Kudos: Ferster uses grant to support research on cognitive learning; Stefaniak receives special service award for contributions to the field

Ferster uses grant to support research on cognitive learning

Amanda Ferster, a lecturer in the Department of Educational Psychology, received a Learning Technologies Grant from the University of Georgia’s Center for Teaching and Learning to support her research on cognitive learning. The grant began on Sept. 15 and will last through June 30, 2021.

Ferster developed a game, Statistical Scatter, which includes asking students in her quantitative methods classes to collaborate in teams to answer statistical task card questions. Through the game, she can integrate cognitive learning theory into the content. With support from the grant, “The Augmented Reality Statistical Scatter,” Ferster and her team will convert the hard copy of Statistical Scatter into an augmented reality mobile experience.

“The team will first storyboard the task cards,” she said. “Along the way, students may activate cognitive supports by hovering over targets with their mobile device. Varied media sources may be linked to a target—video, model, and audio file. This technology has really opened the possibilities.”

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Stefaniak receives Special Service Award for contributions to the field

The Association for Education Communications and Technology (AECT) has awarded the Special Service Award to Jill Stefaniak, an assistant professor in the Department of Career and Information Studies.

This is the association’s second-highest award and honors individuals who have provided significant service to AECT as a whole or to one of its programs, divisions, or other association activity. A nomination letter for Stefaniak stated that she “is to be commended for the recent leadership she provided to the Journal of Applied Instructional Design. Her extensive experience with instructional design provides the journal with a vision for the future.”

Stefaniak was recently appointed as co-editor of the Journal of Applied Instruction Design. Since joining the team, she has helped lead the journal’s transition to an interactive, open-education resource platform called EdTech Books to provide open access to educators and instructional designers in the field.