Portrait of D'Arcy, in the Taylor Institute

Dr. D'Arcy Norman

PhD
Pronouns: he/him/his

Positions

Associate Director, Learning Technologies & Design

Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning, TI Learning Technology and Design Team

Contact information

Email

dlnorman@ucalgary.ca

Web presence

Website/blog

Phone number

Office: +1 (403) 220-2504

Background

Educational Background

BSc Zoology, University of Calgary, 1992

BEd Secondary Science, University of Calgary, 1994

MSc Educational Technology, University of Calgary, 2013

PhD Computational Media Design, University of Calgary, 2023

Biography

I am Associate Director, Learning Technologies & Design, in the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning at the University of Calgary. My portfolio includes the Learning Technologies Group and the Learning & Instructional Design Group, as well as our graduate student Learning Technology Coaches. I am fortunate to work with an absolutely amazing team, and am constantly inspired and impressed by the work they do. Which means that I have the best job on campus.

and

I completed my PhD research in the interdisciplinary Computational Media Design program at the University of Calgary, where I explored the connections between the built environment (spaces and technologies), performance (what people do, the actions they perform), and their effects on teaching and learning.

From the Official Staff Bio™:

D’Arcy leads the Learning Technologies & Design Team in finding and developing technology platforms that enhance student learning, and in collaborating with instructors and faculty leadership to adopt and support new learning technologies.

He has spent the bulk of his career at the University of Calgary. He started as a web and multimedia developer, building the first online courses in the Faculty of Nursing, before moving into the role of education technology consultant at the Teaching and Learning Centre, and then IT partner. He holds bachelor’s degrees in zoology and education, and completed his master’s in educational technology in 2013.

D’Arcy is a strong supporter of open education, which entails using technology to eliminate barriers and broaden access to learning. He is interested in how technologies can be opened up to people to enable them to freely publish, collaborate and share knowledge.

My work supports the meaningful integration of learning technologies to support student learning, through development of new tools, incorporation of existing tools, and through collaboration and support of instructors.

I’m interested in how technologies can be used to empower and connect individuals and to form rich collaboration and foster active communities of learning. My MSc thesis explored how students interacted with each other in a traditional institutional learning management system in comparison to individually-owned weblogs.

My PhD dissertation research integrated the disciplines of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). From the abstract:

This dissertation proposes and systematically explores the potential for integrating the distinct but overlapping disciplines of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). This work of integration is approached through a series of research projects from different perspectives, demonstrating the potential for adapting concepts from the design and formal analysis of video games to enrich the study of course designs and of understanding the varied experiences of instructors and students. Video games provide a useful point of integration between HCI and SoTL, specifically through concepts and principles employed in the design of video games, and through the adaptation of research methods that have been developed to enable formal analysis of video games.

More Information

Book Chapters

Goldsworthy, S., Kenny, N., Norman, D., Kelly, P. (2020). Updating the Traditional Classroom. in Page-Cutura, K., Bradley, P. (editors). Updating traditional classrooms, The Role of the Nurse Educator in Canada. pp.171-198, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, Ottawa.

Peer-reviewed publications

Norman, D. (2023). The teaching game: integrating HCI and SoTL by adapting video game research methods (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/1880/115879

Quitter, T., Mostafa, A., Norman, D., Miede, A., Sharlin, E., & Finn, P. (2017). Humanoid Robot Instructors for Industrial Assembly Tasks. In Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Human Agent Interaction (HAI ’17). ACM, New York, NY, USA. DOI 10.1145/3125739.3125760

Norman, D. (2013). A Case Study Using the Community of Inquiry Framework to Analyze Online Discussions in WordPress and Blackboard in a Graduate Course (Unpublished master’s thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/24645

LaMar, M., Archer, J., Hapgood, T., Norman, D., & Wang, T. (2005), Architecting the Elephant: Software Architecture and User Interface Design for Pachyderm 2.0, in D. Bearman & J. Trant (Eds.) Museums and the Web, Selected Papers from an International Conference, Archives & Museum Informatics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (2005).

Magee, M., Norman, D., & Wood, J. (2002). Building Digital Books with Dublin Core and IMS Content Packaging. DC-2002: Metadata for e-Communities: Supporting Diversity and Convergence, Florence, October, 13-17, 2002. pp.91-96

Conference presentations and seminars

Reid, L., Kenny, N., & Norman, D. (2023). The good, the bad, and the ugly: Lessons learned from designing a building to support active learning. 67th Annual Association of University Architects Conference. (Invited speaker. International conference - Calgary, Alberta).

Norman, D. (2023). A Framework to Integrate SoTL and HCI Research Approaches. University of Calgary Conference on Post-Secondary Learning and Teaching. (Regional conference – Alberta).

Norman, D., Behjat, L., Flynn, C., Steele, J., & Jinnah Morsette, S. (2023). Ignite Presentations and Panel Discussion. University of Calgary Conference on Post-Secondary Learning and Teaching. (Organizer and moderator. Regional conference – Alberta).

Norman, D. (2022). The Teaching Game. University of Calgary, Graduate seminar.

Norman, D., Oehlberg, L., Verwaal, N., & Gilfillan, N. (2022). Teaching  in Today’s Classrooms: Strategies for Engaging Students in a Variety of Spaces. Taylor Institute for Teaching & Learning Teaching Days 2022. August 25, 2022. (University of Calgary conference - online). Panel discussion (moderator).

Norman, D. & Hurrell, C. (2022). postcards from futures of teaching and learning. Campus Stores Canada Annual Conference 2022. January 31, 2022 (National conference - online). Invited keynote presentation.

Marette, C., Norman, D., Wang, D., & Basiri, M. (2021). You get what you assess: Competency-based education in the digital era. EDUCAUSE Annual Conference 2021. Philadelphia. (International conference - online). Panel discussion.

Norman, D., & Kelly, P. (2019). Integrating a video platform as a core campus learning technology. COHERE 2019. Nov. 15, 2019. (National conference - University of Calgary). Roundtable presentation.

Dyjur, P., Bair, H., Kelly, P., Yu, L., Norman, D., Arguera, N., Reid, L., Kenny, N. (2017). Chopped: Design Edition. Werklund IDEAS 2017. May 5, 2017. (Regional conference - University of Calgary). Oral presentation.

Norman, D. (2017). Advanced Learning Technologies. University of Calgary Graduate Students Association Peer Beyond Symposium. February 22, 2017. (Local conference - University of Calgary). Invited speaker.

Norman, D. (2017). Communities of Practice at the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative Annual Meeting. February 14, 2017. (International conference - Houston, USA). Poster session.

Norman, D. (2016). What happens when universities come out to play? Discovery Education Network: Ignite your passion for discovery: Calgary edition. May 12, 2016. (Regional conference - Calgary). Oral presentation.

Norman, D. & Lamb, B. (2016). Innovation Beyond the LMS. 2016 University of Calgary Conference on Post-Secondary Learning and Teaching. (Regional conference – Alberta). Poster session.

Norman, D. (2015). Implementing a University-wide Learning Technologies Coaches Program. 2015 MIIETL Research on Teaching & Learning Conference, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. (Regional conference – Ontario). Oral presentation.

Norman, D. (2015). Migrating to a New Platform: Lessons Learned and Creating an Effective Support Model. D2L Fusion 2015. (International conference - USA). Oral presentation.

Norman, D. (2015). Student Signup Manager: Extending the Groups Feature using a D2L Valence Application. D2L Fusion 2015. (International conference - USA). Oral presentation.

Norman, D. (2015). Student Signup Manager: Extending D2L’s Groups Tool Using a Valence Application. D2L Ignite Calgary Regional Conference. (Regional conference - Calgary). Oral presentation.

Norman, D. (2014). Engaging a Campus Community to Facilitate Change. Canadian Network for Innovation in Education 2014 Annual Conference, Kamloops, BC, Canada. (National conference – Canada). Oral presentation.

Norman. D. (2013). Community of Inquiry in an Online Course. 2013 University of Calgary Conference on Post-Secondary Learning and Teaching. (Regional conference – Alberta). Oral presentation. (Master’s degree work)

Norman, D., & Jacobsen, M. (2012). Private vs. Public? Blogs vs. LMS? An Educational Technology Webinar. University of Calgary, Faculty of Education, November 22, 2012.

Norman, D. (2012). Rethinking a Course: The Student as Teacher in Digital Storytelling. 2012 Canadian Learning Commons Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (National conference – Canada). Oral presentation.

Norman, D. (2011). Panel: #ds106radio4life: How Open Web Radio Will Change You. Northern Voice

Norman, D. (2011). Thinking Beyond the LMS- Considering the Possibilities. International Blended Learning Conference

McIntyre, S., Cygman, L., Doherty, I., Norman, D., Blackall, L., Matheos, K., & Ellerman, E. (moderator). (2010). Panel: Social media in education. Making Sense of Social Media Symposium. Athabasca University. (Edmonton, Alberta). Panel discussion.

Norman, D. (2009). Identity in the age of the open classroom. From Courses to Dis/Course: Exploring the future of courses conference. University of Manitoba. (Online conference - Canada). Oral presentation.

Norman, D. (2009). Openness and Identity. Open Education 2009 Annual Conference, Vancouver, BC, Canada. (International conference). Oral presentation.

Norman, D. (2009). Finding Free Resources Online. University of Calgary - Faculty Technology Days 2009

Norman, D. (2009). Edublogger Hootenanny. Northern Voice 2009.

Norman, D., Pival, P., & Bakardjieva, M. (2008). Social Networking in the Academy Keynote Panel. Faculty Technology Days. University of Calgary.

Norman, D. (2008). Weblogs as Personal Repositories. Faculty Technology Days. University of Calgary.

Lott, C., Lamb, B., Leslie, S., Groom, J., Norman, D.. (2008). The Blog is Dead, Long Live the Blogger. Northern Voice 2008. Vancouver, BC.

Lamb, B., Groom, J., & Fitzgerald, B., Norman, D.. (2008). Don’t Call it a Blog, Call it an Educational Publishing Platform. Northern Voice 2008. Vancouver, BC.

Groom, J. & Norman, D. (2007). Out of Print. Open Education 2007 Annual Conference, Logan, Utah, USA. (International conference). Oral presentation.

Levine. A., Lamb, B., & Norman, D. (2007). More Than Cool Tools. K12Online. (Online conference). Oral presentation.

Lamb, B., Norman, D.. (2007). Opening Reception Keynote: Canadian eLearning Video Party. Canadian eLearning Conference. Edmonton, Alberta.

Lott, C., Currie, S., Beasley-Murray, J., Lamb, B., Norman, D.. (2007) Panel: Social Software for Learning Environments. Northern Voice 2007. Vancouver, BC.

Levine, A., Lamb, B., Norman, D. (2007). Open, Connected, and Social. MacLearningEnvironments.org Webcast. Online.

Dyjur, P. & Norman, D. (2006). ePortfolios. Interface 2006, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. (Regional conference – Alberta). Oral presentation.

Downes, S., Lamb, B. & Norman, D. (2006). Closing Keynote. BCEdOnline 2006, Vancouver, BC, Canada. (Regional conference – British Columbia). Oral presentation.

Norman, D., Lamb, B., Leslie, S., Levine, A. (2006). EduBlogger Hootenanny. Northern Voice 2006. Vancouver, BC.

Lamb, B., Norman, D. (2006). Social Software Workshop. BCCampus ETUG 2006. Courteney, BC.

Norman, D. (2006). Read/Write Web. University of Calgary.

Archer, J., Huang, K.C. & Norman, D. (2005). Creative Action at a Distance. New Media Consortium 2005 Summer Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. (International conference). Oral presentation.

Norman, D. (2005). Intro to Podcasting. Alberta Distance Education and Training Association. (Webinar). Oral presentation.

Archer, J., Norman, D., Samis, P., & Johnston, L. (2005). Introducing Pachyderm. Museums and the Web 2005. (International conference). Oral presentation.

Norman, D. (2005). Intro to Wiki. University of Calgary.

Norman, D. (2005). Intro to Weblogs and RSS. University of Calgary.

Norman, D. (2005). Weblogs and Wikis. Faculty Technology Days. University of Calgary.

Lamb, B., Levine, A., Norman, D. (2005). Social Software Salon. Northern Voice 2005. Vancouver, BC.

Lamb, B., Levine, A. & Norman, D. (2004). Small Pieces Loosely Joined. New Media Consortium 2004 Summer Conference, Vancouver, BC, Canada. (International conference). Oral presentation.

Levine, A., Lamb, B., Norman, D. (2003). What’s the Fuss About RSS? (with Alan Levine and Brian Lamb). EDUCAUSE Learning Objects Virtual Community of Practice. (Webinar). Oral presentation.

Norman, D. (2003). Learning Object Repositories. University of Calgary.

Resources

Wright, A. C., Dyjur, P., Norman, D., & Kelly, P. (2022). Guiding principles of effective blended and online course design. Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. Calgary: University of Calgary. (summarized in the Designing Online Assessments module in the Taylor Institute’s resource catalog)

Anselmo, L., Bair, H., Dyjur, P., Kendon, T., Mok-Kulakova, I., Norman, D., Pletnyova, A., Saito, K., Wright, A., & Yu, L. (2021). Learning Module: Adaptable Course Design. Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. Calgary: University of Calgary.

Dyjur, P., Kelly, P., Yu, L., Bair, R., Pedersen, R., & Norman, D. (2020). Course Design Program Manual. Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. Calgary: University of Calgary.

Service

University Committees

  • Learning Technologies Advisory Committee. (Co-chair, 2019-)
  • General Faculties Council, Teaching & Learning Committee. (Non-voting member, 2015-)
  • Information Asset Management Committee. (GFC TLC Representative, 2019-)
  • Copyright Committee. (member, 2015-)
  • University of Calgary Teaching & Learning Grants adjudication. (2017-)
  • USRI Technology Implementation Steering Committee (2022-)

Departmental Committees

  • Taylor Insitute Learning Spaces Working Group. (Co-chair, 2020-)
  • Taylor Institute Program Approval Committee. (2021-)
  • Taylor Institute Conference Committee. (2015-)
  • Faculty of Nursing Community of Scholarship of Teaching, Learning and Technology committee. (TI representative, 2018)

Reports