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Academic Qualifications

• Graduate Diploma. - Professional Communication - Multimedia (USQ), - 1998
• Master of Education - University of Southern Queensland - 1995
• B. Arts - LaTrobe University - 1978
• B.Ed. - Griffith University, Mt. Gravatt Campus - 1982
• Trained Primary Teaching Certificate - Bendigo Teachers College, LaTrobe University – 1970

• ODLAA - Open and Distance Learning Association of Australia and Pacific Islands
• ICDE - International Council for Distance Education
• AIMIA - Australasian Interactive Multimedia Industry Association

My research interests include instructional design, distance education, flexible delivery, communication technology, workplace training and collaborative education initiatives between tertiary and industry providers. I am currently involved in a DEC research project to investigate on-line communication teaching and learning strategies, and how this research can inform Instructional Design practice. I also have a keen interest in the application of technology for flexible delivery and follow the literature with a particular focus on ID aspects and how to manage the change involved in the mainstreaming of the use of new technology in teaching and learning.

As I grew up in a rural area, I have a particular interest in providing equity of access to people in rural and remote areas to education and technology facilities. Over the past three years I have acted as chair of the steering committee, then foundation president for Arts & Technology Toowoomba Inc. (A&TT), a community based, non-profit organisation formed in response to the Federal Government’s Creative Nation policy. As president, I played essential role in preparing a submission for funding to train long-term unemployed in the development of multimedia skills, including the development of web pages for the Internet. A&TT was granted $290,000 and the project began operation in January 1996. This has been an innovative training program designed to build on existing skills of trainees, as well as provide skills to make them employable in an emerging technology industry. 

• Instructional Designer - Distance Education Centre, USQ - 7/1997 to date -
• Instructional Designer - Cunningham Centre, Toowoomba Health Service -10/1995 to 7/1997
• Instructional Designer - Distance Education Centre, University of Southern Queensland 4/1990 - 10/1995
• Research Assistant - Faculty of Business University of Southern Queensland 1/1994-6/1994
• Tutor in linguistics at tertiary level for special entry aboriginal students
• Mount Gravatt Campus Griffith University - 1983-4
• Assistant Production Co-ordinator - Mount Gravatt Campus Griffith University 1981-83, developing and trialing a language/reading scheme for upper primary school
• Primary teacher - Victorian Education Department - 1971-1981

• CD – ED-PBL Education – Problem Based Learning – National Priority Reserve Fund: Teacher Education Initiative grant. Project Manager.
• 70207 – Engineering Statistics – software development to support unit
• Master of Midwifery – Flexible Delivery of course, including CD, web delivery and CMC. Instructional Design and Project Management for initial unit

• Assistant Project Manager (to David Ross) $2 million funding application to Networking the Nation – Indigenous Health Worker Education: Piloting Delivery on a Community Based Intranet, application to CUTSD 1998
• Joint initiative with Kathleen Fahy to develop a commercial package, Learning how to manage Obstetric and Neo-Natal emergencies – CD-ROM/Multimedia. Discussions with INDELTA and Prof. Michael Humphry, UQ, North Queensland Clinical School
• Team member, CUTSD (Committee for University Teaching and Staff Development), 1999 national teaching development Grants, Flexible Delivery to Enhance the Study of Computers in Engineering by Distance and On-Campus Students, Brodie, L., Porter, M. & McDonald, J. A $53, 624 application.
• As foundation president, Arts and Technology Toowoomba Inc. I played a key role in developing funding application, initiation and implementation of a $290,000 New Work Opportunity project
• $11,000 Gaming Fund Grant to train long term unemployed in technology skills
• Member of the strategic management committee of the Southern Inland Queensland regional community Information Network, which has been allocated $2,652,317 to establish a community based Internet Service Provider enabling local call Internet access to over one quarter of the State’s total area. The Project will also facilitate training, public access and the development of regionally specific on-line services and information