I am beginning my fourth year as a Ph.D. student in Cognition and Instruction at the University of Connecticut.  I joined the New Literacies Research Team in the fall of 2003 and have enjoyed and benefited greatly from the collaborative spirit among team members and our co-collaborators. I am interested in cross-cultural learning through the creation of online partnerships with classes around the world.  My work explores the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the classroom and the exchange of ideas  among students using blogs, email, and wikis.  I have been examining the learning potential of Internet Reciprocal Teaching and analyzing how online communication tools contribute to literacy and content learning. 

Prior to beginning graduate studies at the University of Connecticut, I earned a Master of Science degree in Reading from California State University, East Bay and spent several years as an elementary educator, Reading Recovery teacher and Reading Specialist in Northern California. I served on the Executive Board of the Alameda County Reading Association, an honor council of the International Reading Association.

This website documents my work as a doctoral student in Cognition and Instruction at the University of Connecticut. Click on the Requirements for the Cognition and Instruction Comprehensive Exam in the top menu to review the specifications for each exam task. Use the left menu to view my responses to each of the required elements. Explore the additional work link to learn more about my research related to new literacies, literacy instruction, and technology integration.