I joined the Special Education Department in the College of Education in April 1995 after a year-long sabbatical leave studying distance education systems. Besides teaching and research, my duties will include some Department and College-wide efforts in distance education and instructional technology.

Division of Media Services (DMS) provides a variety of instructional support services to the University community including direct support for teaching offered to students, faculty and academic departments. The Division also provides significant support for public service functions and for faculty research. The four units that make up the Division included WMUK Radio, Media Production, Faculty Development Services, and Technical Services. Responsibility includes general supervision of thirty-eight employees and a yearly budget of $1,900,000.

Office facilitates instructional improvement activities on a University-wide basis including consulting on instructional improvement topics, sponsoring inservice classes, supporting instructional improvement grants, a Student Assistantship Awards Program, a student rating system, and in general, promoting the improvement of instruction.

Project EXCITE was an institutional development effort to promote use of computers/information technology and includes consulting activities, inservice computer literacy classes, sponsorship of teleconferences, sale of computer equipment and software, displays/exhibits, guest speakers, and other activities to facilitate use of computers by faculty, staff, and students of the University.

The Microcomputer Sales Program provides discounted computer equipment and software for resale to W.M.U. faculty, staff, and students and includes pre-sales consulting, handling of all sales bookkeeping and paper work, pre-delivery check-out of equipment, and post sales consulting. The sales program averages $1,250,000 in sales per year with 600 plus systems handled during 1987.

The Office on a University-wide basis assists faculty with their professional responsibilities of teaching, scholarly research, and public service including providing consulting services, organizing inservice workshops, awarding grants, and promoting professional development activities.

Instructional Media provides audio visual media support to the instructional staff and programs of the College including maintenance and repair of audio visual equipment, film loan and rental services, management of audio laboratory, instructional development consulting, and other activities to promote improvements in instruction. Director also taught Introductory Biology and Speech classes.

• Poole, Howard and Schma, G., "State-wide Distance Education Networks in Michigan: One Institution's Perspective", 12 pgs, ED Journal, United States Distance Learning Association (In Publication)
• Poole, Howard, Vander Meer, P., and Van Valey, T., "Computer and Library Use by Students and Faculty", 17 pgs., Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning Meeting, 1995
• Poole, Howard, Van Valey, T. and Vakalis, M.,"'Power Users' as Institutional Change Agents", 17 pgs., International Conference on Technology and Education, 1995
• Poole, Howard and Van Valey, T., "Computer Use Among Employees Who Teach, 6 pgs., Western Michigan University, 1994
• Poole, Howard, Van Valey, T., and Vakalis, M., "Faculty/Staff Computing Survey 1989-94", 11 pgs., Western Michigan University, 1994
• Poole, Howard and Van Valey, T., "The Impact of Computers on the Writing Process: A Comparison Over Time, 2 pgs., Conference Proceedings: Computers on Campus, 1994
• Van Valey, Thomas and Poole, H., "Surveys of Computing: A Tool for Campus Planning", 6 pgs., Proceedings: User Services Conference XXII, ACM Press, 1994
• Poole, Howard, Van Valey, T. and Vakalis, M., "Academic Power Users: A Definition Revisited", Proceedings of Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA 94) Annual Conference, 1994, Canberra, Australia
• Poole, Howard, Van Valey, T. and Vakalis, M., "'Power Users' in Academe: Who are they?", Proceedings of Ed-Media 94 World Conference on Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, 1994, Vancouver, BC, Canada
• Poole, Howard, "Faculty Use of Distance Education Technologies", 1 pg., Online Chronicle of Distance Education, Vol. 7, No. 1, 1994 (Electronic Publication)
• Vakalis, Marianne, Van Valey, T., and Poole, H., "Changes in Student Use of Computers Over Time," 6 pgs., North Central Sociological Association, Columbus, Ohio, 1994
• Poole, Howard, Van Valey, T., and Vakalis, M., "Campus Summary: WMU Student Computer Survey Preliminary Results, 1989 and 1994", 6 pgs., Western Michigan University, 1994
• Poole, Howard and Palchick, Lisa, "Electronic Global Village Higher Education Task Force - Final Report", 100 pgs., Kalamazoo Telecity Project, 1994
• Poole, Howard, Van Valey, T, and Vakalis, M., "Trends in Computer Use Among Students and Faculty", 9 pgs., Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning, 1994

• Poole, Howard, "Telecommunications Infrastructure for Kalamazoo Electronic Global Village Higher Education Task Force," 16 pgs., Kalamazoo Telecity Project, 1993
• Poole, Howard and Whitman, Jason, "Telecommunications Resource List for Michigan Universities," 15 pgs., Western Michigan University, 1992
• Poole, Howard, Vakalis, M., and Van Valey, T., "Computer Anxiety Among Faculty, Staff, and Students," 13 pgs., The Educational Computing Organization of Ontario, 1992
• Poole, Howard, "Will You Qualify? Storyboard/Script Evaluation", 14 pgs., Office of Minority Equity, Michigan Department of Education, 1992
• Vakalis, M., Van Valey, T., Poole, H., and Gu, Z., "Academic Power Users: Toward a Definition," 3 pgs., The Ninth International Conference on Technology and Education, Vol. II, 1992
• Poole, Howard, Vakalis, M., and Van Valey, T., "To Word Process or Not to Word Process?, That is the Question," 24 pgs., Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning, 1992
• Poole, Howard and Watson, M., "Preliminary Summary: Instructional Technology Survey," 39 pgs., Western Michigan University, 1991
• Van Valey, Thomas, Vakalis, M. and Poole, H., "Resistance to Computers: Some Causes and Consequences, 13 pgs., Western Michigan University, 1991
• Vakalis, Marianne, Poole, H., and Van Valey, T., "Faculty Attitudes Towards Computing," 12 pgs., Michigan Educational Research Association , 1991
• Van Valey, Thomas, Poole, H., and Vakalis, M., "Computing in Higher Education: Student Use and Expectations," 15 pgs., Computers on Campus National Conference, 1991
• Van Valey, Thomas, Poole, H., and Vakalis, M., "Academic Power Users: Toward a Definition," 10 pgs., Social Science Computer Review, 1991
• Vakalis, Marianne, Poole, H., and Van Valey, T., "Power Users at Western Michigan University - Who are They?," 10 pgs, Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning, 1991
• Poole, Howard and Bunda, M. A., "Experimental Trial Program: WMU Teaching Improvement System", 20 pgs., Western Michigan University, 1991

• "Computer Expertise of University Library Users", Michigan Association of Media Educators, 1995, Grand Rapids, MI (Accepted)
• "Becoming a World Wide Web "Webmaster": A Personal History", Michigan Association of Media Educators, 1995, Grand Rapids, MI (Accepted)
• "Middle School Library and Computer Programs Around the Pacific Rim", Michigan Association of Media Educators, 1995, Grand Rapids, MI (Accepted)

• "Expanding Opportunities in Special Education Via Distance Education", Breaking the Boundaries of Time and Space, Annual Distance Education Conference, 1995, Augusta, Maine, (Accepted)
• "A New Distance Education Network in Your Future? Think ATM!", Breaking the Boundaries of Time and Space, Annual Distance Education Conference, 1995, Augusta, Maine, (Accepted)
• "The Electronic Faculty Members: Who Are They?", Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 1995, London, CA - Co-presenter
• "Do Faculty Use Computers While Teaching?", Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 1995, London, CA - Co-presenter
• "Computer and Distance Technologies Around the Pacific Rim", Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning Meeting, 1995, Detroit, MI - Co-presenter
• "Building a World Wide Web Server", Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning Meeting, 1994, Detroit, MI - Presenter
• "Changing Patterns of University Computing", Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning Meeting, 1994, Detroit, MI - Presenter
• "Computer and Library Use by Students and Faculty", Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning Meeting, 1994, Detroit, MI - Presenter
• "Wireless Computing in Southwestern Michigan", Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning Meeting, 1994, Detroit, MI - Co-presenter
• "'Power Users' as Institutional Change Agents", International Conference on Technology and Education, 1995, Orlando, FL - Presenter
• "The Impact of Computers on the Writing Process: A Comparison Over Time," Computers on Campus National Conference, 1994, Myrtle Beach, SC - Co-presenter
• "Distance Learning Technologies: Where Do They Rank?", Telelearning Conference '94, 1994, Baltimore, MD - Presenter
• "Academic Power Users: A Definition Revisited", Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA 94) Annual Conference, 1994, Canberra, Australia - Poster Presentation
• "'Power Users' in Academe: Who are they?", Ed-Media 94 World Conference on Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, 1994, Vancouver, BC, Canada - Poster Presentation
• "Trends in Computer Use Among Students and Faculty", Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning Meeting, 1994, Grand Rapids, MI - Presenter
• "Electronic Global Village Higher Education Task Force - Final Report", Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning Annual Meeting, 1994, Grand Rapids, MI - Presenter
• "Higher Education Task Force Report", Kalamazoo Telecity Expo94, 1994, Kalamazoo, MI - Conference Organizer and Presenter
• "Satellite Telecommunication Activities at Western Michigan University" - New Orleans Teleport, 1993 - Satellite Teleconference from Kalamazoo, MI to New Orleans, LA - Co-presenter
• "The Electronic Global Village (EGV) Higher Education Task Force" - Kalamazoo, MI, 1993 - Medical Informatics Grand Rounds, Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies - Co-presenter
• "Electronic Global Village: Kalamazoo, MI and Blacksburg, VA" - Kalamazoo, MI, 1993 - Two-way Satellite Video Teleconference Between Western Michigan University and Virginia Technological University, - Organizer and Panel Host
• "To Word Process Or Not To Word Process?, That Is The Question," Michigan Association of Computer Users in Learning Annual Meeting, 1992, Grand Rapids, MI - Co-presenter
• "Academic Power Users," International Academic Staff Development Audio Teleconference, 1992, Originated from Kalamazoo, MI - Presenter and Host
• "Computer Anxiety Among Faculty, Staff, and Students," The Educational Computing Organization of Ontario Annual Meeting, 1992, Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Presenter
• "Show-and-Tell II - MITN Providers Teleconference," Michigan Information Technology Network, 1992, Originated from Kalamazoo, MI - Organizer and Host
• "Improving Telecourse Teaching", Annual Inservice Workshop, 1992, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI - Co-organizer and Presenter
• "The TIDE is Coming," Technologies in Distance Education, 1992, Kalamazoo Valley Intermediate School District, Kalamazoo, MI - Panel Presenter on Electronic Classroom Demonstration Over Cable Television
• "Delivery Systems in a Nutshell," Joint Educational Teleconsortium of Michigan (ETOM) and Southeastern Michigan Television Education Consortium (SEMTEC) Annual Meeting, 1992, Lake Michigan College, Benton Harbor, MI - Presenter
• "Faculty Attitudes Toward Computing," Michigan Educational Research Association Annual Conference, 1991, Novi, MI - Co-presenter
• "Computing in Higher Education: Student Use and Expectations," Computers on Campus National Conference, 1991, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - Co-presenter

(Developmental research on the audio-tutorial science teaching methodology; field research on elementary science instruction; research on science achievement with first grade students, special education students, junior high students, and inter city, disadvantaged students; and research on teacher behaviors and learning centers.)

(Numerous institutional studies for the evaluation and improvement of instructional materials, academic classes, faculty teaching skills, curriculum improvement, and student achievement; survey of public interest in non-traditional forms of instruction; and developmental research on inservice activities for faculty.)

(Various needs surveys, evaluations of self-instructional materials, and consultation on instructional development for re-entry Occupational Therapists.)

(Provide consulting services to a team of faculty developing training materials for community mental health board members.)

(Numerous institutional studies focusing on the improvement of computer use and the understanding of computers by university faculty and staff including studies on inservice training needs, microcomputer purchase plans and options, use of word processing, computers in instruction, teaching writing with computers, and other forms of computer technology.)

(Numerous studies focusing on use of various forms of instructional media (especially computers) and educational technology, the teaching of university classes, and distance education applications.)