Travis N Thurston, PhD
Director of Teaching Excellence
ETE, Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President
Education
PhD, Curriculum and Instruction - Instructional Leadership,
Utah State University, 2020 Dissertation
MET, Educational Technology & Online Teaching,
Boise State University, 2012
BA, History Teaching and Coaching,
Utah State University, 2009
Contact Information
Office Location: Logan Campus, Distance Education 101A
Phone: 435-797-4950
Email: travis.thurston@usu.edu
Profile: LinkedIn
Bio
Dr. Thurston is the founding director of the Center for Empowering Teaching Excellence in the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President at Utah State University. Travis earned his Master of Educational Technology degree from Boise State University, and earned his Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with focus on Instructional Leadership from Utah State University. His teaching and scholarship center on digital-age teaching, instructional design approaches, and creating autonomy-supportive learning environments. He publishes interdisciplinary studies on the scholarship of teaching and learning, and is the production editor for the Empower Teaching Open Access Series.
Teaching & Research Interests
- Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
- Instructional Design
- Online Discussions
- Digital Badges
- Gamification
Certificates
Graduate Certificate - Online Teaching, Boise State University, 2012
Courses Taught
- Foundations of Curriculum (TEAL-6150)
- Classroom Motivation & Management (SCED-5100)
- Technology Integration & Innovation for Teachers (ITLS-5500)
- Instructional Leadership: Inst. Strategies for Diverse Learners (TEAL-6280)
- Data Based Decision Making for School Leaders (TEAL-6540)
- Intro to Methods, Planning, Assessment, and Technology (SCED 6270)
- Internet Development (ITLS 5265/6265)
Publications
Thurston, T.N. (2024). Humanizing Online Discussions by remixing AI and #DigitalPowerups. Journal of Educational Impact, 1(1), 3-12. https://doi.org/10.70617/pjesgb87
Buyserie, B., & Thurston, T.N. (Eds.). (2024). Teaching and generative AI: Pedagogical possibilities and productive tensions. Utah State University. https://aiteachingbook.usu.edu
Soyer, M., Faith Yigit, M. Ziyanak, S., Bhaktu Kasu, B.,Thurston, T.N., & Suggs, J. (2024). Enhancing Student Learning Through #DigitalPowerups,“Pushed me to be Creative”: Student Discussions in Environmental Sociology Course. In Gossard, J. & Babits, C. (Eds.), Habits of Mind: Designing Courses for Student Success. Utah State University. https://doi.org/10.46303/ressat.2024.3
Christiansen, M.A., Colver, M.C., Thurston, T.N., Lewis, M., & Beales, J.L. (2024). Authoring a TopHat E‑Book from Existing Videos: An Explanation and Results from Two Years of Flipping an Organic Chemistry Course. Journal of Chemical Education. 101(6), 2540-2548. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c01086
Henderson, L.A., Thurston, T.N., Soyer, M., Soyer, G., & Tollefson, J. (2023). #DigitalPowerups: Creating safe and brave spaces in online discussions to support student choice and voice. In Gossard, J. & Babits, C. (Eds.), Habits of Mind: Designing Courses for Student Success. Utah State University. https://doi.org/10.26079/ea86-b331
Tulane, S. & Thurston, T.N. (2023). "An Amazing Change in Mindset": Student Psychosocial Development and Social Science Research Methods. In Gossard, J. & Babits, C. (Eds.), Habits of Mind: Designing Courses for Student Success. Utah State University. https://doi.org/10.26079/ea86-b331
Grewe, J., Kohler, D., Colver, M.C., Thurston, T.N., Wadsworth-Anderson, E., & Lewis, M. (2021). Improving university student course performance using reflective exam analysis: An approach to developing academic proficiency. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology. 7(4), 253-262. https://doi.org/10.1037/stl0000266
Thurston, T.N., Lundstrom, K., & Gonzalez, C. (Eds.). (2021). Resilient pedagogy: Practical teaching strategies to overcome distance, disruption, and distraction. Utah State University. https://doi.org/10.26079/a516-fb24
Thurston, T. N. & Schneider, K. (2019). Structuring Personalized Faculty Development Programming with
Autonomy-Support and Microcredentials. In A. Elci, L. Beith, & A. Elci (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Faculty Development for Digital Teaching and Learning. Hershey, PA: IGI Global Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-8476-6.ch008
Thurston, T. N. (2018). Design Case: Implementing Gamification with ARCS to Engage Digital Natives. Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence, 2(1), 23-52. https://doi.org/10.26077/vsk5-5613
Esplin, N., Stewart, C., Thurston, T. N. (2018). Technology Leadership Perceptions of Utah Elementary School Principals. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/15391523.2018.1487351
Thurston, T. N. (2017). 3 Keys to Becoming a Champion for Individualized PD. Impact Journal, 18(1) 17-22.
Lee, V., Thurston, T. N., Thurston, C. (2017). A Comparison of Discovered Regularities in Blood Glucose Readings across Two Data Collection Approaches Used with a Type 1 Diabetic Youth. Methods of Information in Medicine. 56(3). http://dx.doi.org/10.3414/ME16-02-0047
Presentations
Institutional
–
Regional
- Thurston, T. N. (Presenter), (August 22, 2022). Resilient Pedagogy: Practical Teaching Strategies to Overcome Distance, Disruption, and Distraction. Teaching BootCamp, Universidad Casa Grande, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
- Thurston, T. N. (Presenter), (March 4, 2022). Resilient Pedagogy: Practical Teaching Strategies to Overcome Distance, Disruption, and Distraction. Plenary Talk, T4L Conference, Cedar City, Utah.
- Thurston, T. N. (Panelist), (September 27, 2021). Discover What the Future Holds for Education. Panel Discussion, IMAGINE Education Conference, Washington DC.
- Thurston, T. N. (Presenter), (September 22, 2021). Resilient Pedagogy: Practical Teaching Strategies to Overcome Distance, Disruption, and Distraction. Teaching Excellence Talk, SUNY-Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY.
- Thurston, T. N. (Presenter), Arnold, M. (Co-Presenter), (January 21, 2021). Digital Powerups: Higher-Order Engagement in Online Discussions. Faculty Development Workshop, Woodland Community College, Woodland, CA.
- Thurston, T. N. (Presenter), (August 25, 2020). Digital Powerups: Giving Students Choice and Voice in Online Discussions. Webinar, Universidad Casa Grande, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
National
- Thurston, T. N. (Presenter), (August 2, 2021). #DigitalPowerups: Empowering Students with Choice and Voice in Online Discussions. Invited Speaker Session. DT&L Conference, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.
- Thurston, T. N. (Presenter), (December 3, 2020). #DigitalPowerups Empowering Students with Choice and Voice in Online Discussions. Presentation at ITLC Lilly Conference, Asynchronous Session, Online.
- Thurston, T. N. (Presenter), Arnold, M. (Co-Presenter), (November 10, 2020). #DigitalPowerups: Higher-Order Hashtags for Humanized Online Discussions. Presentation at 45th Annual POD Network Conference, Asynchronous Session, Online.
- Packer, C., Harris, B., Legler, N., Seeley, J., Thurston, T. N. (Panelist), (November 15, 2019). How do you do SOTL?: Exploring SOTL Faculty Development Efforts. Panel session at 44th Annual POD Network Conference, Panel Session, Pittsburgh, PA.
- Thurston, T. N. (Presenter), Wadsworth-Anderson, E. (Co-Presenter), (July 25, 2018). Digital #Powerups: Scaffolds and Hashtags for Student Engagement in Online Discussions. Presentation at InstructureCon, Breakout Session, Keystone, CO.
- Thurston, T. N. (Presenter), Wadsworth-Anderson, E. (Co-Presenter), (March 15, 2018). Empowering Teaching Excellence – Implementing Digital Badges for Faculty Development. Presentation at UPCEA Annual Conference, Breakout Session, Baltimore, MD.
- Thurston, T. N. (Presenter), (October 28, 2017). Scaffolds and Hashtags for Deeper Engagement in Online Discussions. Presentation at 42nd Annual POD Network Conference, Concurrent Session, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Thurston, T. N. (Presenter), Wadsworth-Anderson, E. (Co-Presenter), (September 25, 2017). Empowering Teaching Excellence –Implementing Digital Badges for Faculty Development. Presentation at UPCEA West Region Conference, Breakout Session, Seattle, WA.
- Stewart, C. (Presenter), Thurston, T. N. (Co-Presenter), (February 8, 2017). Online Learning Paths in Higher Education: A Self-Directed Learner Centered Online Course Delivery. Presentation at the International Self-Directed Learning Symposium, Concurrent Session, Cocoa Beach, Florida.
- Thurston, T. N. (Presenter), Wadsworth-Anderson, E. (Co-Presenter), (July 20, 2016). Gimme S’more Learning Choices. Presentation at InstructureCon, Breakout Session, Keystone, CO.
- Thurston, T. N. (Presenter), (April 21, 2016). Student-Centered Course Design in Canvas. Presentation at Annual Online Learning Consortium Innovate Conference, Concurrent Session, New Orleans, LA.
- Thurston, T. N. (Presenter), (April 8, 2016). Creating Effective Instructional Design Teams. Presentation at HEeD Think Tank, George Washington University, Washington D.C., USA.
- Thurston, T. N. (Presenter), Larsen, K. (Co-Presenter), (July 8, 2015). Learning Paths: Providing Self-Directed Learning Experience and Individualized Learning Tracks. Presentation at 12th Annual Online Learning Consortium Blended Learning Conference, Information Session, Denver, CO.
- Thurston, T. N. (Presenter), Larsen, K. (Co-Presenter), (June 19, 2014). Tame the Beast – Student ePortfolios & Canvas API. Presentation at InstructureCon, Breakout Session, Park City, UT.
