Associate Professor Leonard Webster
PhD, MEd, BA, Dip.of Teaching, MACE, Cert. A

I am an Educational Developer in the Centre for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching (CALT), Monash University. My experience includes research in teaching and learning in higher education with a special interest in educational technology. I have an interest in narrative inquiry and other qualitative research methods. As an educational theorist, I have sought to link educational theory with learning and research models to provide educationally sound learning environments.

My background is in Learning and Teaching in higher education with an interest in the use of Educational Technologies. I have taught in all sectors of education and consulted to educational institutions and governmental agencies nationally and internationally.

 My interests include:

• educational technologies including Personalised Learning Environments (PLE), podcasting and simulation;
• evaluation of educational technologies;
• narrative inquiry and qualitative research methods;
• linking educational theory with learning and research models to provide educationally sound learning environments;
• distance, flexible and blended learning;
• academic staff development;
• award qualifications for higher education teaching.

In recent years my role at CALT has involved the Educational Technology Framework, Future Research Leaders Program and quality development work, as well providing advice and services to the eEducation Centre at Monash University.

Awards

AUC Scholarship (2007)
Innovations Patent for online learning environment (2005) Lex
Best paper Award, ASCILITE 2002
ASCILITE Award (1999) Exemplary use of electronic technologies in teaching and learning in tertiary education
International Fellowship (DSE: 1988 - Colorado U.S.A)

Associations

Membership

Books and Chapters

Webster, L., Fraser, K., Smith, L. (2009) ‘Research-led curriculum redesign for productive learning: A case study in the Faculty of Information Technology’, in J O’Donoghue (ed) Technology Supported Environment for Personalised Learning: Methods and Case Studies, Hershey, PA, USA: Idea Group Inc (*submitted)

Murphy, D., Webster, L. (2008) ‘Enhancing learning through technology – Challenges and responses’, in P. Tsang, R. Kwan, R. Fox (eds) Enhancing Learning through Technology – Research on Emerging Technologies and Pedagogies, Hong Kong: World Scientific Publishing.

Webster, L., Mertova, P. (2007) Using Narrative Inquiry as a Research Method: An introduction to using narrative analysis in learning and teaching, Routledge Falmer, UK.

Webster, L., Mertova, P. (2007) 'Terms of engagement: A case study of instructional designers in a Faculty of Law', in M. Keppell (ed.) i>Instructional Design: Case Studies in Communities of Practice, Hershey, PA, USA: Idea Group Inc, pp. 257-274.

Webster, L. (2004) Development of a flexible and customizable online learning environment, in D. Murphy et al (eds) Distance Education and Technology: Issues and Practice, Hong Kong: Open University of Hong Kong Press, pp. 308-20.

Webster, L., Murphy, D. (2001). The Reluctant Software Developers in D. Murphy & R.Walker & G. Webb (Eds.) Online Learning and Teaching with technology: Case studies, Experience and Practice (pp.114-120). London: Kogan Page.

Webster L., Jackling N. (1994). Communications options for open learning- Emerging technologies. In M. Parer, A. Ingliss, J. Julian (Eds.), Unlocking open learning - Some keys to flexible and distance learning. Churchill: Centre for Distance Learning, Monash University

Refereed Journals

• Mertova, P.,Webster, L. (2009) Higher Education Quality, Internationalisation and the Academic Voice. Quality in Higher Education. Routledge, UK. (*submitted)
• Mertova, P.,Webster, L. (2009) Critical Event Narrative Inquiry. Higher Education Quality. Routledge, UK. (*submitted)
• Mertova, P., Webster, L., (2009) "The academic voice in English and Czech higher education quality" in Qualiity Assurance Education; 17 (2) .
• Teo, Y. & Webster, L. (2008). Acquiring Knowledge From Asynchronous Discussion. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education. 16 (3), pp. 265-281. Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
• Webster, L., Mertova, P., Torr, J. et al (2007) 'ICT in the Delivery of an IntWebster, L., Mertova, P., Torr, J. et al (2007) 'ICT in the Delivery of an International Program on Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability', Educational Media International, 44 (2): 155-166.
• Webster, L., Mertova, P., Becker, J. (2005) 'Providing a Discipline-Based Higher Education Qualification', Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 2 (2), 75-83.
• Kennedy, D., Webster, L., Benson, R. James, D., Bailey, N. (2002) ‘My.Monash: Supporting students and staff in teaching', Australian Journal of Educational Technology, 18(1): 24-39.
• Dean, A., & Webster L., (2000) 'Simulations in Distance Education: Progress towards an evaluation instrument', Distance Education, 21 (2): 344-60.
• Murphy, D. Fraser, K. & Webster, L. (2000) 'Wrestling with Blancmange: A flexible Flexible Learning Workshop', International Journal of Staff Development, 5(1):54-60.

Conference Papers and Presentations

• Mertova, P., Webster, L. (2006) 'Online Delivery of an International Program on Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability', E-Learn 2006, Honolulu, Hawaii.
• Kathy Buxton, Kerryn Jackson, Melissa deZwart, Len Webster, David Lindsay (2006) 'Recorded lectures: Looking to the future', in L. Markauskaite, P. Goodyear, & P. Reimann (Eds.) Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education: Who's Learning? Whose Technology?, Sydney: Sydney University Press, pp. 101-104.
• Kerryn Jackson, Bill Potter, David Lindsay, Len Webster, Kathy Buxton, Melissa deZwart (2006) 'Reducing staff and student workload: Redevelopment of an online law unit', poster presentation, in L. Markauskaite, P. Goodyear, & P. Reimann (Eds.) Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education: Who's Learning? Whose Technology?, Sydney: Sydney University Press, p. 976.
• Becker, J., Nair, C.S., Webster, L., Mertova, P. (2006) 'A Faculty Approach to Closing the Loop in a Unit Evaluations - A Case Study in the Faculty of Law', AUQF 2006, Perth, Australia.
• Webster, L., Mertova, P. (2005) Online Higher Education Teaching Qualification in Law: An online reflective practice course, E-Learn 2005, October 2005, Vancouver, Canada: AACE.
• Webster, L., Mertova, P. (2005) Narrative inquiry and reflective practice – two of a kind: a case study of the Graduate Certificate in Law Teaching, 11th Cambridge International Conference on Open and Distance Learning , 20-23 September, Cambridge, UK: Open University and Commonwealth of Learning, refereed paper.
• Webster, L., Becker, J., Jackson, K. (2004). Professional legal accreditation online - an innovative approach to an online learning community. Third Pan Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning, Dunedin, New Zealand, refereed conference paper. ) Quality & Law: The Current Student Experience, Monash University Evaluation Forum 2004, refereed paper.
• Romeo, G., Webster, L., Varsavsky C., Edwards, S. (2002). InterLearn: Linking Romeo, G., Webster, L., Varsavsky C., Edwards, S. (2002). InterLearn: Linking Learners at Monash. In Proceedings of the Australian Council for Computers In Education Conference 2002, Linking Learners (pp 1-11). Hobart: Tasmanian Society for Information technology in Education.
• McKenzie W., Varsavsky C., Romeo G., Webster L. (2002). InterLearn: A tool for collaborative learning. In Proceedings of the 19th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning for Tertiary Education: Winds of change in a sea of learning (pp. 691-700). Auckland: Unitec.
• Kennedy, D., L. Webster, Benson, R., James, D. (2001). The Monash Portal: More than just a virtual gateway. In Proceedings of the 18th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education: Meeting at the crossroads (pp 317-326). Melbourne:Biomedical Multimedia Unit, The University of Melbourne.
• Webster L., Murphy D., (1999) InterLearn: Interactive Learning on the Internet. Snapshot paper at the 16th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education: Responding to diversity. Brisbane: Queensland University of Technology.
• Murphy D., Webster L. (1999) Partnership in Learning: An interactive On-Line Software Tool. In proceedings of C.R.E.A.D (Consorcio-red de educación a distancia): Engaging Partnerships Collaboration and Partnership in Distance Education. Vancover: The Pennsylvania State University.
• Webster L. & Murphy D., (1999) InterLearn: An interactive web based learning support environment. In Proceedings of WebNet 99 - World Conference on the WWW and Internet (pp 1629-1630). Charlottesville: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Eduction (AACE).
• Murphy D. & Webster L., (1999) Flexible directions in staff development. In Proceedings of the 19th ICDE World Conference on Open Learning and Distance Education: The New Educational Frontier: Teaching and Learning in a Networked World. Vienna: International Council for Distance Education.