In the Spotlight is an opportunity for the campus community to get to know one another better. The goal is to build Eastern’s community by becoming familiar with the faces of faculty and staff members.
Date: July 7, 2011
Name: Dave Dean, PhD
Title: Manager
Department: eLearning Services
Number of years at Eastern: 26+
Brief personal/professional description: I’ve always been deeply involved in teaching and technology. I’ve been a high school teacher, a community college teacher, and a university (adjunct) teacher. I’ve taught courses for special needs students, for groups of senior citizens and have co-authored a doctoral technology leadership course.
I took my first computer class in 1977, so have 34 years (more than half of my life) experience with emerging technologies. My first dozen years or so at EWU, I worked on emerging technologies on the business and “office automation” side. The past dozen years or so I’ve been an “eLearning” guy – working to equip faculty with technology tools and services in support of Eastern’s instructional mission.
Projects you’re working on: Currently working on the instructional technologies side of the “Virtual Campus” initiative. Think “lecture capture;” an “EWU YouTube” kind of service; an EWU global “audience response” solution; introduction of a personalized learning HUB; “learner analytics;” “desktop capture” for faculty and students and eLearning design and development services. OIT is launching these projects – each of which are designed to provide instructors with access to tools that they can employ to enhance teaching and learning experiences and interactivity.
Favorite book: Hmmm, hard to say. I read at least one book a week. Typically, I’m reading two or three books over the same time period. Always a spy or adventure novel (Clive Cussler, Lee Child, David Baldacci); frequently a “how to” book (Tony Buzan; Tim Ferriss); something about finance (Dave Ramsey), camping, etc.); and often a motivational / inspirational book (360 Degree Leader; Personal Power; Integrity).
Favorite movie: Again, hard to choose. Some top picks include: the Die Hard series; the newest Star Trek movie; the Wall Street series; the Transporter series; but I’ll also admit to snuggling with my wife and watching Miss Congeniality or Sweet Home Alabama.
Favorite restaurant: Margherita pizza at Ristorante Pizzeria on the west side of the canal in Venice, Italy just south of Rialto Bridge. In a pinch, Ferrante’s Café Margherita pizza on Spokane’s South Hill comes close.
Favorite quote: “Well done is better than well said.” Benjamin Franklin
Favorite vacation: All of them! Camping at Priest Lake. Golfing at Saint Andrews. Sea kayaking, Queen Charlotte Islands. Any kayaking or camping trip!
Awards received within the past five years: EWU Distinguished Service Award 2009.
If I could do anything today I would: Well, if I had to work, then I’d do my current job. Working with technologies and EWU faculty and student is fun, interesting, rewarding, creative and challenging. If I were independently wealthy, then I’d quit (duh!), go camping with my wife and golfing with my family and friends.
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