My current research focus is on developing new tools for the delivery of education on-line. I believe that this is a difficult and challenging problem that is still far from solved. I have developed two tools, Sync-O-Matic 3000 and ClipBoard-2000 in an attempt to make on-line teaching as easy and pleasant as possible for the teachers and learners. Both of these tools are in use around the country at a number of institutions to make on-line content. I believe that the only approach to using new media in education is to begin using the media and continuously learn from these experiences.
In addition to research in educational technology, my research interests include: high performance computing, scientific visualization, computer architecture, parallel processing, Internet applications and networking. I fundamentally believe that we will always have the need for computers which are many times faster than our personal computers. Regardless of the capability of a single computer, we will continue to "lash" computers together to solve larger and more complicated problems. These large scale computers are often difficult to use compared to personal computers. High performance computing education is an important field in its own right. To that end I have written a book, titled High Performance Computing, published by O'Reilly and Associates which is meant to make these computers more understandable.
I have a broad interest in teaching. I enjoy teaching advanced classes in my area of expertise to advanced students. I also enjoy teaching the very earliest classes where students begin to become aware of the power of computing. I look at teaching in two ways. First, I teach to share my knowledge. Second, I teach to learn. We all must be life-long learners and to be a teacher is to be a learner. To this end I would like to teach classes outside my field of expertise as a learning experience. Someday I imagine teaching classes in mathematics, physics, economics, and many other fields in addition to my computer and technology oriented classes.
I believe that research and teaching are inseparable. Better research leads to more useful instruction and by teaching, we create new researchers and research opportunities. I feel that the best class is one where the student is given more questions than answers while also getting the tools to answer those questions.
I also feel that it is important to share our skills and knowledge outside the higher education community. To this end I regularly give presentations to community groups on a wide variety of topics. I try to use television and radio to interact with an audience beyond the university. I am a regular guest on the program NewsTalk-870 aired on WKAR radio. I am one of the co-hosts of an award-winning television show Nuthin' but Net produced by MediaOne appearing monthly. Before Nuthin but Net, I was a co-host of another talk show about the Internet titled Internet:TCI. The show won several national and regional awards during its lifetime. In addition I have given numerous interviews on local news programs in the Lansing area as an expert in Internet and Technology.