Aimee Whiteside
Research and Evaluation Consultant
I joined the Digital Media Center (DMC) in July 2007 as a research and evaluation consultant. My role involves assisting instructors and staff with assessment needs for technology-enhanced learning as well as conducting evaluations of technology-enhanced learning programs. I provide consultations with instructors and staff that range from answering general questions about qualitative and quantitative research to assisting with technology-enhanced assessment design to collaborating on multi-year research projects. I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with faculty, graduate students, and instructional staff on research projects.
Background
Before joining the DMC, I worked as a technical communicator for various organizations and as a graduate instructor and curriculum coordinator at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. I received a B.A. degree in 1996 from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire (double major in history and English—Technical Writing). Then, after working as a full-time technical communicator for four years, I went on to pursue a certificate in adult learning technology integration in 2001, an M.S. degree in scientific and technical communication in 2002, and a Ph.D. in rhetoric and scientific and technical communication in 2007 at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. I have taught seven different courses at the University, including first-year writing, technical writing, collaborative learning, Internet communication, and instructional technology. I have also had the privilege of serving as a curriculum coordinator for a 15-credit graduate-level certificate program in school technology leadership in the Department of Educational Policy and Administration. As curriculum coordinator, I collaborated with the course instructors to develop the curriculum for a number of courses, and I designed online modules using the WebVista learning management system.
Dissertation Research
In August 2007, I completed my dissertation research, which explores social presence among students and instructors within a hybrid learning program. My research combined a vast amount of literature in a number of related fields, including learning environments, computer-mediated learning, computer-mediated communication (CMC), instructional communication technologies (ICT), computers and writing, learning communities, cultural studies, linguistics, and technical communication. This study employed Vygotsky's sociocultural methodology as well as case study and discourse analysis methods to examine two years of data in a graduate-level certificate program. In this dissertation, I found that learners' knowledge and experience as well as instructor involvement have a profound impact on student connectedness and student learning, and these factors had not been previously considered in the social presence coding scheme.
Current Projects
I’m currently working on some exciting projects. For example, I have the privilege of working with the co-leads of the DMC Faculty Fellows Program, Kim Wilcox and Lauren Marsh, to provide assessment assistance to our current and past faculty fellows. I am also evaluating two amazing active learning classrooms (64 BioSciences and 2-260 EE-CSci) in a partnership between the Office of Information Technology (OIT) and the Office of Classroom Management (OCM). Below are some recent presentations:
“Language Awareness Panel: Building Language Awareness in the Technical Communication Curriculum,” Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication Annual Conference, October 2007.
“Exploring Social Presence in Hybrid Learning Environments,” Association for Teachers of Technical Writing Annual Conference, March 2006.
“Opening the Shades of Isolationism: Social Presence within Hybrid Learning Media,” New Media Research Conference, September 2005.
“Spring your Students into Action: Activity Theory in Learning Environments,” Classrooms of the Future Annual Conference, May 2005.
“Guiding School Leaders to Distinguish Effective K-12 Technology Integration Efforts,” TIES Annual Educational Conference, December 2004, with Dr. Joan Hughes.
“Creating a Graduate-Level Certificate Program for School Leaders: A Blended Learning, Learner-Centered Architecture,” Classrooms of the Future Annual Conference, May 2004, with Drs. Joan Hughes and Scott McLeod.
“Who Wants to Learn Grammar: Implementing an E-Learning Solution to Engage Students in Grammar,” Classrooms of the Future Annual Conference, May 2002.
On a Personal Note
The only thing I’m more passionate about than technology-enhanced teaching and learning is my family. I’m blessed to have a very kind, supportive husband, Jeff, and two beautiful children, Zachary and Alexa. On weekends, you can find me playing with the kids, going to the zoo, and visiting with family and friends.
Contact Information
| E-mail: | aimee@umn.edu |
| Phone: | 612-625-2124 |
| Office: | 212 Walter Library |
