Writing & Speaking

Sharing research insights through articles, talks, and presentations.

Featured Conference & Research Writings

Universal Design for Research with dscout

Accessible, inclusive design principles support all users, not just folks with an immediate need for them. At Dscout’s UX Research Conference, I co-presented our case study focused on the deaf and hard-of-hearing community’s experiences with and expectations of technology. We uncovered critical learnings and opportunity spaces for software and hardware products, as well as surfacing better ways to collaborate with communities with access needs. In this presentation, we discuss our broad learnings and share recommendations for any team looking to improve their own access and inclusion research practices.

Featured Interview

Ethnographic Value and Impact

In this episode of the EPIC2022: Resilience Podcast mini-series, I speak with Matt Artz about ethnographic value and impact. I discuss our case study published in the EPIC proceedings, sharing best practices with innovators, creators, researchers, and leaders working across all industries and sectors.

Interviews & Industry Conversations

Smart to the Touch: Tactile Cues Improve User Experience on ThinkPad Keyboard

Lenovo is the first laptop manufacturer to integrate additional tactile cues in its keyboards to improve accessibility. Here I’m interviewed about the discovery research I led for this project.

Translating Principle into Practice

In this interview, my team discusses Lenovo’s commitment to access and diversity across its product ecosystem, and our approach to inclusive research, from both strategic and tactical levels.

International and Cross-Cultural Experience Research: Advice from Five Experts

With a panel of other research leaders, I share my experience conducting international research and advice when navigating this global space in-person or remotely.

Selected Published Reports

Academic Publications

The Flexible Writing Classroom as a Site for Pedagogical Reflection

Gierdowski, D. and Miller-Cochran, S. (2016). “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Understanding Expectations and Mapping Preferences for Writing Classroom Design.” In J. P. Purdy and D. N. DeVoss (Eds.) Making Space: Writing Instruction, Infrastructure, and Multiliteracies. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press Sweetland.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Instructor Perceptions of a Flexible Writing Classroom

Gierdowski, D. (2015). “Instructor Perceptions of a Flexible Writing Classroom.” In R. Carpenter, R. Selfe, S. Apostle, and K. Apostle (Eds.) Sustainable Learning Spaces, Computers & Composition Digital Press, an Imprint of the Utah State University Press.

Geographies of a Writing Space

Gierdowski, D. and Reis, D. (2015) “The MobileMaker: An Experiment with a Mobile Makerspace.” Library Hi Tech 33:4 , 480-496.

Making Peace with the Rising Costs of Writing Technologies

Miller-Cochran, S. and Gierdowski, D. (2013). “Making Peace with the Rising Costs of Writing Technologies: Flexible Classroom Design as a Sustainable Solution.” Computers and Composition Special Issue: Deploying 21st Century Writing on the Economic Frontlines, 30 (1), 50-60.

Studying Learning Spaces

Gierdowski, D. (2012). “Studying Learning Spaces: A Review of Selected Empirical Studies.” In R. Carpenter (Ed.) Cases on Higher Education Spaces. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.

Selected Conference Presentations

Select Webinars

ELI Webinar | The IT Experiences of Undergraduate Students: 2018 ECAR Findings

EDUCAUSE researchers will present the results of the 2018 ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology. Using data collected from over 60,000 students, we will offer insights into and recommendations for data-driven decisions to support learning and student success of higher education institutions. Topics will include student device access and ownership, device use and importance, student technology experiences, LMS use and satisfaction, learning environment preferences, experiences with instructors and technology, home internet access, a day in the online life of a student, accessibility, and student success tools.

EDUCAUSE Live! Webinar Today's Higher Ed IT Workforce, 2018

Nearly 1,600 members of the higher education IT community recently participated in an EDUCAUSE Research survey about the IT workforce. This ELive! is our opportunity to share the most compelling results of that research back with the higher ed IT community. Learn about how the composition of today’s IT workforce looks different (or the same) as it did a few years ago. Hear about the professional experiences that drive career trajectories for managers and CIOs. See the factors that have a positive impact on IT salaries and better understand work environments that help retain qualified staff.

FLEXspace 2.0: An International Community to Elevate Learning Spaces

Experience the new FLEXspace (Flexible Learning Environments eXchange) portal to share, benchmark and connect with international learning space experts including researchers, faculty, facilities planners, academic technologists, architects, and AV integrators. This hands-on tour will familiarize you (and your campus) with practical toolkits, research, and designs to ideate, plan, catalog, and assess learning spaces. This session empowers participants to energize and lead campus-based teams to be more effective when considering learning space attributes and budget priorities.

ELI Webinar | A Preview of the Study of Community College Students and Information Technology

For the first time since 2007, ECAR is giving special attention to the technology experiences of students at US community colleges. This session will preview our forthcoming report that covers topics related to community college student device access and use, and the importance they place on tech devices for their academic success. Findings about this population’s perceptions of online student success tool and their learning environment preferences will be shared. We will also highlight results related to issues of accessible and adaptive technologies for students with disabilities at community colleges.

ELI Webinar | The IT Experiences of Faculty and Undergraduate Students: 2019 ECAR Findings

Students and faculty are arguably the most important end users of the efforts of IT units to provide effective and reliable technologies. We will offer insights and recommendations for data-driven decisions to support the teaching and learning missions of higher ed institutions gleaned from data from over 55,000 students and 10,000 faculty.

Webinar | Assessing the User Experience: What Do Your Students Think?

If you’re like most, you’re probably focusing on initiatives related to accessibility, student success, and/or data privacy. Before you take action on implementing solutions and changing your culture, wouldn’t you want to understand more about what your students and faculty think about these issues? In this webinar, you’ll learn about how hundreds of institutions have gained insight from thousands of their constituents to understand more about their experiences with technology’s top issues.

Writing & Speaking

Sharing research insights through articles, talks, and presentations.

Universal Design for Research with dscout

Ethnographic Value and Impact

Interviews & Industry Conversations

Smart to the Touch: Tactile Cues Improve User Experience on ThinkPad Keyboard

Translating Principle into Practice

International and Cross-Cultural Experience Research: Advice from Five Experts​

Selected Published Reports

Student Experiences with Technology in the Pandemic​

EDUCAUSE QuickPoll Results: Academic Research​

Accessibility Hazards on the Road to College​

ECAR Study of the Technology Needs of Students with Disabilities

Accessible Technology Support for Faculty with Disabilities​

That's the Power of Words​

2019 Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology​

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the IT Workforce

ECAR Study of Community College Students and Information Technology​

Academic Publications

The Flexible Writing Classroom as a Site for Pedagogical Reflection​

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words​

Instructor Perceptions of a Flexible Writing Classroom​

Geographies of a Writing Space​

Making Peace with the Rising Costs of Writing Technologies​

Studying Learning Spaces​

Selected Conference Presentations

EDUCAUSE 2020 Student Technology Surveys: Supporting the Whole Student​

Improving Access and Universal Design for Learning​

Presentation Pair: Active Learning Classrooms​

The 2018 Higher Education IT Workforce Landscape​

2018 ECAR Student Technology Survey​

The Stat Is Right! The Edtech Quiz Show​

The 2019 ECAR Student and Faculty Technology Surveys​

Special Topics in the 2019 Higher Ed IT Workforce​

Select Webinars

ELI Webinar | The IT Experiences of Undergraduate Students: 2018 ECAR Findings​

EDUCAUSE Live! Webinar Today's Higher Ed IT Workforce, 2018​

FLEXspace 2.0: An International Community to Elevate Learning Spaces​

ELI Webinar | A Preview of the Study of Community College Students and Information Technology​

ELI Webinar | The IT Experiences of Faculty and Undergraduate Students: 2019 ECAR Findings​

Webinar | Assessing the User Experience: What Do Your Students Think?​

International and Cross-Cultural Experience Research: Advice from Five Experts

Student Experiences with Technology in the Pandemic

EDUCAUSE QuickPoll Results: Academic Research

Accessibility Hazards on the Road to College

Accessible Technology Support for Faculty with Disabilities

That's the Power of Words

2019 Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology

ECAR Study of Community College Students and Information Technology

The Flexible Writing Classroom as a Site for Pedagogical Reflection

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Instructor Perceptions of a Flexible Writing Classroom

Geographies of a Writing Space

Making Peace with the Rising Costs of Writing Technologies

Studying Learning Spaces

EDUCAUSE 2020 Student Technology Surveys: Supporting the Whole Student

Improving Access and Universal Design for Learning

Presentation Pair: Active Learning Classrooms

The 2018 Higher Education IT Workforce Landscape

2018 ECAR Student Technology Survey

The Stat Is Right! The Edtech Quiz Show