Dr. Dave Dawson serves as the Chief Technologist for the College of Professional Studies at the University of West Florida. He plans, develops, and implements the technology strategy for the College. Dr. Dawson has developed several performance support tools, including one for which he is listed as co-inventor in its patent application and one recently adopted University-wide for the development of Web-based online programs.

On October 3, 2008, Dr. Dawson, Dr. Matthew Schwartz (Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies), and Dr. Melanie Sutton (Associate Professor, School of Allied Health and Life Sciences) presented a discussion of strategies for engaging students and creating active learning experiences in online courses as part of a mini-conference sponsored by the Center for University Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (CUTLA).

Dr. Dawson created a Web site to summarize this discussion and to provide links to the handouts provided at the conference. This site is intended as a support tool for instructors and others interested in creating a more engaging online experience for students.