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Colleagues,
Robert Kaleta, director of the Learning Technology Center since its inception in 1997, has announced his retirement, effective August 31, 2009. Bob received his Ph.D. in Psychology from UT-Austin, and he started at UWM in 1975 as a Psychology Lecturer. He assumed administrative responsibilities in the Department of Learning Skills & Educational Opportunity (now AOC and TARC) in 1976 and was Director from 1978-1995. During that time he developed one of UWM’s first instructional computer labs for use in teaching. Bob is an acknowledged national expert in blended learning, which combines online and face-to-face instruction. His expertise in this area was instrumental in securing UWM’s $500,000 award from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to implement blended degree options at the University. In addition to the Sloan grant, Bob wrote grants that brought in another $500,000 in support for technology in teaching and learning at UWM. Bob’s wise leadership has made a lasting contribution to faculty use of instructional technology and to student learning at UWM. In the years since the LTC was established, UWM has implemented the D2L course management system (and now has the highest level of use in the UW System) and made advances in many other areas of instructional technology, including the use of clickers, podcasting, and the development of online/blended courses and degree programs. Please join me in wishing Bob the best in his retirement. We will miss him, but the outstanding team he assembled will, I am certain, continue his work with the same dedication and high level of expertise that marked Bob’s tenure as LTC director. Alan Aycock has been appointed acting director of the Learning Technology Center and will serve in this position until a permanent successor is found. Alan is an Instructional Design Consultant in the LTC and has been senior Blackboard and then D2L site administrator for UWM for the past 12 years. He taught the first fully online course at the University and is an experienced online and blended instructor in the Department of Anthropology. In 2002, Alan was named one of fifteen Wisconsin Teaching Scholars. Alan holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Toronto, and he has been Professor and Chair of Anthropology at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada. Again, please join me in wishing Bob well in retirement. Sincerely, Rita Hartung Cheng |
