AnnMarie Thomas

AnnMarie Thomas is an Associate Professor at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the founder of the Playful Learning Lab. Her work focuses on integrating technology, fun, and hands-on engineering projects into K-12 education. She collaborated with the band OK Go to create the OK Go Sandbox, an online platform using music videos to teach STEAM concepts. Key projects include Circus Engineering and an after-school program for deaf students using cardboard and plastic balls to recreate Angry Birds.

• Education: B.S. in Ocean Engineering from MIT (2001).

Her research emphasizes making education engaging for students and teachers, rooted in her MIT experience, particularly Professor Woodie Flowers' design course. The Playful Learning Lab was launched in 2009, aligning with Minnesota's K-12 engineering curriculum standards.

Notable collaborations include working with OK Go to design educational activities tied to their music videos, such as the Rube Goldberg machine featured in 'This Too Shall Pass.'