I have had a passion for computers
for 27 years now. Luckily, I've found a way to combine
them with work. Packages I've developed include several small
expert systems, management games and DIAGNOSIS..
My first foray into using web technology for teaching was
LearnPest, developed over 1994-95. Then from 1997-1998 I managed
a project developing a plant protection extramural CD/web
course for our foundation undergraduate paper . The course
was offered to students in 1999.
Early in 2000, I became part of a team involved in the TILE
project. This project seeks to develop a web-based client-server
delivery architecture for teaching. My role in this project
is to research "Goal-Based Scenarios" and develop
a client interface. This looked towards developing a framework
and a methodology to aid the construction of software which
can deliver teaching scenarios. This product (now discontinued),
called CHALLENGE
and based on DIAGNOSIS 3.0, came out of this project. Further
work took place of a Challenge derivative leading to a freeware
program called Challenge
FRAP and the most recent manifestation of this, Challenge
Workbook. I am now using this software in one of my undergraduate
courses.
Another exciting event was my involvement in an International
Society of Plant Pathology-sponsored Instructional
Technology Symposium (on-line) which took place from 15th
May to 30th June, 2001. I was webmaster and co-organiser for
this event, something which proved to be both challenging
and rewarding.
My activities in problem-based learning within
my discipline of plant pathology saw me appointed as chairperson
for the International Society
of Plant Pathology's Teaching Committee for 2003-2008.
I was also asked to give a keynote presentation on teaching
on plant pathology at the 8th International Congress of Plant
Pathology, in Christchurch in February, 2003. It was quite
an honour.
However, my greatest thrill in the early years of this decade was to win a National
Tertiary Teachers Excellence Award (for Excellence in
Innovation) in 2003. This award was obtained with the assistance
of all my colleagues and other Massey University folk, who
shared my passion and supported me in numerous ways.
In 2005-2007 I managed an e-learning Collaborative
Development Fund (eCDF) project titled "Tools
for Delivering Scenario-Based E-learning both Locally and
Across the Internet" . This is allowing me to explore
my passion for scenario-based learning. The project was completed
in June, 2007 but the site is regularly updated as a support
resource. In May-June 2006 I also coordinated an International Society
for Plant Pathology (ISPP)- sponsored Web-Symposium
on Active Learning in Plant Pathology.
The eCDF work above lead to another national prize, the DEANZ (Distance Education Association of New Zealand) Award in 2008.
The work above has taken me away from plant protection specifically and towards higher education and academic development generally. For the last two years (2008-2009) I have been seconded to the Centre for Academic
Development and e-Learning (CADeL) at Massey part time (0.5). This
role involves embedding and supporting some of the generic
e-learning tools I've helped developed here at Massey, along
with research activities on the same. As part of this secondment,
and supported by AKO Aotearoa
I've recently completed an
ethics training exercise and a similar scenario on course design. Another recently completed project involves
a scenario-based on-line Pest and Disease decision support
teaching exercise, supported by funding from the Massey-Lincoln
and Agricultural Industry Trust (which does fall under my home discipline)..
As you can see, over the past few years most of my research activity has
been in the area of e-learning and e-learning tools. I now
consider this a major research thread. I'm particularly interested in the design of interactive scenarios and how best to embed them in courses.
Address: AH320, Institute of Natural Resources,
Private Bag 11222, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand