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Academic Technologist for The Collaborative for Learning and Teaching
Academic Technologist for The Collaborative for Learning and Teaching
Dr. Lauren Malone is a native San Antonian who--after traveling across the country and the world--has finally made it back to her hometown! She is the new Academic Technologist in the Collaborative for Teaching and Learning, a role which bridges the worlds of pedagogy and technology.
Dr. Lauren Malone is a native San Antonian who--after traveling across the country and the world--has finally made it back to her hometown! She is the new Academic Technologist in the Collaborative for Teaching and Learning, a role which bridges the worlds of pedagogy and technology.
After earning her Bachelor of Arts in English at Central College, Iowa, Malone taught in middle school for a year. That experience prompted her to continue her education to teach at the college level. She then pursued her MA in Professional Writing at London Metropolitan University. She completed her Ph.D. at Iowa State this past spring, where she conducted research on underrepresented voices in digital communities.
After earning her Bachelor of Arts in English at Central College, Iowa, Malone taught in middle school for a year. That experience prompted her to continue her education to teach at the college level. She then pursued her MA in Professional Writing at London Metropolitan University. She completed her Ph.D. at Iowa State this past spring, where she conducted research on underrepresented voices in digital communities.
Dr. Malone is a board game and video game fanatic, and in her free times she loves to read and write fantasy. A fun fact is that she has played the cello for more years than most Trinity students have even existed: 22 years! Her favorite ice cream flavor is Cookies and Cream. She loves to cook and her most beloved dish is turkey tetrazzini, made with leftover thanksgiving turkey. Lastly, she cannot wait to play board game Kraken Ataken with her friends as soon as the pandemic ends!
Dr. Malone is a board game and video game fanatic, and in her free times she loves to read and write fantasy. A fun fact is that she has played the cello for more years than most Trinity students have even existed: 22 years! Her favorite ice cream flavor is Cookies and Cream. She loves to cook and her most beloved dish is turkey tetrazzini, made with leftover thanksgiving turkey. Lastly, she cannot wait to play board game Kraken Ataken with her friends as soon as the pandemic ends!
To learn more about Dr. Lauren Malone we asked her a few questions.
To learn more about Dr. Lauren Malone we asked her a few questions.
As the newest Academic Technologist Specialist, what are you most looking forward to in this position?
As the newest Academic Technologist Specialist, what are you most looking forward to in this position?
I'm looking forward to all of the workshops! I love getting together with people and getting our hands dirty with some ed tech. I'm excited to get to know the wider Trinity community.
Speaking of academic technology, what are your thoughts on the intersection of technology and pedagogy? -especially after COVID-19
Speaking of academic technology, what are your thoughts on the intersection of technology and pedagogy? -especially after COVID-19
I think they intersect in different ways for different people. With COVID, we're seeing it become more integral as delivery changes to things like Zoom or video production. But I'm a big advocate of triangulating teaching practices, content, and tech. Not every piece of tech will work for everyone - or even for every lecture. In my workshops, I don't expect everyone to come away convinced to use [insert ed tech here], but I do want everyone to feel empowered to explore their options and find what works best for them and their students.
Could you tell us a little bit more about your dissertation and ongoing research on digital communities?
Could you tell us a little bit more about your dissertation and ongoing research on digital communities?
My dissertation explored the ways in which queer/trans* people of color engage with each other and pop culture online. A lot of things we think of as "online slang" can be traced back to QTPoC communities in the 60s and 70s, and I was interested in how that's become mainstream, if there are rhetorical/languaging strategies unique to the community now, and if there were certain practices we engage in to keep ourselves safe as we engage with pop culture on various platforms. Going forward, I want to focus on specific platform communities and dive deeper into platform-specific phenomena and how we contribute to it. For example, Black Twitter and the concept of the Twitter novella.
Your studies and research have taken you across the country and across the world; however, you landed your first post-PhD job in your hometown! How does it feel to be back?
Your studies and research have taken you across the country and across the world; however, you landed your first post-PhD job in your hometown! How does it feel to be back?
It feels great! Absolutely wonderful. I went for a walk in 100 degree heat out of pure joy. :) My family (parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles/cousins) are all here, and even though we can't get together as normal, it's nice to be close. Also, I ate nothing but Shipley Donuts for the first week. #NoRegrets. I'm happy to be a part of the Trinity community, and have felt nothing but welcomed since I got here!
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