Layne Morsch is an Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Illinois Springfield. Dr. Morsch is a Senior Faculty Fellow for the Center for Online Learning, Research & Service. In 2015, he was selected as an Apple Distinguished Educator.
Dr. Morsch has been exploring innovative ways to leverage technology to increase engagement and learning in his blended organic chemistry courses and online course on Energy and the Environment. He has presented his work at many conferences including the American Chemical Society National Meetings, Biennial Conferences on Chemical Education and the Online Learning Consortium International Conference.
Erin Wilding-Martin is a Professor of Mathematics at Parkland College, the community college in Champaign, IL, where she has taught both developmental and transfer-level mathematics for 18 years. In 2015 she was selected by the Association of Community College Trustees as the recipient of the Central Region Faculty Member Award, and in 2017 she was recognized by Parkland College for Online Teaching Excellence.
Erin’s research explores the philosophy of mathematics and mathematics education, with a focus on the impact of alternate pathways for non-STEM students. She led the design of a new developmental math track at Parkland, called Mathematical Literacy, which provides a context-based, rigorous experience for non-STEM students. She enjoys working with math instructors around the country on course development and teaching mathematics online.
Michele Gribbins
Michele Gribbins is the Associate Director of the Center for Online Learning, Research & Service (COLRS) at UIS. She provides direct consultation, development training, and support to faculty to enhance their instruction in online and blended courses. She coordinates and supports the COLRS Faculty Research Fellows Program and the Open Education Resources Fellows Program. Additionally, she designs, develops, and analyzes data reports related to online enrollments, admissions, and applications to guide COLRS when consulting and advising across campus.
Michele advances research through presentation and publication on a variety of online learning topics including pedagogy, best practices, emerging technologies, and academic integrity. She serves as the Vice Chair for the Online Administration Network of the University Professional & Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), and serves on the Conference Planning Committee for the UPCEA Central Region. She is also the Treasurer of the Illinois Council on Continuing Higher Education. She is a Certified Online Learning Administrator and has been on the project team for two Massive-Open Online Courses (MOOCs) offered by UIS.
Follow her on Twitter @michelegribbins.
Vance is the Campus Accessibility Specialist at UIS. He joined the Center for Online Learning, Research & Service in 2017. For over fifteen years, he has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in history, humanities, education and technology. He has taught using in-person, online, and hybrid formats. He has over ten years of experience in curriculum and instructional design.
Vance’s research looks at technology use in education, social justice, and the intersection of the two. His dissertation project used wikis in community college history classes, which he found encouraged students to question standard historical narratives and created an environment in which minority students felt represented and engaged. As a post-doc at the University of Illinois, he worked on the redesign of teacher education programs in the College of Education, and helped to develop a leadership training program in partnership with Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He also worked on a collaborative international project to deliver educational content to secondary students in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, via cell phones.