research

Computer Game Design and Development in Education

This goal of this project is to investigate how introducing middle and high school students to the multidisciplinary process of computer game design and development relates to improvements in student STEM skills. Students will learn the foundational concepts of computer game design, along with mathematical and programming knowledge, that they can use to develop their own games. The project curriculum is delivered to students via an innovative online personalized learning system that tailors the pace of and approach to instruction to meet students’ individual needs and interests.

Course content is currently under development, with the first student enrollment scheduled for the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.

Mobile Learning Technologies (mLearning)

At the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year I collected data for a research project that investigates learning and teaching with mobile learning technologies. For the purposes of this study the mobile learning technologies under consideration are tablets, eBook readers, smartphones, and digital music players. The participants in the study are inservice teachers within the state of Iowa.

  • Howard, M. (2013). Learning and Teaching with mLearning Technologies: Attitudes, Evaluation, and Adoption. In R. McBride & M. Searson (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2013 (pp. 549-553). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK)

In the fall of 2010 I concluded a study that investigates the relationship between technology usage in the classrooms of inservice teachers, and their assessment of the integration of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) in online professional development courses. The purpose of the study is to extend our understanding of how inservice teachers perceive technology integration into learning and teaching in a context that is used daily by teachers, teacher educators, and staff developers.

  • Howard, M. (2011). Examining the Relationship between Technology Usage in the Classroom and Assessment of Online Professional Development Courses: Conclusion of an Online Study. In M. Koehler & P. Mishra (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2011 (pp. 1538-1542). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
  • Howard, M. (2009). Examining the Relationship between Technology Usage in the Classroom and the Assessment of Online Professional Development Courses. In I. Gibson et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 2009 (pp. 1216-1220). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
Technology Integration into the Classroom

During the 2005 and 2006 school years I was a researcher with the Teaching Teachers to Use Technology – What Works and Why project. This multi-institutional project, coordinated by the University of Illinios Chicago, observes teacher educators, beginning teachers, and student teachers in the classroom to study how the learning, motivation, and interests of teacher candidates relate to effective learning environments. Formative evaluation of Iowa State University’s data presented in:

  • Howard, M. (2007). Evaluating Teacher Preparation Programs: One School’s Formative Results from the What Works and Why Project. In Carlsen, R., McFerrin, K., Price, J. Weber, R., Willis, D. A. (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 2007 (pp. 806-808). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
Instructional Design of Online Learning and Teaching

The results from my work on the design and development of online learning systems are presented in:

  • Howard, M. (2008). From Roots to Branches: Evolution of an Online Professional Development System. In C. Crawford et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 2008 (pp. 3253-3257). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
  • Howard, M. (2006). Educators’ Attitudes toward Online Professional Development. In D. A. Willis, J. Price, N. E. Davis, & R. Weber (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 2006 (pp. 920-923). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
  • Howard, M. (2005). Designing Professional and Staff Development for the Web: Part II of a Case Study. In Willis, D.A., Crawford, C., Carlsen, R., Gibson, I., McFerren, K., Price, J., & Weber, R. (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 2005 (pp. 420-421). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
  • Howard, M. (2001). Designing Professional and Staff Development for the Web: A Case Study. In Willis, D.A., Price, J., Davis N.E. & Willis, J. (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 2001. Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
  • Thompson, A., Shih, C. & Howard, M. (2000). Formative Evaluations of a Web-based Masters Program: Insights for Web-based Course Developers. In Willis, D.A., Price, J. & Willis, J. (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 2000 (pp. 2303-2308). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
  • Howard, M. (2000). Breaking with Tradition: Constructivist Development Methodologies for the Web. In Willis, D.A., Price, J. & Willis, J. (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 2000 (pp. 774-777). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
  • Howard, M. (1999). Planting a New Crop: Successful Development of a Web-based Masters Program. Paper presented at the New Frontiers in Learning conference, Brighton, UK.
  • Todey, D. P., Taylor, S. E., Dobill, D. R., Carlson, R., Born, K., Singh, N., Howard, M., & Won, J. (1999). Internet-based Agricultural Meteorology Graduate Courseware: MS in Agronomy Curriculum. 91st Annual Meeting, American Society of Agronomy, Salt Lake City, Utah.
  • Heuchelin, S. A., Dobill, D. R., Owen, M., Munkvold, G., Tollefson, J., Lefko, S., Howard, M., & Wright, K. (1999). Internet-based Integrated Pest Management Graduate Courseware: MS in Agronomy Curriculum. 91st Annual Meeting, American Society of Agronomy, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Building Online Resources for Teacher Educators

ASTUTE: A Survey for Technology Using Teacher Educators was a collaborative needs-analysis and online community resource project for teacher educators. Results presented in:

  • Gibson, D., McLaughlin, B., Sprague, D., Davis, N., Howard, M., Preston, C. & Marks, G. (2001). Community Innovations for SITE: Who is doing what with Clearinghouses and On-line Tools Development?. In Willis, D.A., Price, J., Davis N.E. & Willis, J. (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 2001 (pp. 499-501). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
Student Cooperative Learning and Collaboration

In 1997 I was a co-founder and co-chair of The Early Adopters, a student group at Iowa State University that works with graduate students and faculty in the Curriculum and Instructional Technology program to enhance their professional and technical knowledge. Observations on starting the group were presented in:

  • Walker, R., Hall, S., Sadera, W., Howard, M., & Kenton, J. (1998) Implementing a graduate technology and networking group: The Early Adopters. In Willis, D.A., Price, J. & Willis, J. (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 1998. Chesapeake, VA: AACE.