Employment History
Associate Director 2009 - Present
Confucius Institute, Michigan State University
Director of Technology 2006 - 2009
Confucius Institute, Michigan State University
Oversee the design and deployment of Confucius Institute products. Manage a development team of staff, graduate and undergraduate student workers.
Instructor 2006-Present
Masters of Educational Technology, Michigan State University
Instructor for master's level courses for both the Plymouth, England and East Lansing, MI programs. Courses deal with distinct mixture of Educational Psychology and Educational Technology focus areas.
Information Technology Professional 2004-2006
Center for Teaching and Technology, Michigan State University
Designed and produced multimedia resources for College of Education faculty, graduate students and staff. Included web programming and design, video production and digital animation.
Multimedia Producer 2001-2004
Kids Learning in Computer Klubhouses (KLICK!), Michigan State University
Created marketing materials and helped design curriculum for 20+ after school clubhouses throughout the state of Michigan. Taught workshops to middle school students about video acquisition, editing and digital animation.
Education
Masters of Arts: Educational Technology
Michigan State University. 2009
Focus on Learning, Design and Technology.
B.A. in Telecommunications
Michigan State University. 2000
Focus on Media Arts and International Film
Presentations
Dirkin, K. (2010) "Zon: Game based, distance learning platform for Chinese as a second language instruction". MSU Asia Studies' Chinese Teachers Workshop.
Gustafson, T. & Dirkin, K. (2010) "Echo 360 Presentation Capture System". Michigan State University Information Technology Conference.
Dirkin, K. (2010) "Alfresco Document Management System". Michigan State University Information Technology Conference.
Ni, R. Akcaoglu, M. & Dirkin, K. (2010) "Compromising among Gaming, Learning and Society". Games, Learning and Society Conference.
Dirkin, K. & White, T. (2010) "Chinese Your Way". Internationalizing Michigan Education Conference.
Zheng, D. Wang, J. Dirkin, K. & Zhao, Y. (2009) “Second Life Chinese School: Iterative Design for Embodiment and Game Play”. Computer Assisted Language Instruction Consortium Conference.
Zheng, D. & Dirkin, K. (2009) "Using Technology to Expand Globalization and Internationalization of the Curriculum" Internationalizing Michigan Education Conference.
Zheng, D. Lai, C. & Dirkin, K. (2008) “Designing and learning in Second Life Chinese Island”. Poster presentation. American Association for Applied Linguistics National Conference.
Zheng, D. Wang, J. & Dirkin, K. (2008) “Play Scavenger Hunt and Learn Chinese: Design and Access Learning in Virtual Worlds”. Games, Learning and Society Conference.
Zheng, D. Dirkin, K. Ni, R. Ma, Y. & Boyer, D. (2008) “Approaches to Language Learning as Meaningful Play”. Panel discussion. Meaningful Play Conference.
Ni, R. & Dirkin, K. (2008) “Learning Chinese Language and Culture in the Context of MMORPG”. Computer Assisted Language Instruction Consortium Conference.
Zheng, D. Li, N. & Dirkin, K. (2007) "Designing and Learning in Second Life Chinese Island" VuDAT Breakfast Series.
Awards
Advanced Confucius Institute of the Year. 2007, 2008 & 2009.
Audience Choice Award for "Swarm & Destroy". Kalamazoo Shorts Film Festival. 2004.
Third Place Documentary for "Swarm and Destroy". East Lansing Film Festival. 2004.
Teaching
Courses
CEP 800: The Psychology of Learning in Schools and Other Settings (co-instructor). 2007.
CEP 801: Psychological Development: Learner Differences & Commonalities (co-instructor). 2007.
CEP 807: Proseminar in Educational Technology (co-instructor). 2006.
CEP 816: Technology, Teaching, and Learning Across the Curriculum (co-instructor). 2006.
CEP 817: Learning Technology Through Design (co-instructor). 2006.
CEP 822: Approaches to Educational Research (co-instructor). 2007.
ENG 370: Film and Society (teaching assistant). 1999.
ENG 371: Film Genres (teaching assistant). 1999.
ENG 472: Studies in British Film (teaching assistant). 1999.
Workshops
Super Science for Special Education Teachers Utilizing Unit and Universal Design Through Technology (S3T3) - Lawrence Technological University, Spring 2010
Second Life Boot Camp - Department of Defense Education Activity ICT Task Force. April 2010.
Video editing with iMovie – Center for Teaching and Technology Annual Conference, Michigan State University, 2002-2006.
Videography tips & techniques – College of Education, Michigan State University Graduate Student Workshop, 2005.
Videography tips & techniques - Workshop for the Master in Educational Technology Program, Michigan State University, 2005.
Using Flash - Workshop for the Master in Educational Technology Program, Michigan State University, 2003.
Klick! Quest – Middle School video editing workshops, 2002-2004.
Klaymation! – Middle School claymation workshops, 2002-2004.
Curriculum & Software Design
Advocating Strong Standards-based Induction Support for Teachers (ASSIST) website. Site design. http://assist.educ.msu.edu. 2006.
Character of the Day. Chinese character learning tool. CIMSU. http://confucius.msu.edu/wotd. 2007-current.
Chinese Chat Podcast. CIMSU. http://msuconfuciusinstitute.org/podcasts. 2007-2008.
Chinese Your Way. Mandarin eTextbook. CIMSU. 2007-current.
Confucius Institute at Michigan State University website. Site design. http://confucius.msu.edu. 2006-2009.
Experience Chinese website. Site design, programming and administration. http://experiencechinese.com. 2008-current.
Gaining Ground LMS. Drupal deployment and site design. http://gaining.educ.msu.edu. 2007-current.
IB DP Online Mandarin Chinese ab initio online course. Moodle integration & support. MIVU & CIMSU. http://www.mivhs.org/content.cfm?ID=889. 2009.
Good Schools Detroit MSU Resource Center website. Site design. Skillman Foundation. http://msugoodschoolsdetroit.org. 2009.
Idea Tools, weather unit. Project Time. http://mltoolbox.org/wx/. 2007.
Kids Learning in Computer Klubhouses (KLICK!) Video & Curriculum Handbooks. KLICK! 2002-2004.
Pronounce. English Pronunciation Tool for the New Era Interactive English Textbook. Tsinghua University Press. 2005.
NAHEI Final Report. The Native American Higher Education Initiative. W.K. Kellogg Foundation. 2005.
Nest Egg. Teacher Education Portfolio System. Preparing Teachers using Technology for Tomorrow (PT3). 2005.
Second Life Chinese School. CIMSU, Michigan Virtual University & St. Clair Shores Community College. 2007-current.
Technology for Authentic Problem Solving (TAPS) project. Video production and site design. PT3 & MACUL. http://dev.cimsu.org/taps. 2005-2008.
Web based document sharing system. AERA Teacher Induction Special Interest Group. 2006.
Zon, Mandarin language learning MMORPG. Web based massively multiplayer online role-playing game. CIMSU. http://enterzon.com. 2005-current.
Zon @ School Program. Private Virtual Servers for Zon. 2010-current.