about me

whitehartI currently research, design, and develop technology-assisted learning systems for Iowa’s Area Education Agencies’ online learning group.

Unlike many of my peers in the field of educational technology, my initial career was in computer science rather than in classroom teaching. It was while working with corporate online training systems that I became interested in the ways computers could best be used for learning and teaching. This led to a return to college with an emphasis on education, and ultimately to earning my Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instructional Technology.

My research interests include (most recently): computer game design and STEM education; the uses of mobile technologies in education; the adoption of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) for curriculum development; technology integration in the classroom; and constructivist instructional design of online learning and teaching.

From 2007-2012 I volunteered as webmaster and online technical advisor for Preservation Iowa, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to enhancing Iowa’s economic and cultural future through the preservation of historic resources. As a result of this work, I was one of the recipients of a 2011 Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award.

During those times when I’m not sitting near a computer or nose deep in a book, I can be found with my wife Barb enjoying live music, fishing and camping, motorcycling, and traveling.