The purpose of this website is to provide insight into my research labs (SoTL and Ed Psych), what I have been asked to speak on at various institutions across the globe, my vitae, and my pedagogical beliefs (i.e, Teaching Philosophy).

To navigate this site, please choose the various links above.

Here is a little information about me:

Research Interests
I am interested in (1) defining the processes involved in mnemonic and strategic development, (2) addressing transfer and retentional issues in cognitive and learning strategies, (3) investigating the scholarship of teaching and learning, and (4) studying different pedagogical approaches to instruction across the preK through higher education populations.

Education
Ph.D. University of Nevada, Reno, Human Development & Educational Psychology (2006)
M.S. Montana State University, Applied Cognitive Psychology (2002)
B.A. University of Montana, Western, Social Science (1999)

Biography

I am a Professor of Educational Psychology in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Metropolitan State University of Denver and the Director of the Learning Assistant Program. I completed my master’s degree in applied cognitive psychology from Montana State University in 2002 and, in 2006, received a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Nevada-Reno.

In more than 110 peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and book chapters, I have explored effective pedagogical approaches to instruction in the K-16 populations. I investigate cognitive and elaborative processes, model teaching competencies, the efficacy of instructional strategies in online and face-to-face learning environments, and various other topics in the scholarship of teaching and learning. I am the lead author of An evidence-based guide to college and university teaching: Developing the model teacher and A pocket guide to online teaching: Translating the evidence-based model teaching criteria.

With more than two decades of professional teaching experience in the k-16 settings, I have garnered several awards for excellence in teaching, such as the American Psychological Association (APA), Division 2, the Society for the Teaching of Psychology’s (STP), Jane S. Halonen Award. My pedagogy focuses on learner-centered, active learning and engagement, with a specific interest in developing higher-level thinking skills that students can apply in other classes. I have dedicated my academic career to studying the improvement of classroom practices and learning. I am a member of several professional associations and served as the Vice President for Programming for the Society of the Teaching of Psychology, the past president of the Northern Rocky Mountain Educational Research Association, the President-Elect of the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, and an APA Fellow for STP.

I currently hold several positions on editorial boards, including the journals Journal of Educational Psychology, Journal of Experimental Education, Computers in the Schools, and the International Journal of Technology in Teaching and Learning, and is the Editor of the flagship journal Teaching of Psychology.