Brenda Bannan-Ritland is an Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Education, College of Education and Human Development, George Mason University. Dr. Bannan-Ritland teaches in the Instructional Design and Development track of the Instructional Technology program under the Graduate School of Education. Her research interests include utilizing Internet and Web-based technologies for instruction and training, specifically addressing the application of theoretically-based instructional strategies in the design and development of constructivist learning environments. Dr. Bannan-Ritland's most recent interests are in the emerging method of design-based research combining design processes with rigorous investigation of learning processes. She has published a recent article in the January, 2003 issue of Educational Researcher detailing her interests in this emerging method. She was also awarded a five-year CAREER grant from the National Science Foundation to conduct design based research in elementary (4th grade) inquiry-based science and reading comprehension activities working closely with teachers to collaboratively design and develop a technology support system for use in the classroom investigating both child and teacher learning processes.

Dr. Bannan-Ritland is co-authoring a book Online Learning and Web-Based Course Authoring Tools: Concepts, Strategies and Application for along with Dr. Nada Dabbagh under contract with Merrill-Prentice Hall that is scheduled for publication in May, 2004. She has been a chapter author in recent books on the Instructional Use of Learning Objects and Web-based Instruction and Web-based Training. She is on the editorial board of the British Journal of Educational Technology and WebNet Journal. Brenda has authored and co-authored articles in journals such as the American Journal of Distance Education, Educational Technology, Educational Media International, Quarterly Review of Distance Education and Performance Improvement Quarterly. Brenda has also presented on her research at numerous national and international conferences.

Favorite Links

• Design Research in Education
• Design-based Research Collective
• The Role of Design in Educational Research

Affiliations

Program

• Instructional Technology (primary)
• Mathematics and Science Education Leadership (secondary)
• Helen A. Kellar Institute for Human disabilities

Organizational

• Association of Educational Communications and Technology
• American Society for Training and Development
• International Visual Literacy Association