Joan Thormann
Professional Title: Professor
Areas of Academic Focus and Expertise:
Teaching and learning online; use of technology to support students with special needs; K-12 teacher empowerment; supporting student research about the use of technology in the schools
Area of Work and Concentration at Lesley: Teaching online; technology in education
Representative List of Recent Courses Taught:
Teaching Online: Issues and Design; Teaching Online: An Introduction for K-12 Educators; The World Wide Web as an Educational Resource; Technology in Education Thesis Project
Education: Ph.D., University of Oregon; M.A., Boston College; B.S., University of Wisconsin
Representative List of Recent Publications / Exhibitions:
- "A social network comparison of an experienced and novice instructor in online teaching". European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning
- Green, B. & Thormann, J. (2009) Testing Kurzweil 3000. Learning and Leading with Technology, 36(6), 32-33.
- Schwartz, M. & Thormann, J. (2010) Science on the Big Screen. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(5), 32-33.
- Thormann, J. (2008) Student moderators in online courses. Online Cl@ssroom. 1, 7.
- Thormann, J. (2004) Online Assistance: Resources for Students with Learning Disabilities. Learning and Leading with Technology, 32(3), 30-33.
- Thormann, J. & Zimmerman, I. (2008). The changing nature of meetings: Hybrid teleconferencing in higher education. Academic Leadership. 24(4) 7-8.
- Thormann, J., & Loebl, D. (2005). Centralizing Support: Technology for Israeli Students with Special Needs. Learning and Leading with Technology, 32(6), 34-36
- Thormann, J. & Zimmerman, I. K. (2012) The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Designing and Teaching Online Courses. NY: Teachers College Press at Columbia University
- Zimmerman, I. & Thormann, J. (2009). Techniques of Leadership. Academic Leadership. 25(1) 7-8.
Recent Presentations
- Using Social Network Analysis to compare pedagogical approaches in online courses, Ubiquitous Leaning Conference, Berkeley, CA November, 2011 with Patricia Fidalgo.
- Critical Thinking and Interaction in an Online Course: Comparing a Discussion led by One, Two or Three Student Moderators Community of Scholars, Lesley University, March, 2012 with Sam Gable
- Why elearning? Pilot study for the development of an online model of teaching. Webinar guest lecturer. (2011) Instituto Piaget, Almada, Portugal.
- Adapting Curriculum for Distance Learning (2011) Invited visiting faculty member. Conducted a seminar for doctoral students at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Building Online Communities to Promote Retention: Tools and Methods. (2010) Dev/Learn10. San Francisco, CA.
- With Martha Ziegler. My Daughter, My Teacher: Autistic in English and Spanish. (2010) Lesley University's Center for Special Education.
- Student Attitudes toward Synchronous Communication in Online Courses. (2010) Community of Scholars Day, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
- Teaching and Learning Online: Building Learning Communities. (2010) Invited visiting faculty member. Conducted a seminar for doctoral students at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Enhance Learning while Building Online Community. (2009) AACE. Quebec Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Use of Synchronous Conferencing to Help Build Learning Communities. (2009) AACE. Quebec Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Empowered Teacher: How to encourage teachers through their writings and publications. (2009) Community of Scholars Day, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
- The 21st Century Educational Village Green. (2009). Lesley University Academic Technology Institute: Exploring Intersections of Teaching & Technology, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
Dr. Thormann has served in various administrative roles and taught at Lesley University since 1989. Prior to working at Lesley, she taught in public and private schools, worked for a software company, and was at the Massachusetts Department of Education in the Division of Special Education, where she directed and implemented many projects relating to technology and special education. Dr. Thormann has served on many advisory boards and presented at over 100 conferences nationally and internationally. In 2010, she was honored with MassCUE Pathfinder Award. She has co-authored three books about technology and special needs, been an editor of a column on technology and special education for Learning and Leading with Technology since 1991, and written numerous articles. Her fourth and most recent book is a guide to designing and teaching online courses.
thormann@lesley.edu