Research Interests

My research interests have been centered on educational technologies, primarily with new media and technologies at the forefront. My dissertation, How adults learn through online asynchronous written dialogue, deals with ways that professors and learners can co-create a dialogic atmosphere around the purposeful use of written text in an asynchronous format. I am intrigued by the benefits offered through asynchronous written text to the extent that it can create a true dialogue or discourse.

As we discover the potential of applying new media in educational settings, there is an enormous untapped area centered on the applications of technologies across disciplines, and often one of the main stumbling blocks is getting all the parties to agree on the right approach. I am interested in new approaches to this integration based on facilitative and collaborative methods to make all the necessary connections and linkages.

I have been involved with technology-enhanced curriculum design for several years, long enough to witness the swift evolution in technology and academic emphases. While the technologies continue to change shape and purpose, whether they are related to web development, animation, multimedia development, digital video, games, or database applications, the need for better ontological fits and human interfaces with the technologies remains continuous. While we develop personal and wireless peripherals, there is a need to design better innovative human computer interfaces that capitalize on the tools’ functionalities. I would like to continue with my interest in the applications of database, multimedia and mobile technologies for teaching and learning purposes.

As the global village continues to shrink with new media and technologies, we realize that we are part of a larger cultural and educational network. I am interested in helping to develop the appropriate educational network connections across countries and to look for collaborative teaching and learning opportunities as we learn to appreciate the diversity that each culture has to offer. This connection to other countries may include working with professors and learners of different disciplines and countries and facilitating a network of critical and knowledgeable users of emerging educational technologies.

In summary, I intend to conduct international, multi-institutional, and multi-disciplinary research projects and seek grant and funding opportunities of this nature. I would like to continue to present and publish research in areas that seek a better understanding of teacher learning, professional development and adult education in light of new social and technological options.