About Jon Pearce
PhD, MSc, DipEd, DipDigCon
Senior LecturerDeputy Head (Teaching & Learning)
Department of Information Systems
The University of Melbourne
Room 4.58, ICT Building, 111 Barry St, Carlton, Vic, Australia (how to get there)
Jump down this page to: Research Interests : Teaching Interests : Background :
Research Interests
My current research interests focus on the uses of highly engaging and interactive environments in a variety of contexts such as: online learning, exploring complex information spaces, eGovernment, etc. This interest grew from a background in university physics teaching in which the way students learn physics, both online and face-to-face, was a prime interest. In recent years my work has taken on a more general focus on engagement, affective computing, interactivity and multimedia.
I have been involved in computers in education since 1979 (Exidy Sorcerer days, for those who remember!) and have subsequently developed a strong interest in how we can use computers effectively to enhance students' learning of tertiary physics.
Apart from using a variety of strategies in my own teaching, I have been instrumental in initiating and managing numerous projects on multimedia development and teaching via the Web. See my Projects page.
Teaching Interests
Reasonably recent teaching within Information Systems includes two subjects designed to help students enhance their use of on-line technologies and critically evaluate the roles information technologies are playing: Multimedia and Communications (615-280) and Multimedia Design for Information Systems (615-380). I also teach part of our first-year maths subject Tools of Analysis (615-160).
In the past I have co-ordinate the Industry Projects subject (615-370) within DIS.
Previously, during the years 1993 to 1998, most of my teaching involved a second year electronics subject within the School of Physics. The subject, Electronics and Instrumentation, I completely redesigned for 1996 to incorporate an emphasis on transducers and instrumentation (see the as-it-was-in-96-copy of the subject site). It makes extensive use of the software LabView both during the laboratory sessions and the lecture sessions (some of these simulations and lecture demonstrations are downloadable in the resources section of the home page). The lectures also involved significant use of multimedia (images, simulations, circuit analysis, animations and mathematical displays) to help engage the students and motivate them to learn.
Background (Jan 2007)
I am currently a senior lecturer in the Department of Information Systems at the University of Melbourne. This position I took up mid-year, 1998, after the Science Multimedia Teaching Unit was moved into this department.
For the six years from 1993 to 1998 I was 0.5 Deputy Director of the Science Multimedia Teaching Unit and 0.5 senior lecturer in the School of Physics.
Earlier in my career I taught physics and mathematics in a high school for six years (1975 to 1980) after which I took up a position at Melbourne College of Advanced Education (1981) as lecturer in physics and computer education. I co-ordinated a course on Computer Education there for 8 years. My interests developed in physics education, the application of computing to the learning of physics, and computer education generally. In 1991 the College (later the Institute of Education, now the Faculty of Education) amalgamated with the University of Melbourne (they shared adjoining campuses) and in 1993 I took up positions in Physics and Multimedia.
The Science Multimedia Teaching Unit was established in 1993 to encourage and support the development and application of multimedia to the teaching of Science within the University. It ceased to exist formally in mid 1998.
My main duties are now lecturing some Information Systems multimedia subjects and researching the use of information technologies in teaching and on-line learning. I retain a focus on the use of these technologies in physics education in particular.
A little history
I have been involved in computers in education since 1979 (Exidy Sorcerer days, for those who remember!) and have subsequently developed a strong interest in how we can use computers effectively to enhance students' learning of tertiary physics and to promote a strong sense of engagement while online.
Apart from using a variety of strategies in my own teaching, I have been instrumental in initiating and managing the numerous projects on multimedia development and teaching via the Web. See my Projects page.