Steve Whitaker, Ph.D.

1420 Singleton Lane | Charlottesville, VA 22903

(434) 962-0710

steve.whitaker@gmail.com stevewhitaker.net

 

Profile

I am an award-winning K-12 teacher with a Ph.D. in Instructional Technology/Instructional Design and a Master’s degree in Secondary Education. I understand what it means to be in a challenging classroom and bridge the gap between practice and research. I possess a broad range of abilities and knowledge, including strong interpersonal and communication skills. I’m an excellent teacher, a motivated learner, and a strong leader.

 

Education

  • Ph.D., Instructional Technology. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 2003.
  • M.A. Ed., Secondary Social Studies Education. College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, 1999.
  • B.A., History and Anthropology. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 1994.

 

Research Interests

  • Investigating the impact of of emerging and established technologies on teaching and student outcomes;
  • Developing appropriate and realistic supports to help K-12 teachers integrate technology into their classrooms;
  • Exploring the use of digital media, including social media and collaborative tools, as means of aiding students’ understanding of content.

Experience

Classroom Teacher, Albemarle County Public Schools, Charlottesville, VA. 2018-present

  • Plan and teach eighth-grade science and civics courses;

  • Collaborate with other grade-level and content-area teachers;

  • Lead school’s science department as chair;

  • Plan and conduct professional development sessions for other teachers, including use of AI tools and other instructional technology;

  • Participate in school’s leadership team, responsible for policy decisions that drive school practices;

  • Run extra-curricular activities, including trivia team

Instructional Technology Resource Teacher, Charlottesville City Schools, Charlottesville, VA. 2015-2016

  • Planned and taught Professional Development courses for Charlottesville City Schools teachers, including
    • Teaching and Learning with Canvas;
    • Time Management Using Google Apps;
    • An Overview of Google Apps for Educators;
    • Using Google Classroom;
  • Collaborated with K-6 teachers at Clark Elementary School (grades K-4) and Walker Upper Elementary School (grades 5-6) to develop and teach technology-infused lessons in support of state, local, and national standards of learning. Lessons included
    • Using digital video to support science, social studies, literacy, and library/research skills;
    • Exploring robotics, both as part of the curriculum and in after-school enrichment programs;
    • Employing Chromebooks, iPads, and other ubiquitous devices for a wide variety of teaching and learning purposes;
    • Engaging with digital simulations to further students’ understandings of key concepts, especially in the areas of science and mathematics;
    • Using measuring devices such as infrared thermometers, handheld anemometers, and

multimeters to investigate and experiment in the science classrooms;

  • Building functioning models of real-world phenomenon, such as electrical circuits and various force operators in physics; and
  • Adopting the “Maker” philosophy to allow students hands-on, authentic, enjoyable experiences that connect directly to learning objectives.
  • Explored new teaching and learning tools for grades K-6, including
    • Evaluating and recommending adoption or rejection of new teaching and learning tools;
    • Writing support documentation and developing appropriate training for teachers to use new tools;
    • Developing and teaching sample lessons employing new tools in support of the curriculum;
    • Follow-up evaluation of teachers’ and students’ opinions of new tools.
  • Participated in faculty/staff groups, including various Professional Learning Communities for different content areas; a district-wide joint Media Specialist-Instructional Technology team; the district’s Instructional Technology Policy Group; and school-wide staff meetings.

 

Assistant Professor, Longwood University, Longwood, VA. 2010-2014.

  • Planned and taught undergraduate- and graduate-level courses, including
    • Longwood Seminar (LSEM 100)
    • Human Growth and Development (EDUC 245)
    • Foundations of Education (EDUC 260)
    • Media and Technology (EDUC 381)
    • Principles of Instruction, K-8 (EDUC 450)
    • Curriculum in the Elementary School (EDUC 451)
    • Principles of Secondary Education (EDUC 455)
    • Graduate Instructional Media and Technology (EDUC 547)
  • Conducted original scholarship and research, including inquiries into
    • Team-Based Learning
    • Time and task management and student academic outcomes
    • Case studies
  • Provided service to the University and Community
    • Member, Learning Management System Evaluation Committee, 2012-2014.
    • Member, Longwood Academic Committee for Technology, 2011-2014.
    • Member, Group Six Team for Instructional Technology, 2012-2014.
    • Member, Educational Programs Compliance Team for SACS reaffirmation, Longwood University, 2011-2013.
    • Chair, Technology and Learning Committee, Longwood University College of Education, 2010-2014.
    • Member, Grants and Research Committee, Longwood University College of Education,

2010-2014.

  • Faculty Advisor, Kappa Delta Pi Education Honors Society, 2011-2014.
  • Faculty Advisor, Liberal Studies program of study, 2011-2014.

 

Faculty Research Scientist, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. 2006-2010. Faculty Research Associate, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. 2003-2006.

  • Planned and taught the required graduate-level Instructional Design course sequence (EDLF 800/801) and corresponding lab courses (EDLF 800L/801L).
  • Planned and taught the graduate-level Digital Multimedia course (EDLF 703).
  • Planned and taught the required undergraduate Teaching with Technology course (EDLF 345).
  • Served as academic advisor for doctoral students’ programs of study and research agendas.
  • Served on dissertation committees, including duty as co-chair.

 

Technology Director, Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. 2003-2010.

  • Planned, developed, deployed, and supported all technology utilized in multiple multi-million dollar research projects. Products included web-based supports; assessment tools; digital media; and administrative tracking systems. Affiliated grants included
    • Education Research and Development Centers (USDE/IES R305A060021)
    • Evaluation of Colorado Core Knowledge Schools (USDE/IES R305E090003A)
    • inCLASS Observation Scale (Spencer Foundation 201000064)
    • MyTeachingPartner (NIH 2 R01 HD046061-06)
    • MyTeachingPartner, Secondary Education (WTG 7372)
    • MyTeachingPartner, Math/Science (USDE/IES R305A070068)
    • National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education (USDE R305A060021)
    • Technology-Based Evaluation of Classroom Learning (NSF 08287153)
  • Supervised a team of instructional designers and multimedia and web developers.
  • Managed multiple high-stakes projects simultaneously and facilitated communication across projects.
  • Conducted instructional design needs assessments including usability testing to inform iterative design.
  • Collaborated across a wide range of content areas and disciplines.
  • Conducted original research for publication and inclusion in academic conferences and proceedings.

 

Co-director, Curry School Educational Technology Strand, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. 2001-2003.

  • Responsible for curriculum development for all undergraduate courses in instructional technology.
  • Fostered collaboration among technology instructors and methods faculty and developed of new initiatives related to the uses of technology in the classroom.

Graduate Instructor, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. 1999-2003.

  • Developed and taught multiple sections of undergraduate and graduate courses in instructional technology, including technology sections of Teaching as a Profession (EDIS 288), Teaching with Technology (EDLF 345), Applied Teaching with Technology (EDLF 545), Software Applications in Education (EDLF 546), and Technology for Administrators (EDLF 846).
  • Planned and taught in-service professional development courses for K-12 teachers across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
  • Nominated for Outstanding Graduate Instructor, 2002.

 

Selected Publications

 

Whitaker, S. (2011). Facebook, students, and the life of digital content. Article in the “Call the Professor” education series, Farmville Herald, April 28, 2011.

Whitaker, S. (2011). Revisiting the digital divide in the age of social media. Article in the “Call the Professor” education series, Farmville Herald, February 11, 2011.

Whitaker, S., Kinzie, M.B., Kraft-Sayre, M., Mashburn, A., & Pianta, R.C. (2006). Use and evaluation of web- based professional development services across levels of support. Early Childhood Education Journal, 34(3).

Kinzie, M.B., Whitaker, S., Neesen, K., Kelley, M., & Pianta, R.C. (2006). Innovating web-based professional development for teachers of at-risk preschool children. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 9(4).

Kinzie, M.B., Whitaker, S., & Hofer, M. (2005). Instructional uses of instant messaging (IM) during classroom lectures. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 8(2).

Glenn, A., & Whitaker, S. (2002). Open resources and public/private partnerships. CITEJournal 4(2). Bull, G., Bull, G., & Whitaker, S. (2001). Web clippings. Learning and Leading with Technology, 28(5).

Selected Presentations / Articles in Refereed Proceedings

 

Whitaker, S. (2012). Students as case study authors. Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2012 (Austin, TX).

 

Whitaker, S. (2012). Team-Based Learning (TBL) in Teacher Preparation Programs. Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy 2012 (Blacksburg, VA).

Whitaker, S. (2012). Assessment, Team-Based Learning, and Technology. Longwood University Assessment Conference 2012 (Farmville, VA).

Whitaker, S. (2011). Technology-supported team-based learning in higher education. Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2011 (Nashville, TN).

Whitaker, S., Maynard, K., & Moody, A. (2011). A framework for teaching universally-designed classroom and assistive technology use to pre-service teachers through modeling. Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy 2011 (Blacksburg, VA).

Whitaker, S., & Geyer, R. (2006). “Perpetual beta” in the virtual classroom. In Proceedings of Universitas 21 E- learning Conference 2006.

Whitaker, S., Kinzie, M., Neesen, K., & Kelley, M. (2005). Tech support requirements for large-scale technology innovation in teacher professional development. In G. Richards (Ed.), Proceedings of World Conference on E- Learning in Corporate, Government, Health Care, and Higher Education 2005.

Neesen, K., Whitaker, S., & Kinzie, M. (2005). Educational video production to support teacher reflection and professional development. In G. Richards (Ed.), Proceedings of World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Health Care, and Higher Education 2005.

Kinzie, M., Whitaker, S., Neesen, K., Kelley, M., & Pianta, R. (2005). State-wide professional development & curricula for early childhood educators: design & infrastructure. In G. Richards (Ed.), Proceedings of World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Health Care, and Higher Education 2005.

Hofer, M., Owings Swan, K., & Whitaker, S. (2004). The Historical Scene Investigation (HSI) Project: Facilitating Historical Thinking with Web-Based, Digital Primary Source Documents. In R. Ferdig et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2004 (pp. 4801-4806).

Chesapeake, VA: AACE.

 

Whitaker, S., & Hofer, M. (2003). Preparing teachers with technology: how far should we go? In Price, J., Willis, D., David, N., & Willis, J. (Eds.), Proceedings of SITE 2003.

Whitaker, S., & Kajder, S. (2003). Digital photography and visual images: storytelling and curricular connections. In Price, J., Willis, D., David, N., & Willis, J. (Eds.), Proceedings of SITE 2003.

Keynotes / Invited Presentations

 

Seminal Readings in Technology and Teacher Education. Invited panel discussion, SITE 2002.

 

Integrating Technology Across Content Areas. Keynote address for Project SERVE Sunray Academy, 2000.

 

Professional Service

 

Reviewer, Kappa Delta Pi Educational Form, 2012-2015.

 

Book reviewer, Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, 2012-2015.

 

Member, Program Committee, Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education Conference, 2011-2015.

Reviewer, Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 2006-2016. Reviewer, Educational Technology & Society, 2007-2016.

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

 

Virginia Science Education Leadership Association (VSELA) International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

Awards / Honors

 

ACPS We Notice Award, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

 

Nominated for Golden Apple Award, 2019, 2022

 

Outstanding First Year Student Advocate Award 2012-2013. The Office of First Year Experience & Family Programs.

Dean’s Faculty Development Award, 2011-2012, SITE Conference 2012 Presentation, $1000. Dean’s Faculty Development Award 2010-2011, SITE Conference 2011 Presentation, $1000.

Dean’s Faculty Development Award 2010-2011, Research on the Efficacy of Team-Based Learning in Teacher Training, $1000.

Dean’s Faculty Development Award 2010-2011, SoTL Conference 2011 Presentation, $500.

 

AECT’s Outstanding Instructional Design Practice, Association for Educational Communications & Technology, 2010. Instructional design for MyTeachingPartner-Mathematics/Science (project director: Mable Kinzie).

Fellowship, Center for Technology and Teacher Education, University of Virginia (1999-2003). Curry School of Education Community Award (2001).

References

 

Katherine Gerberich

Civics and AVID Teacher

(609) 731-9330

Journey Middle School

210 Lambs Lane

Charlottesville, VA 22901

Deanine Lilley

Science Teacher and Team Lead Teacher

(434) 465-0297

Journey Middle School

210 Lambs Lane

Charlottesville, VA 22901

 

Ashby Johnson

Principal

(434) 531-9755

Journey Middle School

210 Lambs Lane

Charlottesville, VA 22901