Professor, Adult Education

University of New Brunswick
P.O. Box 4400
Fredericton, NB
E3B 5A3

Tel: (506) 447-3037
Fax: (506) 453-3569
Marshall d'Avray Hall, rm. 314D

Introduction

Current research and practice interests include technology adoption processes, gender-related issues, faculty development, and reflective practice for social activists and adult educators.

Courses taught (MEd level):

ED 6143 - Origins and trends in adult education

ED 6144 - Adult learning

ED 6156 - Women in education

ED 6168 - Applied ethics for the education and training of adults

ED 6169 - Flexible learning

ED 6821 - Qualitative methods of research in education

ED 6901 - Doctoral seminar

Her SSHRC research focussed on qualitative analyses of the experiential learnings of retired and almost retired international distance education leaders and the implications of those learnings for current post-secondary education contexts. The book from the project was published in fall 2007 (Open University Press/McGraw-Hill Education).

Her doctoral dissertation (Ed.D., Toronto) reported a qualitative analysis of students' perceptions of learning on-line while studying in two M.Ed courses. ( Journal of Distance Education, 9(1), 19-43, 1994).

Professional Activity

Liz was the 1996/97 President of the Canadian Association for Distance Education/Association canadienne de l'éducation à distance ( www.cade-aced.ca ). She has served on the editorial boards of the (Canadian) Journal of Distance Education and The American Journal of Distance Education, and was elected a Vice President of the International Council for Distance Education for two terms. She led the development of an international women's network in flexible learning for adults. Between 1996-2000 she was a member of the Expert Advisory Network of the Office of Learning Technologies of the Canadian Federal government. She is currently a member of the editorial boards for Open Learning , Journal of Distance Education , Adult Education Quarterly, and Learning, Media and Technology, and International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning (IRRODL).

On May 21, 1997 she received from the Ambassador of Finland to Canada the insignia for Knight, First Class, Order of the White Rose of Finland; granted by the President of Finland for promoting cultural cooperation between Finland and Canada.

She is an ex-president of the Board of Directors of the Third Age Centre, based at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, and established in 1990 to address advocacy, education and action research matters relevant to those aged 50 years and better. Current volunteer work focusses on the Fredericton Heritage Trust Inc.

Opening keynote speech for the  Distance Education Association of New Zealand (DEANZ), April 2010:  

“No. 8 wire, wool, and ‘sure to rise’: New Zealand icons and distance education pioneers”.

Opening Keynote for DEANZ 2010 conference

Selected Publications

Women social activists of Atlantic Canada: Profiles of wisdom. (2011) A research publication from the Electronic Text Centre of UNB Libraries: http://etc.lib.unb.ca/womenactivists

With Chère Gibson & Terry Gibson as co-editors (2011). Flexible pedagogy, flexible practice: Field notes from distance education. Athabasca, AB: Athabasca University Press. http://www.aupress.ca/index.php/books/120203

With Philip Davison. Between dissonance and grace: the experience of post-secondary leaders. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 29 (1), 2010, 111-131.

Editorship for and authorship of two chapters for New Directions in Adult and Continuing Education, # 123 (USA: Wiley-Jossey-Bass). Negotiating ethical practice in adult education, Fall 2009. 

Online issues carrying ethical implications: Notes for the 14th annual Sloan-C International Conference on Online Learning. Florida, November 2008.

‘Crafting the future': pioneer lessons and concerns for today.  Distance Education, 29 (1), 2008, 5-17.

Burge, E. J. &  Polec, J.  Learning and teaching in practice: Where change and consistency interact. In Evans, T., Haughey, M. & Murphy, D. (Eds.) International handbook of distance education (pp. 237-258).  Brighton, UK: Emerald Publishing. 2008 

Researcher, author and editor for Flexible Higher Education: Reflections from expert experience. Open University Press/McGraw-Hill Education, UK & USA. 2007.  [“Quite simply, this is essential and inspiring reading to prepare the next generation to lead distance education.”  Michael F. Beaudoin, University of New England. The American Journal of Distance Education, vol.22, p. 184, 2008.]

Guest Editorial for Open Learning, 22 (2), 2007, 107-115. Special issue: ‘Ethical issues in open and distance learning’.

“Behind-the-screen thinking: key factors for librarianship in distance education" In Brophy, P., Fisher, S. and Clarke, Z. (Eds.) Libraries without walls 4:the delivery of library services to distant users (pp. 7-15).  London: Facet Publishing. 2002   

Using learning technologies: A synthesis of challenges and guidelines. In Burge, E. J. & Haughey, M. (Eds.) Using learning technologies: International perspectives on practice (pp. 145-155). London:  RoutledgeFalmer. 2001

Synthesis: Learning and learners are the issues. In Burge, E.J. (Ed.)  The strategic use of learning technologies. (New Directions in Adult and Continuing Education, # 88). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. 2001

With J. Snow.  Candles, corks and contracts: Essential relationships between learners and librarians.  The New Review of Libraries and Lifelong Learning, 1 (1), 2000, 19-34.

With D. Laroque & C. Boak .  Baring professional souls: Reflections on Web life. Journal of Distance Education, 15 (1), 2000, 81-98.

With J. M. Roberts.  Classrooms with a difference: Facilitating learning on the information highway (completely rewritten 2nd edition).  Montreal, Q.C.: Chenelière/McGraw-Hill.  (142 pp.).  1998

Gender in distance education.  In  C. C. Gibson, (Ed.)  Distance learners in higher education: Institutional responses for quality outcomes  (pp. 25-45). Madison, WI: Atwood Publishing. 1998

With J. O’Rourke. The dynamics of distance teaching: Voices from the field.  In C. Latchem  &  F. Lockwood (Eds.) Staff development in open and distance learning (pp. 193-202). London: Routledge. 1998

Inside-out thinking about distance teaching: Making sense of reflective practice. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 47 (11), 1996, 843- 848.

Electronic highway or weaving loom?  Thinking about conferencing technologies for learning.  In F. Lockwood (Ed.) Open and distance learning today  (pp. 151-163).  London:  Routledge. 1995

Learning in computer conferenced contexts:  The learner's perspective.  Journal of Distance Education, 9 (1), 1994, 19-43.

With M. Haughey. Transformative learning in reflective practice.   In T. Evans, & D. Nation (Eds.) Reforming open and distance education (pp. 88-112).  London:  Kogan Page. 1993

With C. L. Smythe, J. M. Roberts, & E. M. Keough.  The audio-conference: Delivering continuing education for addiction workers in Canada.  Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education, 39 (1), 1993, 78-91.

Connectiveness and Responsiveness.  In Feminist pedagogy and women-friendly perspectives in distance education:  Papers presented at International WIN Conference, Umeå, Sweden, June 10-13, 1993. (pp.86-102). Umeå:  Women's Studies Centre of Umeå University. 1993

Thinking holistically:  A new perspective on distance learning.  In Selected papers from the second American Symposium on Research in Distance Education, Pennsylvania State University, May, 1991 (pp. 12-30).  University Park, PA:  The American Center for the Study of Distance Education, Pennsylvania State University.  ACSDE Monograph #8. 1993

With J. E. Snow.  Interactive audio classrooms:  Key principles for effective practice.  Education for Information, 8, 1990, 299-312.

With J. L. Howard.  Graduate level distance learning:  The students speak.  Canadian Journal of University Continuing  Education, 16 (1), 1990, 49-65.

With J. L. Howard.  Audio-conferencing in graduate education:  A case study.  The American Journal of Distance Education, 4 (2), 1990, 3-13.

With H. Lenskyj.  Women studying in distance education:  Issues and principles. Journal of  Distance  Education, 5 (1), 20-37. 1990

Women as learners: Issues for visual and virtual classrooms.  The Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education/la Revue canadienne pour l'étude de l'éducation des adultes, 4 (2), 1990, 1-24.

With J. E. Snow & J. L. Howard.  Distance education:  Concept and practice. Canadian Library Journal, 46 (5), 1989, 329-335.

Beyond andragogy:  Some explorations for distance learning design. Journal of Distance Education, 3 (1), 1988, 5-23.

Light a candle, don't curse the dark.  In K. Faith (Ed.), Toward new horizons:  International perspectives on women in distance education (pp. vii-xiv).  London:  Routledge. 1988

Burge, L., Norquay, M. & Roberts, J.  Listening to learn: Using the voice in distance education. Toronto: Instructional Resources Development Unit, OISE/CJRT FM - Open College.  Print and audio cassette manual, 52 pp. 1987

With C. C. Frewin.  Self-directed learning in distance learning.  International encyclopedia of education: Research and studies (pp. 4515-4517).  Oxford:  Pergamon Press.  Reprinted in Titmus, C. J. (Ed.) (1989), Lifelong education for adults:  An international handbook (pp.260-262).  Oxford/NY:  Pergamon Press. 1986

With J. Roberts.  Audio-teleconferencing in continuing education:  A case study with implications.  Canadian Journal of University Continuing Education, 10 (2), 1984, 20-30.

With A. W. Fales.  Self-direction by design:  The application of self-directed learning in distance course design.  Canadian Journal of University Continuing Education, 10 (1), 1984, 68-78.

Looking Back

In previous lives in Australia, Liz gained professional librarianship qualifications from the (then) Library Association of Australia , graduated B.A. ( University of Adelaide ), and post-Graduate Diploma in Educational Technology ( University of South Australia ), before coming to Canada in 1980 to continue graduate study at the now Ontario Institute for Studies in Education/University of Toronto.

Prior to working full time as a UNB faculty member since 1993, Liz's paid-work experience since 1964 has focused on readers' services and administration in public, vocational college, polytechnic, and special libraries (in South Australia); course design and delivery management for distance modes of graduate courses, leadership of an instructional resources development unit and later a distance education coordinating office, and research into various aspects of distance teaching and learning (at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education/University of Toronto); and educational development for university staff and teachers (Sweden and elsewhere).