Research & Teaching

Description of Research Interests

I am interested in researching and developing animated, interactive simulations and other learning environments for K-12 and higher education.  I also do research on conceptual change and concept inventory assessments.  I mainly specialize in engineering and science education.

 

 

Research Keywords

simulations, animation, conceptual change, engineering education, science education, embodied cognition, concept inventories, programming

Background and Experience

I graduated with an MS and PhD from Vanderbilt University and a BS from Georgia Tech.  I worked on various educational research projects including Learning by Design (middle school design-based science education), Vanth (bioengineering education), and a project to identify and address difficulties students have understanding DC and AC circuit behavior.

 

 

Selected Publications and Presentations

 

Book Chapters

• Holton, D.L. (accepted). Towards a nation of educoders: A roadmap for sustainably broadening and improving open source educational software. Open-Source and Freeware Solutions in Education: In Theory and in Practice.

• Holton, D.L., & Verma, A. (in press). Designing Animated Simulations and Web-based Assessments to Improve Engineering Education. In A.K. Haghi & D.L. Russell (Eds.), Web-Based Engineering Education: Critical Design and Effective Tools. IGI Global.

• Holton, D.L. (2010). How People Learn with Computer Simulations. In H. Song & T.T. Kidd (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Human Performance and Instructional Technology. IGI Global.
  

• Holton, D.L. (2009). Using Moodle to Teach Constructivist Learning Design Skills to Adult Learners. In T.T. Kidd & J. Keengwe (Eds.), Adult Learning in the Digital Age: Perspectives on Online Technologies and Outcomes. IGI Global.
  

Journal Articles

• Holton, D.L. (under review). Department 2.0: Re-Envisioning the School Website as a Platform for Developing Professional Identities. in education. [formerly Policy and Practice in Education]

• Holton, D.L. (2009). Blended learning with Drupal.  Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, 5(2).

• Hmelo, C., Holton, D.L., & Kolodner, J. (2000). Designing to learn about complex systems. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 9, 247-298.

• Schwartz, D.L., & Holton, D.L. (2000). Tool use and the effect of action on the imagination. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, & Cognition, 26, 1655-1665.

• Duschl, R.A., Deak, G.O., Ellenbogen, K.M., & Holton, D.L. (1999). Developmental and educational perspectives on theory change: To have and to hold, or to have and hone? Science and Education, 8(5), 525-542.

Conference Papers

• Holton, D.L., & Verma, A. (submitted). Enhancing a Circuit Simulation with Contrasting Cases.  2010 AERA Conference.

• Holton, D.L. (submitted). Constructivism + Embodied Cognition = Enactivism: Theoretical and Practical Implications for Conceptual Change. 2010 AERA Conference.

• Holton, D.L., & Verma, A. (2009). Using the AC/DC circuits concept inventory to inform the design of a circuit simulation and instructional strategy.  ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference. San Antonio, TX.

• Holton, D.L., Verma, A., & Biswas, G. (2008). Assessing student difficulties in understanding the behavior of AC and DC circuits. Proceedings of the 2008 ASEE Annual Conference. Pittsburgh, PA.

• Holton, D.L. (2007). Rapid Conceptual Change with an Embodied Control Interface to a Circuit Simulation. Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Chicago, IL.

• Holton, D.L., et al. (2003). Noticing what does not change in dynamic systems: Using invariants to help students understand electric circuit behavior. Presented at the 2003 Meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Chicago, IL.

• Schulze, B., Meyerson, P., & Holton, D.L. (2001). Learning history in context: Reconceptualizing historical information in a computer-based knowledge creation environment. Presented at the 2001 Meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Seattle, WA.
  

Conference Presentations

• [symposium] Holton, D.L. (submitted). Embodied and Enactive Approaches to Instruction: Implications and Innovations. 2010 AERA Conference.

• Holton, D.L. (2009). Customizing virtual worlds for education. International Symposium on Virtual Worlds in Education. South Korea.

• Holton, D.L. (2009). Using a concept inventory to inform the design of instruction and software.  2009 ASEE Rocky Mountain Section Conference.  Orem, UT.

• Holton, D.L. (2007). Embodiment and the Learning Sciences: Taking the body seriously when designing learning environments and technologies. Conference on Cognition: Embodied, Embedded, Enactive, Extended. Orlando, FL.

 

Professional Memberships

American Educational Research Association, International Society of the Learning Sciences, American Society for Engineering Education, International Technology Education Association, MERLOT

Other Skills

I have experience developing software applications for Windows, Macintosh, and Linux. I have been
developing educational software prototypes and websites for over ten years.

Programming and Web Development Skills

Scala, Java, C#, Python, C/C++, 3D programming, PHP & MySQL, Real basic. I contributed to various open source projects including a new programming language for .NET and Mono.

Software and Web Projects

• E-Team multimedia authoring tool
• Herodotus – a history timeline/mapping tool
• Various plugins, classes and tutorials for Real basic and .NET libraries
• 3D mental rotation simulation (C and OpenGL)
• Nodicity – animated electrical circuit simulation (Java)
• Department 2.0 - Drupal-based web package for departments and schools
• (in design) - a programming language and development environment for beginners
• Development with various PHP tools and applications including Drupal and Moodle
  
  • A Moodle site for an Advanced Learning Design course
  • This drupal-based web site, which features integrated blogs, wikis, groups, photo galleries, etc.

 

 

Student Advisement

People

MEd Students

• 2010
  • Trina Smith
  • Jennifer Mathis
  • Paul Cobb
  • Camille Clegg-Patch
  • Lori Halls
  • John Sanchez
• 2009
  • Brenda Florence
  • Ronald Bradley
  • Meriah Becker
  • Janet Rouse
  • Sonya Duke
  • Brice Wiliams
  • Julie Marsh
  • John Vasas
  • Brent Ludlow
  • Anne Reese
  • Kyle Morton
• 2008
  • Afton Brown
  • Karyn Allen

MS Students

• 2010
  
  • Carrie Wang
  • Eric Stokes
  • Eric Scholer
  • Mark Saltern
  • Nazneen Malik (CS)
  • Mikaylie Kartchner
• 2009
  • Yan Ma
  • Bodie Brower
  • Rachel Lavery
  • Joe Black (ETE)

 

PhD Students

• Preston Parker

PhD Committees

• Jon Nelson
• Jon Scoresby
• Young-Ah Ko
• Beiji Xu
• John Roe
• Dorothy Little
• Wei Zhai
• Bobbe McGhie Allen
• Jim Croasmun (BYU-Idaho)
• Kami Hanson
• Rob Barton
• Matthew Lammi (ETE)
• Peter Blair
• Defended:
  • Anne Arendt (May 2009)
  • Sean Duncan (June 2008)

 

 

Related content

Project

• AC/DC Circuits Concept Inventory
• Department 2.0
• Nodicity Circuit Simulation
• Embodied Learning Design

Course

• INST 6530: Instructional Design and Development Studio
• INST 5205: Computer Applications for Instruction and Training
• INST 7150: Advanced Seminar in Instructional Technology
• INST 5265: Internet Development
• INST 6265: Internet Development
• INST 6355: Instructional Design Process II
• INST 6310: Foundations of Educational Technology
• INST 5275: Multimedia Special Topics Studio