معرفی
Laura Dell serves as an Assistant Professor and Associate Director for eLearning in the School of Education at the University of Cincinnati's College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services & IT. With over 15 years of experience at the university, she leads eLearning initiatives that provide instructional design support for faculty and oversees program and advising support for 24 online programs serving more than 1,000 students each term across associate, bachelor's, master's, and graduate certificate programs.
Laura Dell's educational background includes:
- EdD in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Cincinnati (2018)
- MEd in Educational Studies from the University of Cincinnati (2001), with thesis on "Local Environmental Belief Systems of Urban Youth in Middle Childhood"
- BA in Zoology and Theatre from Ohio Wesleyan University (1995)
- Certificate in distance education from Indiana University
Laura Dell's research focuses on children's experiences in and conceptions of nature, with particular emphasis on how young children perceive and interact with natural environments. Her work employs innovative visual methodologies, including photovoice techniques with children and youth, to understand their perspectives on nature-based learning. She has conducted significant research on virtual reality environments and children's perceptions of presence, as well as mobile technologies in early childhood education settings. Her scholarship bridges the gap between technology integration and environmental education, exploring how digital tools can enhance rather than detract from children's connection to the natural world.
Her publication record demonstrates a consistent trajectory from practical applications of educational technology to more theoretical explorations of children's cognition and media literacy. Early in her career, Dell focused on implementing technology solutions in educational settings, particularly in international contexts such as her work in Kurdistan, Iraq. More recently, her research has shifted toward understanding children's perspectives through innovative methodological approaches, with a growing emphasis on nature-based education and children's relationships with the environment.
Laura Dell has received notable recognition for her work:
- 2005 Emmy Nomination for Instructional Media at the 41st Annual Midwest Regional EMMY Awards for "Safe Passage," a Multimedia Social Studies and Language Arts Curriculum for Grades 6-9
As an academic leader, Dell has successfully secured multiple grants, including a $600,000 Cooperative Agreement from the Department of State, US Embassy in Baghdad as Co-PI for the Alumni University project, and several NASA-funded OSGC Scholarships as Principal Investigator. She has played a pivotal role in elevating UC's online education programs, contributing to the School of Education's rise to #18 ranking for online graduate education programs by US News & World Report in 2014. Her leadership extends to coordinating relationships with vendors like Pearson Embanet and managing program support for diverse online educational offerings.
Dell leads the eLearning team within the School of Education, which provides comprehensive instructional design support and training on both online and classroom-based technologies for faculty. Her team works closely with program faculty to ensure high-quality educational experiences across all modalities, with particular attention to maintaining accreditation standards while innovating in educational delivery.
