Xun Ge is Professor of Instructional Psychology and Technology and Chair of the Department of Educational Psychology, Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education, the University of Oklahoma. She holds a Ph.D. in Instructional Systems from the Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Ge's primary research interest involves scaffolding students' complex and ill-structured problem solving and self-regulated learning through designing instructional scaffolds, cognitive tools, learning technologies, and open learning environments (including virtual learning community, game-based learning, inquiry-based learning, and problem- based learning). Dirk Ifenthaler is currently Manager of Applied Research and Learning Analytics at Open Universities Australia and Affiliate Research Scholar at the University of Oklahoma, USA. His background is in cognitive psychology, educational technology, statistics and teacher education. Dr. Ifenthaler developed automated and computer-based methodologies for the assessment and analysis of graphical and natural language representations (SMD, HIMATT, AKOVIA). J. Michael Spector is Professor and Chair of Learning Technologies in the College of Information at the University of North Texas. He was previously Professor of Educational Psychology and Instructional Technology, Doctoral Program Coordinator for the Learning, Design, and Technology Program, and a Research Scientist at the Learning and Performance Support Laboratory at the University of Georgia (2009-2011). His recent research is in the areas of intelligent support for instructional design, system dynamics based learning environments, assessing learning in complex domains, distance learning, and technology integration in education. Dirk Ifenthaler is currently Manager of Applied Research and Learning Analytics at Open Universities Australia and Affiliate Research Scholar at the University of Oklahoma, USA. His background is in cognitive psychology, educational technology, statistics and teacher education. Dr. Ifenthaler developed automated and computer-based methodologies for the assessment and analysis of graphical and natural language representations (SMD, HIMATT, AKOVIA). He is also interested in the development of educational software, game-based assessment and learning management systems as well as technology integration into the classroom with a specific focus on mobile technologies. Dr. Ifenthaler's research outcomes span 18 co-authored books, 43 book chapters, 26 journal articles and 73 conference papers. He was a 2012 Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence at the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education, the University of Oklahoma, USA and Interim Department Chair and Professor at the University of Mannheim, Germany where he was responsible for teacher education. He is the 2013 President-Elect for the AECT (Association for Educational Communications and Technology) Division Design and Development, 2013 Chair for the AERA Special Interest Group Technology, Instruction, Cognition and Learning and Program Chair for the international conference on Cognition and Exploratory Learning in the Digital Age. He is member of the Editorial Board for Educational Technology Research and Development. Dr Ifenthaler received the 2012 Outstanding Journal Article Award by AECT, 2009 Outstanding Reviewer Award for Educational Technology Research and Development and the 2006 Outstanding Dissertation Award by University of Freiburg, Germany. J. Michael Spector is Professor and Chair of Learning Technologies in the College of Information at the University of North Texas. He was previously Professor of Educational Psychology and Instructional Technology, Doctoral Program Coordinator for the Learning, Design, and Technology Program, and a Research Scientist at the Learning and Performance Support Laboratory at the University of Georgia (2009-2011). Previously, he was Associate Director of the Learning Systems Institute, Professor of Instructional Systems, and Principal Investigator for the International Center for Learning, Education and Performance Systems at Florida State University (2004-2008). He served as Chair of Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation at Syracuse University (2000-2004) and Director of the Educational Information Science and Technology Research Program at the University of Bergen (1996-1999). He is a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy from The University of Texas at Austin (1978). His recent research is in the areas of intelligent support for instructional design, system dynamics based learning environments, assessing learning in complex domains, distance learning, and technology integration in education. Dr. Spector served on the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance and Instruction (ibstpi) as Executive Vice President; he is on the Executive Committee of the IEEE Learning Technology Technical Committee, is a Past President of the Association for Educational and Communications Technology (AECT) as well as a Past Chair of the Technology, Instruction, Cognition and Learning Special Interest Group of the American Educational Research Association. He is the editor (11th year as editor) of the Development Section of Educational Technology Research & Development, and he serves on numerous other editorial boards. He co-edited the third and fourth editions of the Handbook of Research on Educational Communications and Technology, is editing the Encyclopedia of Educational Technology, and has more than 100 journal articles, book chapters and books to his credit. Dr. Spector is active in international educational technology developments and was the Conference Co-Chair and Local Organizer for the 2011 IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies held at UGA 6-8 July.
