Dr. Linda Apps

Assistant Professor

Centre for Distance Education
Athabasca University

B.A. Fine Arts

M.A. Educational Technology

Ph.D. Art Education (ABD)

Tel: (604) 739-7994
Email: linda.apps@shaw.ca

I have only recently joined the staff at Athabasca University and am looking forward to teaching in the Master of Distance Education program.

I am currently a PhD candidate at Simon Fraser University in Art Education. Although art education may seem somewhat removed from adult education and development I have found my background in art to be one of my most valuable tools for course development. I have an undergraduate degree in Fine Art from the Alberta College of Art and Design and a Master's degree in Educational Technology from the University of Calgary.

During my Masters program I became interested in the production and delivery of computer-based training. It was during this time that I began working more closely with authoring tools such as Director and Flash in an educational context. My first work in the field of instructional design was with a company that was developing simulation training for the Department of National Defense. What fun it was to build training that incorporated a wide range of multimedia components. I piqued my interest in wanting to understand more thoroughly the salient factors in effective course development and what role imagery, simulation and animation play in teaching and learning.

I have now worked in the field of adult education in both corporate and post-secondary educational institutions for the past seven years. I have worked as an instructional designer and project manager developing blended, computer-based, online and face to face training. I work closely with faculty and trainers to ensure that they are comfortable with, and involved in every aspect of the development of their courses. Given the restraints of time, cost, and resources, I always consider the practicality and efficacy of incorporating multimedia components into adult teaching and learning.

My research has recently branched off to include the fields of arts-based inquiry and learner process. I am interested in how learners move through the process of building knowledge heuristically. Also how visual imagery can be used in inquiry to explore personal, social and political issues.

 

CDE - Last Updated by MK December 03, 2010