Linda G. Polin, Ph.D.

Professor of Education, Program Director, EDET and Davidson Professor of Education and Technology

Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles; M.A., University of California, Los Angeles; B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara

Dr. Linda Polin is a professor of education at Pepperdine University's Graduate School of Education and Psychology where she directs the hybrid (online and face-to-face) doctoral program in educational technology leadership. She teaches masters and doctoral courses in learning, technology, and design, as well as in action research methods. Dr. Polin consults with school districts, universities, and software developers. She is interested in research and development of e-learning communities. Her current interests focus on story and dialogue in knowledge co-construction and sharing, and on informal online communities in which those functions activities are employed.

Dr. Polin leads the Pepperdine partnership with the Southeast Educational Technology Consortium implementing an $11 milion EETT/NCLB consortium grant focusing on cognitive coaching and middle school writing. The Pepperdine team is supporting the development of an e-commons among grant participants as part of a design research effort to ensure sustainability of beyond funding.?

Dr. Polin sits on advisory boards for KLCS (LAUSD PBS station), Cable in the Classroom, and the Women Science Equity Online project at TERC. She is also a member of the Budget & Technology Committee, serving at the pleasure of the School Board for Redondo Beach Unified School District.

Dr. Polin is a member of the ACM and faculty sponsor of the Pepperdine GSEP student chapter of ACM. Dr. Polin is a member of the AERA, and is the AERA program chair for the Cultural Historical Research SIG.

Her most recent publications include Dialogue With a Practicing Community, in Duffy & Kirkley (eds), Learner Centered Theory and Practice in Distance Education, LEA, 2003; and with Margaret Riel, Models of Community Learning and Online Learning in Communities, in Barab, Kling, & Gray (eds). Designing Virtual Communities in the Service of Learning, Cambridge University Press, 2004. Dr. Polin enjoys cycling, constructing with Legos, raising collared lizards, video gaming, Pokemon TCG, all things Studio Chibli, and geeking. Her current geek adventure entails podcasting to her classes and moblogging to friends.