Education

Ph.D. Instructional Technology (2002), The University of Georgia
Masters Industrial Education (1996), Clemson University
B.S. Graphic Communications (1994), Clemson University 

Expertise

Technology-enhanced learning environments; online teaching and learning; teaching and learning with mobile devices; inquiry; project-based learning; problem-based learning; instructional design; curriculum development

Biography

Michael M. Grant is an Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina and a Past President of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology. He is an education scientist, teacher, keynote and workshop presenter, author, and consultant to K-12 schools and higher education. His research considers three complementary areas: the design and development of technology-enhanced learning environments, graphic and instructional designs to support learning, and key learner characteristics. Dr. Grant employs research-based best practices to support student learning and faculty teaching with classroom, hybrid, fully online, and mobile courses. 

Selected Publications

Hodges, C.B., Grant, M.G., Ocak, C., Coffland, D., Downs, E., Kim, J.H. (In press). Digital media for online education. In S. Wa-Mbaleka, K. Thompson, & L. Casimiro (Eds). The SAGE handbook of online higher education. SAGE.

O’Grady-Jones, M. & Grant, M.M. (2023). Ready coder one: Collaborative game design-based learning on gifted fourth graders’ 21st century skills and science content knowledge. Gifted Child Today. 46(2), 84-107. https://doi.org/10.1177/10762175221149259

Ari, F., Vasconcelos, L., Tang, H., Grant, M.M. Arslan-Ari, I., & Moore, A., (2022). Program evaluation of an online Ed.D. in learning design and technologies: Recent graduates’ perspectives. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 66, 699-709.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-022-00744-7

Grant, M.M. (2021). Asynchronous online course designs: Articulating theory, best practices, and techniques for everyday doctoral education. Impacting Education, 6(3), 35–46. https://doi.org/10.5195/ie.2021.191

Arslan-Ari, I., Ari, F., Grant, M.M., Vasconcelos, L., Tang, H., & Morris, W.S. (2021). Becoming action researchers: Crafting the curriculum and learning experiences for scholarly practitioners in educational technology. In E. Romero-Hall (Ed.) Research methods in learning design and technology (pp. 78-93). Routledge Taylor Francis.

Cho, E., Cho, Y. H., Grant, M. M., Song, D., & Huh, Y. (2020). Trends of educational technology in Korea and the U.S.: A report on the AECT-Korean Society for Educational Technology (KSET) panel discussion. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 64, 357–360. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-020-00493-5 [2021 AECT International Division R.W. “Buddy” Burniske Award for best paper published in the International Perspectives section of TechTrends]

Grant, M.M. (2019). Difficulties in defining mobile learning: Analysis, design characteristics, and implications. Educational Technology Research & Development, 67(2), 361-388. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-018-09641-4 [2019 AECT Research & Theory Division Outstanding Theoretical Journal Article Award]

Grant, M.M. & Tamim, S.R. (2019). PBL in K-12 education. In M. Maollem, W. Hung, & N. Dabbagh (Eds.) Wiley handbook of PBL (pp. 221-243).  Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell.

Arslan-Ari, I., Ari, F., Grant, M.M., & Morris, W. (2018). Action research experiences for scholarly practitioners in an online education doctorate program: Design, reality, and lessons learned. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 62(5), 441-449. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-018-0308-3

Grant, M. M., Tamim, S. R., Brown, D. B., Sweeney, J. P., Ferguson, F. K., & Jones, L. B. (2015). Teaching and learning with mobile computing devices: Case study in K-12 classrooms. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 59(4), 32–45. http://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-015-0869-3

Gikas, J. & Grant, M. M. (2013). Mobile computing devices in higher education: Student perspectives on learning with cellphones, smartphones & social media. The Internet and Higher Education, 19, 18-26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2013.06.002

Tamim, S.R. & Grant, M.M. (2013). Definitions and uses: Case study of teachers implementing project-based learning. Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-based Learning, 7(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.7771/1541-5015.1323

Grant, M.M. (2011). Learning, beliefs, and products: Students’ perspectives with project-based learning. Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-based Learning, 5(2), 37-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.7771/1541-5015.1254

Grant, M.M., & Branch, R.M. (2005).  Project-based learning in a middle school:  Tracing abilities through the artifacts of learning. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 38(1), 65-98.

Grant, M.M. (2002, Winter).  Getting a grip on project-based learning:  Theory, cases and recommendations. Meridian:  A Middle School Computer Technologies Journal, 5 [Defunct]. Available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228908690_Getting_a_grip_on_project-based_learning_Theory_cases_and_recommendations

Select Presentations

Vasconcelos, L., Grant, M.M., Tang, H., Ari, F., Arslan-Ari, I., & Qian, Y. (2023, October 18). A review of Ed.D. dissertations in an online asynchronous learning design and technologies program [Conference presentation]. Association for Educational Communications & Technology, Orlando, FL and Online.

Tang, H., Vasconcelos, L, Ari, F., Arslan-Ari, I., Grant, M.M., & Qian, Y. (2023, October 18). Understanding higher education instructors’ roles in online courses during emergency remote teaching [Conference presentation]. Association for Educational Communications & Technology, Orlando, FL and Online.

Kumar, S., Olesova, L., Lowenthal, P., Perkins, R., Ari., F, & Grant M.M. (2023, October 18). Community-building and cohort connectedness in online doctoral programs [Conference panel presentation]. Association for Educational Communications & Technology, Orlando, FL and Online.

Grant, M.M. (2023, March 6). What’s happening with technology in K-12 and higher education classrooms? [Invited presentation]. Columbia Council for Internationals & US State Department Program “Education in the digital age” for educators from Kyrgystan, Columbia, SC.

Grant, M.M. (2021, December 20). Looking back, Looking forward: Research, issues & pressures in educational technology in the United States (and other western countries) [Invited keynote presentation]. International Joint Conference on Information, Media and Engineering, Fuzhou, China and Online.

Grant, M.M. (2021, November 2). Practical advice for early-career professionals: Job market tips, crafting your CV, building your research agenda, negotiating academic writing & making AECT your professional home [Invited keynote presentation]. Early Career Symposium, Association for Educational Communications & Technology, Chicago, IL, United States.

Grant, M.M. (2020, October 17). Data Management, statistical analysis and interpreting outcome measures [Invited workshop]. AAO/ASCO Joint Workshop on Optometric Education Research, Online.

O’Grady-Jones, M. & Grant, M.M. (2020, November 2). Game design-based learning’s impact on gifted fourth graders’ creative and collaborative self-efficacy and science knowledge [Poster presentation]. Association for Educational Communications & Technology, Online.

Hung, W., Dabbagh, N., Ge, X., Glazewski, K., Grant, M.M., & Moallem, M. (2020, November 3). Invigorating problem-based learning (PBL) with social and cultural considerations in its design and research [Panel presentation]. Association for Educational Communications & Technology, Online.

Romero-Hall, E. et al. (2020, November 6). Let’s talk about research methods: Where are we today? [Panel presentation]. Association for Educational Communications & Technology, Online.

Selected Awards

• USC Libraries and USC Student Government SC Open Education Resource (SCoer) Award for development of course, 2023
• AECT International Division R.W. “Buddy” Burniske Award for best paper published in the International Perspectives section of TechTrends, 2021
• Association for Educational Communications & Technology (AECT) Research & Theory Division (RTD) Outstanding Theoretical Journal Article Award, 2019
• University of South Carolina College of Education Leonard F. Maiden Spirit of Service Award, 2019
• American Educational Research Association SIG-Instructional Technology (SIG-IT) Leadership Service Award 2011-2014
• Association for Educational Communications & Technology (AECT) Research & Theory Division Service Award 2011-2014