Keynote speaker to debunk myths around teaching with technology


Curtis Bonk (right), an education psychology and systems technology professor from Indiana University, will speak about myths and debates around the benefits of technology integration in higher education. His address is in celebration of the official opening of the Seneca/York TEL Institute in the new Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Building on the Keele campus.


On Monday, Dec. 8 from 10:30am to noon, in room 0001, TEL Building, Bonk will present “Active Learning with Technology: Myths, Magic or Just a lot of Bonk”.


Basing his talk on extensive research, Bonk will attempt to dispel myths related to the sophistication of instructional technologies; elaborate on the difficulty of teaching with technology, particularly time constraints and common obstacles; and offer possible supports.


In addition, Bonk will highlight instructional technologies and pedagogical strategies currently emerging to meet diverse student needs. He will provide dozens of active learning ideas and solutions that motivate students and creatively engage them in deeper learning experiences. These techniques will be based on 10 motivational principles related to tone or climate, feedback, engagement, meaningfulness, choice, variety, curiosity, tension, interactivity and collaboration, and goal setting.


On Dec. 8, visit Curt Bonk to view the event live.


Bonk’s presentation is sponsored by York’s Institute for Research on Learning Technologies, Faculty of Arts and Centre for the Support of Teaching; and Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology’s Office of Research & Innovation and Centre for Professional Development.


More about Curt Bonk


President of CourseShare and SurveyShare, Bonk is a former CPA and corporate controller who is now a professor of educational psychology as well as instructional systems technology at Indiana University (IU). He is also a founding member of the Center for Research on Learning and Technology at IU and a senior research fellow with the Advanced Distributed Learning Lab in Washington, DC.


Bonk received the Burton Gorman Teaching Award in 1999, the Wilbert Hites Mentoring Award in 2000, the CyberStar Award from the Indiana Information Technology Association in 2002, and the Most Outstanding Achievement by an Individual in Higher Education Award from the US Distance Learning Association in 2003. He also received a State of Indiana award for Innovative Teaching in a Distance Education Program in 2003.


Bonk has written more than 100 publications, including a 1998 book, Electronic Collaborators, that was cited as a Breakthrough Book in Lingua Franca magazine.