About

Rand Spiro is Professor of Educational Psychology at Michigan State University. Much of his research is concerned with the question, “How should learning proceed so that tendencies toward conceptual oversimplification are counteracted and a wide range of future applications of knowledge are supported?” A central part of his research program involves the development and testing of theory-based hypermedia learning environments designed to promote cognitive flexibility. He is the senior editor of this volume.

Liz Owens Boltz is a doctoral student in the Educational Psychology and Educational Technology program at Michigan State University. Her research interests involve learning with videogames, particularly in complex and ill-structured learning domains. Prior to her studies at MSU, Liz managed the website, mobile site, and other web-based applications for a private university in Ohio.

Cui Cheng is a doctoral student in the Educational Psychology and Educational Technology program at Michigan State University. Her research involves reading and learning on the open Web, especially for problem solving in ill-structured domains. She is particularly interested in the metacognitive processes necessary for online reading and learning.

Mike DeSchryver is Assistant Professor of Educational Technology at Central Michigan University. He is a graduate of the MSU Educational Psychology and Educational Technology doctoral program. His research involves Web-mediated knowledge synthesis and creative thinking. Prior to his university work, Mike taught, coached, and administered technology programs in K-12 schools for over ten years.

Michelle Schira Hagerman directs the Graduate Certificate Programs in Educational Technology and Online Teaching and Learning at Michigan State University. She is a graduate of MSU’s doctoral program in Educational Psychology and Educational Technology. Her research examines instructional methods that support online reading and synthesis, especially for adolescents as they engage in inquiry projects on school-related topics. Before MSU, she taught French as a Second Language for nine years in Canada.

Rohit Mehta is a doctoral student in the Educational Psychology and Educational Technology program at Michigan State University. His research interests revolve around visual and media literacy, scientific literacy, and reading and composing in multimodal environments. Before coming to MSU, Rohit taught wireless and mobile communication to electrical engineering majors for three years in India.

Paul Morsink is a doctoral candidate in the Educational Psychology and Educational Technology program at Michigan State University. His research interests include online reading comprehension, the role of learners’ epistemic stance in shaping online learning trajectories, and teachers’ development of expertise for teaching with technology. Before starting the doctoral program, Paul taught middle school, high school, and college English for fourteen years.

Penny Thompson is Assistant Professor of Educational Technology at Oklahoma State University and is a graduate of the MSU Educational Psychology and Educational Technology doctoral program. Her research interests revolve around how immersion in digital technology might influence students’ study strategies and attitudes toward learning. She is also interested in how learners interact with each other in online environments.