Enza Antenos-Conforti received her Ph.D. in Italian Studies from the University of Toronto. During a brief break from academia, she pursued her passion for technology, working at IBM Canada. She joined Montclair State University in 2004, teaches language and culture courses, is the teacher education coordinator in Italian, and the Chair of the Academic Technology Committee.

Enza has published extensively on elementary Italian programs (textbooks, workbooks and self-study guides) and has also investigated the professional preparation of NJ Italian teachers (Foreign Language Annals 2009). Her initiation into social and educational networking via Twitter appeared in Calico Monograph 8, The Next Generation: Social Networking and Online Collaboration in Foreign Language Learning.

She continues to explore emerging technologies and their role in foreign language education. Beyond different social networking sites, such as blogs and microblogging, her current investigations examine the potential of personal learning environments and mobile-assisted language learning.

Ralph Vacca is a doctoral student in New York University’s Educational Communication and Technology program and a Digital Innovation Associate at New Visions for Public Schools. His work there focuses on working with teachers to design experimental student learning experiences. Ralph also is co-founder of Kognito Interactive which designs learning games and simulations for behavioral health, and is an NYU Reynolds Fellow for Social Entrepreneurship. Ralph’s research interests include the use of games for civic engagement, and ethical meaning making and empathy in digital learning environments.

Dr. Gene Loeb is an educator focusing on utilization of communications and information technology to enable the access of learning for all ages and backgrounds. He focuses on new international efforts to enable learning in a variety of settings, especially learner-focused access to knowledge. He is the Director and Founder of the Center for Community Informatics in community focused  learning and development.  He has investigated and participated in new technologies for learning projects including increasing the accessibility of technology to elderly, reviewing progress and new applications in technology, and collaborating with others to optimize learning.

Shannon Bellum is a full time Academic Administrator in the College of Education and Human Services and part time Professor of the Arts, both in the Fashion Studies program and Studio Arts. Through explorations of her own attempts to successfully convey online classroom community, she has devised several strategies she believes are successful and transferable.

Sandra Paul has been a Director of Technology for the past 14 years, providing technology for curriculum purposes and developing the infrastructure for supporting these devices. She has worked on developing several Technology Plans, providing professional development for teachers and administrators, technology policies and AUPs for all district staff. Sandra is a board member of NJAET (technology advocacy), vice chairperson for ESAC – Channel 13 WNET, technology committee chairperson for NJPSA, and a member of ISTE and ASCD.

Shelley Kurland has a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Sports Studies from Rutgers University and a Masters in Arts in Teaching from Montclair State University.  She has been designing face-to-face, online, and hybrid courses in higher education institutions since 2006.  When developing a course with faculty members, she encourages the focus of the design on not just active learning, but interactive, life-long learning.  She is currently pursuing a doctorate of Teacher Education/Teacher Development at Montclair State University.

Deon Koekemoer moved to the United States from South Africa in 1999.  He has an Associate’s degree in Graphic Design from County College of Morris and a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from William Paterson University.  Deon has been working as an Instructional Technologist for over 10 years providing ongoing professional development and support to faculty and staff in the educational use of technology. Deon is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Instructional Design at UMASS-Boston.