Michael Greer teaches online courses in writing, publishing, and multimedia at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and develops content for higher ed publishers at his editorial service, Development by Design. Michael also edits a new digital journal, Research in Online Literacy Education, published by the Global Society of Online Literacy Educators. A former director of publications at the National Council of Teachers of English, Michael has worked in educational publishing for more than twenty years. In addition to editing college textbooks in composition and technical communication, Michael has developed content for mobile and digital products from a number of leading publishers. Michael’s current research interests include video games, the science of learning, and online course design. Michael is a frequent contributor to Beyond the Book, a podcast series on the business of writing and publishing. He lives in Colorado with his wife, Brenda Hadenfeldt, and their two cats.
In July 2006, we began working together on a series of studies designed to assess the usability o... more In July 2006, we began working together on a series of studies designed to assess the usability of a new college writing handbook. Our purpose here is to report on these usability studies and their implications concerning the methods for bringing user experience design principles into the product development cycle in educational publishing. Our successful collaboration has demonstrated how a pilot project which was originally intended only to demonstrate the value of usability testing to the revision of textbooks eventually impacted the product development process for a major publisher. Specifically, we found that exploring the limits of complexity in the handbooks we tested helped us move from what we call an accommodationist model of textbook design to a constructivist model.
Online writing instruction is a process of design that includes both spatial and temporal dimensi... more Online writing instruction is a process of design that includes both spatial and temporal dimensions. Ideally, this process brings together design and pedagogy to move students through their online writing work successfully. Institutionally mandated LMS platforms often constrain this process. This article establishes three design principles and concepts for designing learning environments that take into account both space and time as designed elements of online classes. Applying the principles of backward design, modular content, and student choice to course design can help instructors design more thoughtful, participatory classes centered on student learning and instructor presence.
In July 2006, we began working together on a series of studies designed to assess the usability o... more In July 2006, we began working together on a series of studies designed to assess the usability of a new college writing handbook. Our purpose here is to report on these usability studies and their implications concerning the methods for bringing user experience design principles into the product development cycle in educational publishing. Our successful collaboration has demonstrated how a pilot project which was originally intended only to demonstrate the value of usability testing to the revision of textbooks eventually impacted the product development process for a major publisher. Specifically, we found that exploring the limits of complexity in the handbooks we tested helped us move from what we call an accommodationist model of textbook design to a constructivist model.
Online writing instruction is a process of design that includes both spatial and temporal dimensi... more Online writing instruction is a process of design that includes both spatial and temporal dimensions. Ideally, this process brings together design and pedagogy to move students through their online writing work successfully. Institutionally mandated LMS platforms often constrain this process. This article establishes three design principles and concepts for designing learning environments that take into account both space and time as designed elements of online classes. Applying the principles of backward design, modular content, and student choice to course design can help instructors design more thoughtful, participatory classes centered on student learning and instructor presence.
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