Dr. Sharon Smaldino is a distinguished faculty member at Northern Illinois University where she teaches graduate courses in instructional technology, distance education, and professional standards. She has devoted her career to researching how technology can enhance teaching and learning. Smaldino helped secure over $7 million in grants to fund teaching initiatives incorporating new technologies. She believes online learning can provide quality educational experiences for students when implemented well. Smaldino has authored several influential textbooks on instructional design and technology and is a leader in the field known for her work integrating technologies into classrooms.

1. DR.
SHARON
SMALDINO
IDT Profile
Presented by Geneva Dooley

2. BACKGROUND
 Background in pathology and education
 As a resident, worked with socially and emotionally
disturbed deaf adolescents
 Brought PC to classroom one day and the students were
spellbound by the technology
“Technology was what captured their attention
and made them want to study.” –Smaldino
 From this discovery, her passion for the integration of
technology in classroom was formed
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3. CURRENT POSITION
 Dr. Smaldino currently holds a distinguished faculty
position at Northern Illinois University (NIU) where she
teaches graduate courses in:
 Instructional Technology
 Distance Education
 Professional Standards and Ethical Practice
 Serves as the L. D. and Ruth Morgridge Endowed
Chair for Teacher Education at NIU
 Currently engaged in the development of the Virtual
Laboratory School at NIU

4. ACHIEVEMEN
TS
 Served as president of AECT
 Editor, TechTrends, 2006-2009 &
Editorial Board, TechTrends, 2009-2012
 2008 recipient of the JAMES G. SUCY
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
 Served on the board of directors of
International Visual Literacy Association
(IVLA)
 President of the ECT Foundation Board
of Directors
 Worked on Preparing Tomorrow's
Teachers to use Technology (PT3) grant
and the Teacher Quality Enhancement
grant which identified technology as an
important aspect of ensuring quality
learning environments.

5. RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL
INTERESTS
 Developing Online Instruction
 “It’s important to me to consider how to engage the students in their learning
and what types of activities will optimize their learning. Once I have determined
what quality learning experiences to include, the next challenge is to find ways
to create them within the realm of the technology resources,” says Smaldino.
 Focused on the integration of technology into learning
 Exploring ways in which teachers use technology
 Examining how teachers make decisions about the use
of technology
 Investigating how teachers’ attitudes and approaches
change as they become more comfortable with using
technology

6. MAJOR PUBLICATIONS
Books:
Smaldino, S., Lowther, D., & Russell, J., (2012). Instructional technology and media for
learning (10th Ed.). Columbus, OH: Merrill/Prentice Hall/Pearson Publishing Company.
Herring, M. & Smaldino, S. (2005). Planning for interactive distance education: A
handbook (2nd Ed.). Bloomington, IN: Association for Educational Communications and
Technology.
Smaldino, S., Russell, J., Heinich, R., Molenda, M. (2005). Instructional technology and
media for learning (8th Ed.). Columbus, OH: Merrill/Prentice Hall Publishing Company.
Heinich, R., Molenda, M., Russell, J., Smaldino, S. (2002). Instructional media and the
technologies for learning (7th Ed.). Columbus, OH: Merrill Publishing Company.
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a
distance: Foundations of distance education. (5th Ed.). Columbus, OH: Merrill
Publishing Company.
Refereed Articles:
Pate, A., Smaldino, S., Mayall, H., Luetkehans, L. (2009). Questioning the necessity of
non-academic social discussion forums within online courses. Quarterly Review of
Distance Education, 10 (1), 1-8.
Smaldino, S. (2008, Summer). Classroom strategies for teaching ethics. New Directions
in Higher Education: Practical Approaches to Ethics for Colleges and Universities,
(142), 87-101.
Walker, D., Sorensen, C., Smaldino, S., & Downey, P. (2008). A model for a professional
development school intervention: REAL findings. School-University Partnerships, 2 (1),
6-26.
http://www.cedu.niu.edu/etra/aboutus/2012cv/Smaldino_Vita_2012.pdf

7. LEADER IN
INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN &
TECHNOLOGY
Dr. Sharon Smaldino is a leader in the field of Instructional Design
and Technology because of her extensive contributions to the field.
She has devoted her life's work to researching how technology can
be incorporated in the classroom. She has been the recipient of
grants totaling over $7 million which have led to teaching
initiatives aimed at enhancing technology approaches to teaching.
Smaldino is a firm believer in convenient cost -effective online
instruction because of its implications for working students. I’ll
end with Dr. Smaldino’s word on students considering online
instruction:
“Online learning experien ces do require you, the student, to assume
responsibility for your learning . But, you will find that when you have
participa ted in a quality online experien ce, your learning experien ces will be
outstanding . Most students report that in the end, they learned more about the
content and more about themselves as learners than they ever expected .”

8. SOURCES
 http://www.n iu .edu /n iuo n lin e/f acu lty/Sm ald ino .sh tm l
 http://www.p earso nh igh ered .co m /boo kseller/p rodu ct/In struction al -Techn o log y and-Med ia -fo r-Learn in g -9 E/978 013239 1740 .p ag e
 http://www.ced u.n iu .edu /abou tu s/pub licatio ns/end eavo rsSp08 .pd f
 http:// www.allynb acon m errill.co m /au tho rs/b io .aspx? a=87 4857d a -8ab9 -46 e0 accc-59 c8d7 e678 a1
 http://www.un i.edu /co e/welco m e/Dean %E2 %80 %99 s%20 Adv iso ry%20Co mm itt
ee%20Prof iles/Dr.% 20Sharon %2 0Smald ino
 http:// www.uwex .edu /d isted /conf erence/Resou rce_ lib rary/p ro ceed ing s/08_13 09
3.pdf
 http://www.ced u.n iu .edu /etra/abou tu s/201 2 cv /Sm ald ino_ Vita_2012 .p df