Keynote Speaker

Presenter: M. David Merrill
Emeritus Professor Utah State University
Visiting Professor Florida State University
Coordinator for the Development of Online Curriculum Brigham Young University – Hawaii

Title: e-learning, Problem-based Learning, Learning Communities: Is there a middle ground?

Abstract:

The goal of this presentation is to describe a learning model that incorporates the best of different approaches to instruction and combines them into an integrated approach to effective instruction.

There is a large variety of different approaches to instructional design. Each of these various approaches claim advantages to their particular approach. What is different for each of these approaches? What are the advantages of each approach? What do they have in common? What is the role of instructional design in each of these approaches? How can the best features of each approach be combined into an integrated learning model?

This presentation describes a combination of problem-based learning, learning communities, and e-learning that attempts to capitalize on the best features of each and combines them into an effective learning model for classroom and online learning environments. This model guides the development of online curriculum at Brigham Young University – Hawaii. This presentation will illustrate the model with some of the successes and challenges we have encountered. One of the major challenges is our Pacific Rim target population which consists of the Polynesian Islands, developed Asia and developing Asia. Most of our student populations are not native speakers of English adding to our challenges.

As we anticipate the future of our field we need to find ways to bring together the wide variety of approaches that have been developed into effective, efficient and engaging learning environments that incorporate the best instructional design principles with more effective use of technology all integrated in a seamless model for learning.

M. David Merrill is professor emeritus at Utah State University. He is currently an instructional effectiveness consultant, a visiting professor at Florida State University and serving as a volunteer at Brigham Young University-Hawaii where he is coordinating the development of online curriculum. His FSU teaching and BYU-Hawaii coordination are all done at a distance online from his home in St. George Utah.

Since receiving his PhD from the University of Illinois in 1964 he has served on the faculty of George Peabody College, Brigham Young University-Provo, Stanford University, the University of Southern California and Utah State University. He is internationally recognized as a major contributor to the field of instructional technology, has published many books and articles in the field and has lectured internationally. Among his principle contributions: TICCIT Authoring System 1970's, Component Display Theory and Elaboration Theory 1980's, Instructional Transaction Theory, automated instructional design and ID based on Knowledge Objects 1990's, and currently First Principles of Instruction. He was honored to receive the AECT Life Time Achievement Award. He is the owner of the Ascape Tennsion & Sulphur Gulch Railroad. He and his wife Kate have a combined family of 9 children and 37 + 6 (by marriage) grandchildren which he claims as his most important accomplishment.