John Burton named interim director for distance learning and summer sessions; Learning Technologies formally partners with undergraduate education
John K. Burton, professor of learning sciences and technology in the School of Education in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech, has been named the university's interim director for distance learning and summer sessions.
In addition, to align appropriate functions within the information technology division to further support the university’s technology-assisted learning needs, Vice President for Information Technology Erv Blythe has asked Anne H. Moore, associate vice president for learning technologies, to have a joint reporting relationship to the Vice President and Dean for Undergraduate Education and the Office of the Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer.
“She will act as an advocate for resolving information technology issues of interest to undergraduate education and distance learning, ensuring smooth functioning and consistency between Learning Technologies’ goals and the university’s strategic plan,” said Blythe.
Burton’s appointment and Moore’s new reporting line follows Provost and Senior Vice President Mark McNamee’s mid-term review of the university’s 2006-2012 University Strategic Plan.
“In light of current economic challenges, many faculty, department heads, and deans believe Virginia Tech can leverage our strengths in eLearning in order to ease pressures on classroom facilities,” noted Daniel Wubah, vice president and dean for undergraduate education. “In his new role, John will work closely with the university’s information technology division to review existing structures and programs and determine what steps we should take to enhancing learning. He’ll also oversee a similar review of summer session programs which benefit greatly from a strong array of online course opportunities.”
A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1977, Burton’s teaching and research focuses on instructional technology, including research versus evaluation and hypermedia. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a master’s degree from Illinois State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska.
After serving as staff director in the early 1990s for two governor-appointed commissions on change in Virginia higher education, Moore joined the university’s information technology division in 1995. An expert in organizational change at colleges and universities, Moore received her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and Ph.D. from The College of William and Mary.
