Alumna's Research Published

Rachael Hoffman, a 2011 Westminster College graduate, was the lead author of an article published in a recent issue of the Consortium of College and University Media Centers' (CCUMC) College and University Media Review. 

"WikiKlips: Using Vodcasts on Wikis for Student Team Lab Reports" presented research Hoffman completed as an undergraduate and focused on the crossover between media, technology, and learning.

Hoffman and her co-authors - Gary Swanson, Westminster director of audio visual services, and Dr. Sandra Webster, professor of psychology - showed how collaboration between media technologists and faculty members is essential for success in teaching technology research.

The WikiKlips project was a combination of three technologies: Flip video camera vodcasts, E-Prime psychology software, and Sakai learning management software for student team reports. Each of the technologies had been used previously, but never together or led by students at the undergraduate level.

"Sandra and I are listed as the co-authors, but I think Sandra would agree with me that Rachael is the author of this article," Swanson said.  "We all teamed on the project and did offer editorial suggestions on the article, which I believe led Rachael to submit our names with hers, but it is her work."

"Rachael is an unusually gifted student," said Webster.  "She was able to be first author on this article in part because of the extraordinary training she received as part of Gary's excellent team of student workers and the extra work she did with me on the E-Prime grant.  She continues to represent Westminster well in her current work in Pittsburgh."

Hoffman, a Greenville native who majored in psychology, was the AV Services operations and equipment circulation manager.  She is now enrolled in the school psychology Ph.D. program at Duquesne University.  Hoffman works as a graduate assistant for the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate, a nationwide effort to redefine the Ed.D. and distinguish it from the Ph.D. in education, and as a research developer and tech consultant at Psychology Software Tools.

Swanson, a Westminster graduate, joined the staff in 1990.

Webster, who has been with Westminster since 1983, earned undergraduate and master's degrees and Ph.D. from the University of Southern Illinois, Carbondale.

Contact Swanson at (724) 946-7188 or email for additional information.

Rachael Hoffman