Development Advisory Board, underscores her influence in shaping educational strategies that integrate new technologies into learning environments.Her research, recognized with a Smart Women in ICT award and a State Government Research Fellowship, continues to influence her teaching materials, emphasizing the sustainable use of educational technology. Dr. de Byl’s transition from traditional academic roles to a focus on educational content development and teaching underscores her dedication to enriching STEM education through innovative methods and accessible learning platforms.

Date Position Institution name
2022 - 2024 Senior Games Developer Makers Empire
2017 - ongoing CEO and Curriculum Designer Holistic3D
2010 - 2017 Professor of Games and Creative Media Bond University
2008 - 2010 Associate Professor of Serious Games NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences
1998 - 2008 Senior Lecturer Computer Science University of Southern Queensland

Date Institution name Country Title
1996 - 2002 University of Southern Queensland Australia PhD
1994 - 1994 University of New England Australia Honours in Computer Science
1989 - 1992 University of Southern Queensland Australia Bachelor of Information Technology

Year Citation
2022 Byl, P. D. (2022). Mathematics for Game Programming and Computer Graphics Explore the essential mathematics for creating, rendering, and manipulating 3D virtual environments. Packt Publishing Ltd.
2019 Byl, P. D. (2019). Holistic Game Development with Unity 3e An All-in-One Guide to Implementing Game Mechanics, Art, Design and Programming. CRC Press.
2017 Byl, P. D. (2017). Creating Procedural Artworks with Processing A Holistic Guide.
2014 Byl, P. D. (2014). Holistic Mobile Game Development with Unity. CRC Press.
2012 Byl, P. D. (2012). Holistic Game Development with Unity An All-in-one Guide to Implementing Game Mechanics, Art, Design, and Programming. Taylor & Francis.
2006 Byl, P. B. -D. (2006). Artificial Life Possibilities A Star Trek Perspective.

Year Citation
2019 de Byl, P. -A. (2019). The Zombification of Skyrim. In S. J. Webley, & P. Zackariasson (Eds.), The Playful Undead and Video Games Critical Analyses of Zombies and Gameplay. Routledge.
2014 de Byl, P. -A., Brand, J., Knight, S., & Hooper, J. (2014). Mining Constructivism in the University: The case of creative mode. In N. Garrelts (Ed.), Understanding Minecraft Essays on Play, Community and Possibilities (pp. 57-74). McFarland.
2011 de Byl, P. -A., & Brand, J. (2011). Designing Games to Motivate Student Cohorts through Targeted Game Genre Selection. In P. Felicia (Ed.), Handbook of Research on Improving Learning and Motivation through Educational Games: Multidisciplinary Approaches Multidisciplinary Approaches. IGI Global.

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