About the Blogger

About Holly McCracken

Holly McCracken is currently a faculty member at Capella University (located in Minneapolis, MN) where she teaches in the School of Undergraduate Studies and is affiliated with the First Course and Business Programs. Additionally, she is a faculty member with the CAEL program LearningCounts that emphasizes prior learning assessment. McCracken has taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, in the areas of experiential learning, adult education, training and performance improvement, online teaching and learning, and liberal studies. Previous professional experiences include the development and administration of distance education programs; grant writing and management; and, academic program oversight. Currently a doctoral student at Capella University, McCracken’s research interests include adult, experiential and transformative learning, adult literacy, academic outreach and workforce education, organizational psychology, and instructional technologies.

For a full list of presentations, published works, and professional experiences, or questions about this blog please contact McCracken via email at hollyjmac@gmail.com

Selected Published Works

Dittmar, E., & McCracken, H. (2012). Promoting continuous quality improvement in online teaching: The META model. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 16(2), 163-175. Available from http://sloanconsortium.org/publications/jaln_main

McCracken, H., & Dittmar, E. (2012). Using a comprehensive faculty development program to promote continuous quality in online teaching: The META model. Proceedings from the Association for Advancement in Computing Education Global Time Conference on Technology, Innovation, Media & Education. Available from http://www.editlib.org/

McCracken, H., & Guthrie, K.L. (2011). Experience as the foundation for authentic online learning. eMentor, 3(40). Retrieved from http://www.e-mentor.edu.pl/artykul/index/numer/40/id/853

McCracken, H., & Dittmar, E. (2011). Engage, motivate, and challenge online faculty with ‘just in time’ web tools. Proceedings from the Association for Advancement in Computing Education Global Time Conference on Technology, Innovation, Media & Education. Available from http://www.editlib.org/

Guthrie, K. & McCracken, H. (2010). Teaching and learning social justice through online service-learning courses. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning. Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/viewArticle/894

Guthrie, K., & McCracken, H. (2010). Reflective pedagogy: Making meaning in experiential based online courses. Journal of Educators Online, 7(2), 1-21. Retrieved from http://www.thejeo.com/Archives/Volume7Number2/GuthriePaper.pdf

Guthrie, K. & McCracken, H. (2010). Making a difference online: Facilitating service-learning through distance education. Internet and Higher Education, 13(3), 153-157. Elsevier Publishers.

Guthrie, K. & McCracken, H. (2010).  Promoting reflective discourse through connectivity: Conversations around service-learning experiences. Cases on Online Discussion and Interaction: Experiences and Outcomes, L. Shedlesky and J. Aitken (eds.). Hershey, PA:  IGI Global Publishers. Available from http://www.igi-global.com/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=43658

McCracken, H. & Guthrie, K. (2010).  Using transformative pedagogy to facilitate meaningful learning in web-based service-learning courses. Transformative Learning and Online Education: Aesthetics, Dimensions and Concepts, G. Kurubacak and V. Yuzer (eds.). Hershey, PA: IGI Global Publishers. Available from http://www.igi-global.com/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=48875

McCracken, H. (2008). Retaining students in web-based learning environments: The impact of technology on distant student retention. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory and Practice. The National Center for Student Success. Available from http://baywood.metapress.com/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer=parent&backto=issue,6,7;journal,16,50;linkingpublicationresults,1:300319,1

McCracken, H. (2007). Facilitating connected knowing through the use of virtual learning communities. The Encyclopedia of Distant Student Support (2nd ed.). Hershey, PA: The Idea Group Publishers. Available from http://www.igi-global.com/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=11868

McCracken, H. (2006). Furthering connected teaching and learning through the use of virtual learning communities. In e-Mentor, originally published in Polish and translated to English for publication by the Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw, Poland. Retrieved from http://www.e-mentor.edu.pl/artykul/index/numer/17/id/359

McCracken. H. (2005). Web-based academic support programming: Guidelines for extensibility. The Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 8 (3). Retrieved from: http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/fall83/mccracken83.htm

McCracken, H. (2005). Virtual learning communities. The Encyclopedia of Distant Student Support (1st ed.). Hershey, PA: The Idea Group, Inc.

McCracken, H. (2004, March). Extending virtual access: Promoting engagement and retention through integrated support systems. The Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 7 (1). Retrieved from: http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/spring71/mccracken71.html

McCracken, H. (2003). More than reading: Communication, participation and interaction in online classrooms. The student guide to successful online learning. Allyn and Bacon Publishers.

McCracken, H. (2002). The importance of learning communities to retaining and motivating online learners. Motivating and retaining online learners. GetEducation.com. Retrieved from http://www.geteducated.com/images/pdfs/journalmotivateretain.pdf

Article Translations

McCracken, H. (2006). Furthering connected teaching and learning through the use of virtual learning communities, in e-Mentor, originally published in Polish and translated to English for publication at the Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw, Poland.

McCracken, H. (2006). Extending virtual access: Promoting engagement and retention through integrated support systems,” in The Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, reprinted in Croatian for publication in EduPoint, an electronic journal produced by the Croatian Academic and Research Network, Zagreb, Croatia.

Publication Advisory and Editorial Boards

2010-2012:  Editorial Board for the journal Research in Learning Technology, the Journal of the Association for Learning, originating from Oxford Brookes University, UK. Retrieved from http://www.researchinlearningtechnology.net/index.php/rlt

2012: Reviewer for the Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, that originates from the Sloan Consortium, USA. Retrieved from http://sloanconsortium.org/publications/jaln_main

2011: Reviewer for the International Review of Open and Distance Learning, that originates from Athabasca University, Canada. Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/

2009: Advisory/Editorial Board for the book Distance Learning Technology, Current Instruction, and the Future of Education: Applications of Today, Practices of Tomorrow, in collaboration with the University of Southern Texas, USA. Retrieved from http://www.igi-global.com/book/distance-learning-technology-current-instruction/37240

2009:  Advisory/Editorial Board for the manuscript in the Review of Higher Education, University of Houston. Retrieved from http://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/review_of_higher_education/