Research Focus

My scholarship currently focuses on two overlapping areas: technology-based instructional strategies and visually-based instructional strategies. I am focusing on the identification of effective pedagogical uses of particular technologies. Yes, I an intrigued by many of the new technologies, both hardware and software, but I primarily focus on appropriate theoretical underpinnings for using these tools effectively. I do not believe that the technology should drive the instruction - rather, appropriate technologies should be utilized as a tool to facilitate acquisition, near and far transfer, and retention of knowledge. I currently am investigating several pedagogical uses of classroom (or audience) response systems and the theoretical foundations of interactive websites.

Moving away from technology, my interest in visually-based instructional strategies stems, in part, from my background as an art educator. "Promoting Conceptual Understanding through Pictorial Representation" investigated from a cognitive perspective the extent to which a specific drawing-based instructional strategy promoted conceptual understanding of scientific concepts. " Instrumental Value of Art: Drawing Tasks for Math "and " Using descriptive drawings as a conceptual change strategy in elementary science" also demonstrate my interest in investigating drawing as a generative activity which facilitates conceptual acquisition. Another article, "How Do Adolescents Process Advertisements? The Influence of Processing Objective and Gender" examined the effects of advertising on adolescents.

In the last few years, I have developed a keen interest in free-choice learning and informal learning environments. My work as an external evaluator of an NSF grant at a large children's museum whetted my appetite for investigating informal contexts. Since 85% of our learning occurs outside of formal schooling, these contexts certainly warrant a careful examination to better understand what kinds of learning occur. I am looking forward to offering a new course at USC during Fall of 2007 to focus on this area of learning, and hope to meet our class within a cyber context and a variety of informal contexts around the state.