Joan Vinall-Cox, Ph.D.
Joan has been using the web to communicate, as an individual and as a teacher, since early in its existence. After a career teaching communication skills and literature at a community college, she was ‘forced’ onto the web as part of her teaching of writing skills. Currently she lectures at the University of Toronto at Mississauga, teaching courses requiring students to extend their public speaking skills into podcasting, and to broaden their knowledge of how to use the web and web-applications.
Teaching communication skills in an array of different programs at Sheridan led Joan to learn more about how people learn through her own experience, reading learning theories, and taking courses. She received her M.Ed from OISE/University of Toronto with a thesis on how people read. She returned to OISE and graduated with a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in 2004, with a thesis focussed on moving from technophobia to technophilia and her fascination with the communication possibilities available with the web.
While working with Sheridan Interior Design students, who were required to write 100 page theses using word-processing software and the web, Joan became determined to have her students’ theses look designed, so she worked hard to expand her knowledge. As a direct result of this, at the recommendation of her students and colleagues, she was awarded Sheridan’s First Annual Teaching Excellence Award for the 2000-2001 academic year.
Joan continues to expand her knowledge of the changing patterns of communication that the computer and web have brought us, and the practical use of our new communication tools.
She is available for speaking to groups and for individual or small group consulting through her business – JNthWEB Consulting.
Awards and Achievements:
Sheridan College Teaching Excellence Award 2000-2001
Ph.D. University of Toronto, 2004 (Education)
Specialties:
Presenting on Social Media, writing, editing, teaching writing, teaching presentation skills, introducing Social Media applications for training and work, and helping people set up their individualized online “Personal Learning and Working Environments”.
