Robert Wright | University of North Texas (original) (raw)

Papers by Robert Wright

Provide supervised guidance to distributed doctoral students in all phases of the students' appli... more Provide supervised guidance to distributed doctoral students in all phases of the students' application to the program, coursework, dissertation, and professional development.

Challenges, 2018

inVIVO Planetary Health is a progressive, humanist scientific movement promoting both evidence an... more inVIVO Planetary Health is a progressive, humanist scientific movement promoting both evidence and advocacy around concepts of planetary health which denote the interdependence between human health and place at all scales. Our seventh annual conference was held in Canmore, Alberta 4-6th April 2018, themed “Transforming Life: Unify Personal, Public, and Planetary Health” included diverse topics and perspectives to emphasise the interdependent vitality of all natural and anthropogenic ecosystems—social, political and otherwise. A key outcome of this meeting was the The Canmore Declaration: Statement of Principles for Planetary Health (published separately) which underscores that improving the health of all systems depends on: mutualistic values; planetary consciousness; advocacy; unity of purpose; recognition of biopsychosocial interdependence; emotional bonds between people and the land; efforts to counter elitism, social dominance and marginalization; meaningful cross-sectoral and c...

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This paper examines the changes that 20th Century Minds must undergo if they are to successfully ... more This paper examines the changes that 20th Century Minds must undergo if they are to successfully design interactive multimedia for today's learners. The classroom practices, learning theories, and cognitive processes that shaped instructional developers, technologists, and teachers educated in the 20 th Century differ from those required for 21 st Century learning. Raised and educated before computer use—both within and outside of education—was commonplace, educational professionals must now utilize theories, strategies, and practices with which they are unfamiliar. Just as important, they must overcome a view of interactive multimedia that differs greatly from those they seek to educate.

iConference 2016 Proceedings

Lead undergraduate-, graduate-, and doctoral-level online courses in Learning Technologies and Ed... more Lead undergraduate-, graduate-, and doctoral-level online courses in Learning Technologies and Educational Computing. Have conducted courses in Moodle, Blackboard, Schoology, and Canvas environments. Courses that I have taught include:
• LTEC 3440 Introduction to Instructional Technology
• CECS 5030 Foundations of Learning Technologies
• CECS 5110 Multimedia in Technology Applications
• LTEC 5111 (formerly CECS 5111) Introduction to Video Technology/LTEC 4210
Digital Multimedia in Education and Training
• LTEC 5300 Cognition & Learning
• CECS 5420 / LTEC 3260 Web Authoring
• CECS 5510 Technology Based Learning Environments
• CECS 5610 Analysis of Research in Educational Technology
• LTEC 5040 (formerly CECS 5800) Online Design and Pedagogy
• CECS 6010 Theories and Foundational Readings in Instructional and Learning
Technologies
• CECS 6020 Advanced Instructional Design: Models and Strategies
• LTEC 6040 Theory and Practice of Distributed Learning
• LTEC 6512 Analysis of Qualitative Research in Learning Technologies

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2014

: This research utilized both standard quantitative measurements and established qualitative sc... more : This research utilized both standard quantitative measurements and established qualitative scaling methods to identify student attitudes towards instructors’ rapport-building traits and their preferences amongst instructors’ rapport-building practices in online learning environments. The study employed a Likert-item assessment of learners’ attitudes, the identification and prioritization of learner preferences through pairwise comparisons, and semi-structured interviews that provided richer, more detailed information. Findings indicated a strong preference for instructor-based traits and practices over pedagogically-based ones. These traits and practices loaded into the components of Social Presence, Enjoyable Interaction, and Personal Connection.

This paper reports on the findings of one segment of a larger triangulated study of student views... more This paper reports on the findings of one segment of a larger triangulated study of student views towards instructors’ rapport-building traits and practices in online learning environments. Participants were undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in courses within an educational technology program at a central Texas university. This part of the study employed a mixed-methods approach involving a Likert-item assessment of learners’ preferences and semi-structured interviews that provided more-detailed information. Findings indicated a strong preference for behavior-based traits over pedagogically-based ones. These traits loaded into the components of Social Presence, Enjoyable Interaction, and Personal Connection.

This paper examines how narrative-centered learning environments are establishing themselves as a... more This paper examines how narrative-centered learning environments are establishing themselves as affordable and effective alternatives to traditional text-based delivery models, static computer-based tutoring systems, and immersive, role-playing computer game-based resources. Drawing upon long-standing cultural traditions while embodying constructivist principles and relying on cognitive theories that detail the
processing of word-driven information, narrative-centered learning environments arequietly, and quite naturally, winning over the minds of educators and students alike.

Using a personal mobile device in the contemporary American classroom often results in the confis... more Using a personal mobile device in the contemporary American classroom often results in the confiscation of the device and detention for the student. As educators strive for 1:1 computing, they will look to such cell phone computers as Blackberrys, iPhones, and other hand-held “smart” devices as useful resources, due to their low price point, user familiarity and acceptance, and increasingly robust features and functions. This article examines the elements for successful deployment: planning and practical considerations for implementation, the elements of successful professional development in regards to technology usage, and the changes in pedagogy that will be required if mobile devices are to effectively enter the educational arena. The primary goal of this review is to provide administrators, teachers, and technical support staff with the foundation from which to build their strategic and tactical frameworks.

Distance Learning Technology, Current Instruction, and the Future of Education: Applications of Today, Practices of Tomorrow, 2010

This paper examines the changes that Twentieth Century Minds must undergo if they are to successf... more This paper examines the changes that Twentieth Century Minds must undergo if they are to successfully
design for today’s distance learners. Traditional classroom practices must be adapted to accommodate the
interactive and distributed nature that defines effective contemporary distance learning. The learning
theories, cognitive processes, and educational media that shaped the minds of instructional developers,
technologists, and teachers who were born in the Twentieth Century differ from those required for
Twenty-first Century learning. Raised and educated before computers were personal, in an era when
distance learning consisted of adult education correspondence courses or head-in-a-box instructional
television, and when instruction delivery was teacher-centered, educational professionals must now utilize
theories, strategies, practices, and resources that are foreign to their learning backgrounds and
experiences. Just as important, they must overcome views of interactive media and distance learning that
differ greatly from those they seek to educate.

Students at a north central Texas health science center annually recognize exemplary faculty memb... more Students at a north central Texas health science center annually recognize exemplary faculty members. Comments focus on what the instructors bring to the learning environment. Students’ comments regarding effective and quality teaching support related discussions in existing literature. Faculty teaching strategy has shifted from the traditional teacher-centered approach to a more learner-centered approach; but practices range from no technology use to varying degrees of technology integration. Guided by discussions in contemporary literature, this study seeks to identify how technology impacts the practices and strategies of message design that serves as the foundation for effective instruction.

This paper examines the changes that 20th Century Minds must undergo if they are to successfully... more This paper examines the changes that 20th Century Minds must undergo if they are
to successfully design interactive multimedia for today’s learners. The classroom practices,
learning theories, and cognitive processes that shaped instructional developers, technologists,
and teachers educated in the 20th Century differ from those required for 21st Century learning.
Raised and educated before computer use—both within and outside of education—was
commonplace, educational professionals must now utilize theories, strategies, and practices
with which they are unfamiliar. Just as important, they must overcome a view of interactive
multimedia that differs greatly from those they seek to educate.

Conference Presentations by Robert Wright

Abstract Online instruction continues to play an increasing role in secondary education. While st... more Abstract
Online instruction continues to play an increasing role in secondary education. While strides have been made in both the number and variety of offerings, providing the interactions of the traditional classroom remains problematic. The benefits of rapport, in both traditional and online classes, include improved classroom and course management, higher student motivation, enhanced communication between students and instructors, and improved learning outcomes. Strong rapport in online learning environments is viewed positively by both students and faculty members. However, answers to the question as to which instructor traits support the building of rapport remains largely unanswered.
Keywords: rapport; social presence; online instruction; distance learning; mixed methods
Citation:

Challenges, 2018

iConference 2016 Proceedings

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2014

Distance Learning Technology, Current Instruction, and the Future of Education: Applications of Today, Practices of Tomorrow, 2010

This paper examines the changes that 20th Century Minds must undergo if they are to successfully... more This paper examines the changes that 20th Century Minds must undergo if they are
to successfully design interactive multimedia for today’s learners. The classroom practices,
learning theories, and cognitive processes that shaped instructional developers, technologists,
and teachers educated in the 20th Century differ from those required for 21st Century learning.
Raised and educated before computer use—both within and outside of education—was
commonplace, educational professionals must now utilize theories, strategies, and practices
with which they are unfamiliar. Just as important, they must overcome a view of interactive
multimedia that differs greatly from those they seek to educate.

Student-Teacher Interaction in Online Learning Environments provides successful strategies and pr... more Student-Teacher Interaction in Online Learning Environments provides successful strategies and procedures for developing policies to bring about an awareness of the practices that enhancemnonline learning. This reference book provides building blocks to help improve the outcomen of online coursework and discusses social presence to help improve performance, interaction,
and a sense of community for all participants in an online arena. This book is of essential use to online educators, administrators, researchers, and students.