Patrick Lowenthal

Patrick Lowenthal is a Professor of Educational Technology at Boise State University, where he conducts research on social presence, online learning communities, and educational technology implementation. Previously, he served as an Instructional Designer at Boise State University and as an Academic Technology Coordinator at CU Online (University of Colorado Denver).

Dr. Lowenthal's research interests focus primarily on the Community of Inquiry framework, with special emphasis on social presence in online environments. His work explores how digital storytelling, synchronous video communication, Twitter, and other technologies can enhance social presence and community development in online courses. He also investigates accessibility in online learning, visual design principles for course development, and the quality of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). His research consistently addresses practical applications for improving online teaching and learning experiences.

Analysis of Dr. Lowenthal's recent publications (2021-2024) reveals a strong focus on contemporary challenges in online education, including visual design in course development, validation of social presence measurement tools, accessible and inclusive learning environments, and students' perceptions of video feedback. His work demonstrates a consistent thread connecting theoretical frameworks like Community of Inquiry with practical applications for online instructors.

Dr. Lowenthal has collaborated extensively with researchers across institutions, particularly with Amy Lomellini on accessibility research, and has contributed to the field through numerous publications in journals such as Education and Information Technologies, TechTrends, and The Internet and Higher Education. His work bridges theory and practice in educational technology, with implications for faculty development, instructional design, and online course quality assurance.