Dr John Fraser

Associate Professor of Design and Communications

My current research interests lie in using communication technology for collaboration in design work in international educational contexts. I spent 2003 -2004 on sabbatical at Iowa State University as an International Scholar and Visiting Professor teaching graduate and undergraduate classes in advanced instructional systems design and researching into collaborative online learning environments. I am currently engaged in an ongoing teaching/research project called DesignLink involving distributed teams of design students drawn from Universities in the US, the UK, South America and Canada. The research examines the behaviour of the groups to using communication technologies in computer-supported co-operative projects, their social interaction and collective performance.

Courses Taught

• ADM 211 Developing Spaces
• ADM 339 Advertising Graphics; Theory and Practice
• ADM 362 Pixel Playground
• ADM 378 Compositions in Interactive Media
• ADM 372 Web Design
• ADM 406 Advanced Graphics
• ADM 386-397 Special Topics in Art, Design and Media
• ADM 450 Fourth Bridge: Art, Design and Media Projects
• ADM 483 Internship in Art, Design and Media

Publications

• Fraser, J. (2006). A conversational framework for online collaborative design groups. In C. Crawford et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 2006 (pp. 3150-3152). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
• Hagenson, L., Nilakanta, R., Fraser, J., Lopez Fernandez, O., Nyvang, T., Ellis, K. & Davis, N. (2004). ILET: An Intercultural Learning Experience in Educational Technology. In C. Crawford et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 2004 (pp. 2881-2886). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
• Fraser, J. (2003). What can international collaboration do for teaching and learning in the classroom?. In C. Crawford et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 2003 (pp. 1422-1425). Chesapeake, VA: AACE. Recent Publications:
• Fraser, J. (2003) ‘Technology, Symbols and Perception: The Interaction of New Media and Learning in Multicultural Classrooms’ in M.H. Prosser and K.S. Sitaram (Eds). Civic Discourse: Communication, Technology and Cultural Values, Volume 3 (Civic Discourse for the Third Millenium). London: Ablex
• Fraser, J. (2002) ‘Challenges to Design Educators Lie in Negotiating Multiple Discourses’: Goldsmiths Journal of Education, Vol. 5., No. 1, 52 – 63.
• Fraser, J. (2002) ‘Can the use of computer-mediated communication for distance collaboration enhance the design curriculum?’ in Davies, A. (Ed). Enhancing the Curriculum: exploring effective curricula practices in art, design and communication in Higher Education. 199-217. Oxford: Oxonian Rewley
• Fraser, J. (2002) ‘Designing within a Computer-Mediated-Communications Environment: a current investigation’, In D. Durling and J. Shackleton (Eds). Common Ground. Design Research Society. 59 - 60. Staffordshire University Press. Fraser, J. (2001) ‘Collaborative Design Work and Information Communication Technology in International Educational Contexts’, Digital Creativity: Crossing the Border. CADE 2001. 119 – 123. Glasgow: Glasgow School of Art Press.
• Fraser, J. (1997) ‘Reflections on Strategies for the Incorporation of Computing as a Teaching Tool into the Art and Design Curriculum' in C. Butler and D. W. Bundy (Eds), Split Screen. 94-99, Chichester: CHI Press.

Conferences, Presentations and Proceedings

• ‘Scaffolding interfaces for online collaborative designwork’, Presenter, Wonderground - 2006 Design Research Society International Conference in Lisbon, Portugal at IADE Instituto de Artes Visuais, Design e Marketing, November 2006 .
• ‘A Conversational Framework for Online Collaborative Design Groups’, Presenter, AACE, SITE 2006--Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference, Florida, USA, March 2006.
• ‘Online Design Collaboration’, Presenter, International Conference on the Use of Technology for Teaching and Learning in Art, Design and Communication, 'Designs on E-Learning', University of the Arts London, September 2005. Fraser, John, "Current Issues in the Training of Design and Technology Teachers", Invited Presentation, the Open University, Milton Keynes, September 2005. ‘ILET: An Intercultural Learning Experience in Educational Technology’, Co-Presenter. SITE 2004--AACE (Association for the Advancement of Computers in Education’s) SITE (Society for
• Information Technology & Teacher Education) International Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, US, March 1 - 6, 2004.
• 'A Scot in Iowa: Reflections on Either Side of the Pond’, International and Intercultural Communication Division Thematic Program Panel: Extending Our Reach to International University Teaching Experiences. National Communication Association 2003 Convention, Miami, Florida, US. November 2003.
• 'Communication and Culture in an International Collaborative Educational Environment’, Invited participant to the Doctoral Honors Communication and Culture Seminar, National Communication Association 2003: Bowling Green University, Ohio, US. August 2003.
• ‘What can international collaboration do for teaching and learning in the classroom?’, Presenter. SITE 2003--AACE (Association for the Advancement of Computers in Education’s) SITE (Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education) 14th International Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico, US, March 24-29, 2003.
• ADC-LTSN Learning & Teaching Project Fund, Case Studies Award: February 2003
• 'Communication-Technology-Pedegogy in Action: A Collaboration across Three Continents', Presenter. Forum: The New Pedegogy: Teaching and Learning Online. National Communication Association Convention, New Orleans, US. November 2002.
• 'Literacy, Pedegogy and Innovation; Challenges in the Net Age', Presenter. Forum :Acting Communication in the Global Village: Technology, Literacy and Culture. National Communication Association Convention. New Orleans, US. November 2002.
• Respondent to Panel: Acting Communication in the Global Village: Technology, Literacy and Culture. National Communication Association Convention, Human Communication and Technology Division. New Orleans, US. November 2002.
• ‘Designing within a Computer-Mediated-Communications Environment: a current investigation’, Presenter: The Design Research Society 2002 International Conference, Common Ground, Brunel University, UK. September 2002.
• ‘DesignLinks: Supporting International Collaborative Design in Educational Contexts’, Presenter: Doctoral Educational Conference, Institute of Education, University of London, UK. July 2002.
• ‘Can International Collaboration do anything for Design Education ?’ Presenter: CLTAD 1st International Conference, Enhancing the Curricula: exploring effective curricula practices in art, design and communication in Higher Education, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), London, UK. 11 - 12 April 2002.
• ‘The London-Nebraska Link: An International Collaborative Design Project’, Presenter: Doctoral Educational Conference, Institute of Education, University of London, UK. July 2001.
• ‘Collaborative Design Work and Information Communication Technology (ICT) in International Educational Contexts’, Presenter: CADE2001 Digital Creativity: Crossing the Border, Computers in Art and Design Education Conference, Glasgow, UK. 9 - 12 April 2001
• ‘Negotiating Multiple Discourses’, Presenter: Doctoral Educational Conference, Institute of Education, University of London, UK. July 2000. ‘Critical Professionalism, Communication and Technology: The Challenge to Design Educators in the Modern World’, Presenter: Exchange 99: Facilitating Art and Design Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK. 1999
• ‘Perceptual Interfaces for Human Media Interaction in Virtual Environments’, Invited participant: Visualisation and Virtual Environments Community Club. Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, Oxford, UK. 1999
• Visions of a Learning Society, Institute of Education, University of London, UK. 1998
• ‘The Future of Schooling: Challenges, Strategies and Networks’ Participant in Invitational Seminar: Institute of Education, University of London, UK. 1998
• ‘Collaborative Learning and the New Technologies: Design and Pedagogy’, Presenter: Images, Signs, Symbols: The Cultural Coding of Communication. 7ieme Congres Annuel de SIETAR Europa. Futuroscope, Poitiers, France. 1997
• ‘Real-time Computer Graphics for Virtual Environments’, Invited participant: EPSRC Visualisation and Virtual Environments Community Club. UCL, London University UK. 1997
• ‘Pedagogical and Cultural Predictors of the Effectiveness of Instructional Multimedia Technology in the Classroom’, Paper: Eurographics UK Chapter 15th Annual Conference University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. 1997
• ‘Using Internet Tools to Build a Virtual Classroom’, CIT workshop: Oxford University, UK. 1997
• ‘Technology, Symbols and Perceptions: Multicultural Interface Design’, Presenter: Communication, Technology and Cultural Values: International Conference. Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA. 1997 ‘Networked Virtual Reality Resource Centres for Art and Design’, Invited participant. NVRCAD Workshop. Exeter School of Art and Design, University of Plymouth, UK 1997
• Computers in Art and Design, CADE 1996. Panel member. Postgraduate Conference Coventry School of Art and Design, UK. 1996 ‘3D and Multimedia on the Internet, WWW. International Conference’, Participant: National Museum of Photography, Film and Networks Television, University of Bradford. UK. 1996
• 'Impact of Culture on Technology-Enhanced Learning', Presenter: The Roles of Learning, Technology and Language Conference. The 49th International Conference on Education Exchange. Monterey, California, USA. 1996
• ‘Fourth Digital Imaging Conference’. Participant: British Institute of Professional Photographers. NESCOT, Surrey, UK. 1996 ‘Virtual Environments: State of the Art’. Invited participant: EPSRC Visualisation Community Club. Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, Oxford, UK. 1996 'Rationales and Strategies for the Incorporation of Computing as a tool into the Art and Design Curriculum', Presenter: International Conference for Art and Design. Chichester Institute, Southampton University, UK. 1996

Professional Activities

• The Design Research Society.
• The British Computer Society.
• Special Interest Group: Computer Graphics and Displays.
• The Association for Computing in Art & Design Education.
• Support Initiative for Multimedia Applications.
• EPSRC Community Club in Visualisation and Virtual Environments.
• UK-Virtual Reality SIG.
• New technologies and collaborative design work - London University 1998-2000
• Consultancy - Business Degree - e-commerce initiative. Richmond, The American University in London. 2000
• Consultancy - Computer Science degree - graphic design concentration. Richmond, The American University in London. 1998
• Consultancy - Computer Science degree - Internet and Multimedia Systems. Richmond, The American University in London. 2000
• Responsibility for the teaching, development and implementation of the Design curriculum within the Studio Arts Program. 1996-to present
• Curricular development work towards the Open University UK Honors Degree and US Middle States accreditation. 1995-1998
• Ongoing consultations with the Computing Program, the School of Business and within the Department of Communication and Fine Arts to devise and implement joint curricular initiatives in the field of multimedia design.1997-present
• Design Methodologies and Databases. North London University, UK. 1985
• Visual Perception for the Artist. Institute of Education, London, UK. 1981-83
• Light and Perception. Open University, UK 1980
• Paint Systems, Animation and Video, Central St Martins, London Institute, and Middlesex University UK.
• Exhibitions of paintings, water colours, drawings and prints. Showed at various group and one-man shows: venues include: Camden Arts Centre, London; Bedford Way Gallery, London; Midton Gallery, London; Lethaby Gallery, London. Work in public and private collections in the UK, Italy, Germany & Sweden.