As a former middle school teacher and current full-time professor and best-selling author, I’m a big believer in empowering students (and teachers) through the power of creativity. Whether you sign up for one of my online courses, enroll in one of my cohorts or invite me to spend time with your staff, I promise you’ll walk away with a fresh perspective and new ideas to transform your classroom.
After teaching middle school for twelve years (with one year of technology coaching mixed in there), I am now a professor of educational technology at a small university in Oregon. People keep saying that the “honeymoon period” will wear off, but the truth is, I get up everyday excited that I have the opportunity to help develop the next generation of teachers. I collaborate with crazy-smart people who push my thinking on a daily basis. I get to develop new projects and programs oriented around technology.
I tend to focus on creativity, design thinking, technology, and pedagogy. The following are some of my research focus areas:
- Design thinking in traditionally non-STEM fields (especially the humanities and the social sciences)
- Using design thinking along with UX Design Theory to design courses
- Creativity and assessment
- Personalized professional developmet with a focus on instructor self-efficacy and creative engagement
- The nature of technology and the effects on social, cultural, and political structures
- Flow Theory and student engagement (with a focus on hitting a “creative flow” in PBL classrooms)
- Technology and language acquisition