Staff
Karen French is the coordinator for the IDEA Studio. She holds a Ph. D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Instructional Technology as well as a Master's degree in Anthropology. She is certified to teach both Spanish and Latin and taught high school Latin for seven years. Prior to joining the IDEA Studio staff, she worked as a facilitator in the WINGS program, an online mentoring program for new teachers sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin. Karen's professional interests include training K-12 and university faculty to integrate technology into classroom instruction. Her dissertation research focuses on the role of reflection in electronic discourse and the online mentoring of novice teachers.
Royce Kimmons received his PhD from UT in Instructional Technology in 2012 and is a Post-Doctoral Research Affiliate and Instructional Designer in the College of Education. Royce's research interests include online learning, identity, social networks, and educational games.
Michelle Fulks Read is a Graduate Research Assistant in the IDEA Studio and a Doctoral candidate in Curriculum and Instruction, specializing in Learning Technologies. Michelle's professional experience includes 15 years as a teacher, Technology Integration Specialist, school web developer, and Intel Master Teacher. She holds two master's degrees, both obtained through the UT Telecampus system, in Educational Technology and Literacy Studies. Michelle's research interests include the successful and practical integration of technology in the PK20 classroom and in online learning environments, including teacher/faculty professional development. Specific topics include effective technology based teaching and learning strategies, the development of New Literacies, and digitial inequality issues.
Jaejin Lee is a Graduate Research Assistant in the IDEA Studio, and a Doctoral student in Curriculum and Instruction, specializing in Instructional Technology. He has a Master's degree in Instructional Technology. He has diverse Instructional Technology research experiences and taught several university classes in South Korea. He is a volunteer researcher in the Alien Rescue project with Dr. Min Liu, as well as participating in the Funwritr project. Major research interests include feedback systems in technology-based learning environments, motivational and emotional change through technology, and research methodology for educational technology.
John Park is a Graduate Research Assistant in the IDEA Studio and a doctoral student in Educational Psychology, specializing in Human Development, Culture, and Learning Science. John currently holds a Master's degree in Educational Technology, emphasizing Technology instruction and integration, and before joining the IDEA Studio, he worked as an instructional designer, where he designed on-line and off-line educational training program. John's research interests are the emotion and motivation on computer-based learning environment and development of self-efficacy and multiple intelligences by computer-based learning.