Barbara Brown

Barbara Brown

Pronouns: she/her

Positions

Associate Professor

Werklund School of Education, Specialization, Learning Sciences

Contact information

Web presence

Phone number

Office: 403.220.7363

Location

Office: EDT842

Background

Educational Background

Doctor of Philosophy , University of Calgary, 2013

M.Ed. , University of Alberta, 2000

B.Ed. , University of Lethbridge, 1991

Biography

Dr. Brown was born and raised in Lethbridge, Alberta and received a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Lethbridge in 1991 with a major in mathematics and minor in physical sciences. Following graduation, she started teaching grade two in Edmonton, Alberta and lived there for about 10 years. During that time she also taught junior high and was a technology consultant and school administrator. In 2000, she received a Master’s of Education degree from the University of Alberta specializing in secondary education. Her husband was transferred with his work and their family moved to Calgary, Alberta. She taught junior high, senior high and served as district consultant and the first educational technology supervisor for the Calgary Catholic School District. In 2013, she completed doctoral studies at the University of Calgary with a focus on leadership, technology and educational change. In 2014-2015, she was awarded the final Gallagher-Galileo postdoctoral fellowship. She served as Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning and in the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary from 2020-2025 and is currently Associate Professor  and founding team member for the Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Literacy, and Integrity (CAIELI) in the Doucette Library.

Research

Areas of Research

Scholarly Activity

Dr. Brown's program aims to advance the fields of learning sciences and school leadership by investigating how technology-enhanced learning environments and leadership practices can support teaching and learning in K-12 schools and postsecondary contexts. Her work is grounded in participatory methodologies with a focus on instructional design, policy implementation, and impact of digital pedagogies on teacher education, teacher leadership, and online learning. A signature contribution of her research program is an innovative model of design-based professional learning (DBPL), underpinned by research-practice partnerships that support teacher learning and leadership. 

Current Projects: Implementation of Policies Restricting Use of Mobile Devices and Social Media in K-12 Schools; Examining Online High Impact Educational Practices in Post-Secondary; AI in Higher Education Innovation Exchange; New Teacher Transitions and Early Career Supports; Global Classrooms; and Open Learning Design Models

Interests:
  • Teacher education
  • Research-practice partnerships with schools
  • Technology-enhanced learning environments, digital pedagogies, online learning, open education, generative artificial intelligence (AI) in education
  • Teacher leadership in K-12 schools
  • Policy implementation, professional practice standards and ICT
  • Instructional design
  • Action research
  • Case study research
  • Design based research and design-based professional learning interventions

Participation in university strategic initiatives

Awards

  • Open Education Resource (OER) Implementation Award, UNESCO. 2021
  • Leadership in Education Award, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. 2019
  • Service Excellence Award, Werklund School of Education, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. 2018
  • CJLT Editor’s Award for Best Article, Canadian Network for Innovation in Education (CNIE-RCIE), Canadian Network for Innovation in Education (CNIE-RCIE). 2016
  • University of Calgary Teaching Award: Teaching in Online Environments, University of Calgary. 2015
  • Teaching Excellence Award, Werklund School of Education , University of Calgary. 2014

Publications