I have been involved in technology and distance education for over 30 years. Research interests include institutional considerations for developing e-learning partnerships, best practices in synchronous and asynchronous communication, enhancing critical thinking through distance education, and developing and maintaining learning team collaborations in computer-mediated learning environments. I am currently researching the effectiveness of Web 2.0 and social networking tools including wikis, blogs, podcasts, and microblogs like Twitter, for enhancing social presence and teacher immediacy in e-learning environments. I am also currently exploring the potential uses of Second Life for collaborative learning. Students are currently meeting, planning, and presenting their collaborative projects through Second Life.

Specialties: E-learning, Instructional Design, Social Media, Mobile Learning