Thomas Reeves

Professor Thomas Reeves

Biographical note
Thomas Reeves is Professor Emeritus of Learning, Design, and Technology at The University of Georgia. He has developed and evaluated numerous interactive learning programs for education and training. In addition to numerous presentations and workshops in the USA, he has been an invited speaker in numerous other countries including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, England, Finland, Italy, Malaysia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Tunisia. He is a former Fulbright Lecturer, and a former editor of the Journal of Interactive Learning Research. His research interests include: evaluation of instructional technology, mental models and interactive multimedia, authentic learning environments, and instructional technology in developing countries. Professor Reeves is the Co-founder of the Learning and Performance Support Laboratory (LPSL) (http://lpsl.coe.uga.edu/). His teaching areas include program evaluation, instructional design, and research.

Abstract
Open Learning Requires Open Minds: The Challenges of Online and Blended Learning Environments for 'Generation Me' Students and their Instructors
Immersive Games, Virtual Reality Simulations, Social Networking, 3D Worlds, Twitter, Vodcasts.....these and other technologies are predicted to have enormous potential to enhance teaching and learning for the 21st Century learners in Australia and the rest of the developed world known variously as the Millennials, the NetGen, Generation Y, the Digital Generation, or perhaps most accurately "Generation Me." The session will address questions such as: "How are GenMe learners different from and similar to previous generations of students entering higher education?" "What blends of pedagogical strategies and technological affordances are most effective for these learners?" "How can authentic tasks and enhanced assessment strategies be used to address a comprehensive range of learning outcomes in online and blended learning environments?" "How can instructors more effectively integrate their teaching and research agendas to engage GenMe learners?" Although definitive answers cannot be provided for all these questions, feasible and researchable solutions to meeting the challenges of the Millennials will be proposed.