I am currently a doctoral candidate in Learning Technologies at Pepperdine University. For my dissertation, I am doing a feasibility study on using technology to build school-museum collaborations to provide arts education to underserved urban and rural communities. Other areas of interest are: STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) learning initiatives,multi-institution collaboration, and integration of mobile technologies for creating communities of practice and communities of learners.
My personal, academic and professional background has been diverse, yet interrelated. I have worked on a farm, served in the military, built houses, trained as an artist, received a degree in history and have been working in digital media since 1990. All of these experiences reflect my core values of a deep love of learning and a commitment to making a positive difference to society.
As a painter, I’ve used my work to understand and comment on the relationships between text, images and the human spirit. I am particularly interested in the role of public art in society and education. My work has been exhibited in Los Angeles, New York and Israel. Additionally, some of my photogrtaphy was selected to represent the city of Los Angeles in a international travelling exhibition of sister cities.
One project that I am especially proud of was when I was selected as an artist-in residence at an art center in northern Israel. There, I worked with children from the schools of the three main western faiths- Jewish, Christian and Moslem to create collaborative art projects used to to educate the children of each village about the culture and communities of the others.
For over 25 years, I have been professionally involved in developing and working with digital media, particularly in the fields of museums, education and academia. My interest and curiosity has guided my exploration in the roles that digital technology plays in enhancing learning environments and promoting community by using narrative and storytelling techniques as educational models. My academic work in education and learning is strongly influenced by the work of Lev Vygotsky, Jerome Bruner, John Dewey, Elliot Eisner, Seymour Papert, Lave & Wenger. Other creative influences in my thought process include Marshall McLuhan, Oliver Sachs, Mel Levine, Ben Shahn, Wassily Kandinsky, Jackson Pollack, and Pablo Picasso.
Professional Activities
• MESC (Museum Educators of Southern California): Technology and Social Media Chair
• Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
• The Constructivist Consortium
• New Media Consortium (NMC)
• Museums on the Web (MOW)