Curriculum Vitae

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Educational History

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• Ph.D. (2027*)  Candidate in Instructional Game Design (*expected completion date) International                                                                                       Christian University – Tokyo

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• M.A. (2023)    Educational Technology; with honor. GPA 4.00 International Christian University – Tokyo.

 

•  B.A. (2015)     Foreign Languages and Literatures; University of Bologna

 

Professional Experience

 

Teaching appointments

• 2025 – Present          Lecturer,  Oberlin University – Machida, Tokyo

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• 2023 – 2025                Lecturer, Surugadai University – Hanno, Saitama

 

• 2021 – 2023                Teacher and Teacher Educator Nico Kids English – Setagaya, Tokyo

 

• 2018 – 2021                Teacher, Sakuho City Junior High School – Sakuhomachi, Nagano

 

• 2014 – 2017                Teacher and Translator, Web Heroes – Olbia, Italy

 

• 2014 – 2014                Teacher, RakuRaku school of Foreign Languages – Hirakata, Osaka

 

Graduate Student Appointments

• 2025 – Present            Research Institute Assistant, Institute for Educational Research and  Service (IERS) International                                                            Christian University – Mitaka, Tokyo

 

• 2021 – Present            Writing tutor – Writing Support Desk,  International Christian University – Mitaka, Tokyo

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• 2021 – Present            Teacher Assistant, International Christian University – Mitaka, Tokyo

 

Professional Appointments

• 2004 – 2009                Draftsmen Technologist Various Draftsman Technologist firms

 

Publications

 

Peer-reviewed Journal Articles (3)

• Spano, F., Kardos, A., & Howard, C. D. (2025). Dynamic Homework: An AI-Powered Gamified Dictionary. International Journal of Designs for Learning, 16(1), 139–151. https://doi.org/10.14434/ijdl.v16i1.37858.

 

• Spano, F. (2021). How I taught with a game in junior high school EFL classes. Ludic Language Pedagogy, 3, 93-133. https://doi.org/10.55853/llp_v3Wt2

 

• Spano, F., York, J., deHaan, J., & Bard, R. (2021) One game, many approaches: How teachers can use a single game with any teaching methodology. Ludic Language Pedagogy, 3, 153-195. https://doi.org/10.55853/llp_v3Pg8

 

 

Grants and Scholarships work

 

Externally Funded Scholarships

• 2025                Atsumi Scholarship, issued by Atsumi International Foundation: (JPY 250,000 a month,  duration: 1 year).

 

• 2024                K Scholarship, issued by Mr. and Mrs. K (private anonymous donors): (JPY 100,000/month, Duration: 2 years).

 

• 2023                 TAKASE Scholarship, issued by TAKASE Scholarship Foundation, 2023: (JPY 100,000/month, Duration: 1 year)

 

• 2022                 Mitsubishi JEES Scholarship, issued by Mitsubishi Corporation: (JPY 150,000/month, Duration: 1 year).

 

• 2013 - 2014     City of Olbia’s Scholarship (2 Times), issued by the city of Olbia City: (2013: EUR 2,000; 2014: EUR 6,000).

 

Externally Funded Grants

• 2024                JICUF Research Grant, issued by Japan ICU Foundation: Research Assistant. (JPY 1,285,000).

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• 2024                JICUF Research Grant, issued by Japan ICU Foundation: Principal  Investigator. (JPY  765,117).

 

• 2022                JICUF Research Grant, issued by Japan ICU Foundation: Principal Investigator. (JPY 97,000).

 

Internally Funded Scholarships

• 2021 to 2024   ICU Honorary Scholarship (4 times), Issued by: International Christian University, 2021,  2022, 2023, 2024.                                        (JPY 127,000 a year).

 

Presentations 

 

Invited Presentations (4)

• Howard, C. D. & Spano, F. (2025, March) Instructional Design Cases: A workshop with no wrong answers. Invited Masterclass and Keynote Address. Recorded live at Los Banos and broadcast university wide at seven campuses, University of the Philippines Open University.

 

• Spano, F. (2024, June) "AI in games for learning". Ludic Language Pedagogy Expo 03 (LLPx03). Keynote Address.

 

• Spano, F. (2021, January). Skilled Game Masters, Expert teachers, and task planning. Teaching Languages with Games: a practice-based Workshop. CALICO 2021. Online.

 

• Spano, F. (2020, October). A quick intro to good GMing. Ludic Language Pedagogy Expo (LLPx01), Online.

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Peer Reviewed (1)

• Spano, F. (2024, October) Voice-recognition AI Features and Failures in a Mobile Game for English Learning. European Conference of Game-Based Learning (ECGBL 2024). Aarhus, Denmark.

 

Colloquium (1)

• Spano, F. (2024, March) Exploring the integration of AI in the Design of Digital Game-Based Learning Solutions. COER Doctoral Colloquium. University of Oldenburg, Germany.

 

Poster (2)

• Spano, F. & Howard C.D. (2025, September) “Reading Pedagogy of the Oppressed as a Design Case: The Role of Analytical Lenses in Constructing Design Knowledge”. Japanese Society for Educational Technology (JSET) September 2025, Nagoya.

 

• Howard, C.D. & Spano, F. (2025, September) “Instructional Design Cases: Disseminating design knowledge in instructional design and technology”. Japanese Society for Educational Technology (JSET) September 2025, Nagoya.

 

Guest Lectures in Graduate Courses Taken for Credit (2)

 

• Spano, F. (2024, October). Games and Learning: Theory. Guest Lecture in QEED 513 – Theory-driven Instructional Design. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, International Christian University, Mitaka, Tokyo.

 

• Spano, F. (2024, October). Games and Learning: Applied Theory. Guest Lecture in QEED 513 – Theory-driven Instructional Design. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, International Christian University, Mitaka, Tokyo.

 

 

Service

 

• 2025 – Pres.    International Journal of Design for Learning (IJDL) Indiana University,   Reviewer [annually 1-2 manuscripts. In                               2025, 3 manuscripts reviewed]

 

• 2025 –               Special Section Reviewer, International Journal of Design for Learning (IJDL). Special Section on Generative                                    Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in Learning Design 

 

• 2021 – Pres.    Ludic Language Pedagogy Journal, Regular Reviewer [annually 1-2 manuscripts. Since 2021, 5 manuscripts                                      reviewed]

 

Professional memberships

• 2026 – Pres　AIRJ, Association of Italian Researchers in Japan

 

• 2025 – Pres     JSET, Japanese Society for Educational Technology

 

 

 

Licenses & Foreign Language Proficiencies

 

• 2021              TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Grade 116/120.

• 2021              TEFL/TESOL Certificate (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)  (Grade A) from iTTT.

• 2015              Bachelor in Japanese Language – (Intermediate – Advanced)

• 2014              Intensive Japanese Studies Course Diploma – Kansai Gaidai University, Osaka.

 

Others             Spanish - Beginner proficiency

                           Italian and Sardinian - Native Speaker