Dr. Benay Dara-Abrams

Dr. Benay Dara-Abrams is Chief Learning Technologist and CEO of BrainJolt and Adjunct Professor at the University of San Francisco in the Master's degree program in Information Systems (MSIS). Her work encompasses online training and instructional design, action research and development, and staff, faculty, and leadership development workshops, creating and supporting multi-intelligent technology-enhanced learning (TEL) frameworks for training and education. Focusing on the development of effective learning experiences for different types of learners, her work combines a theoretical foundation from Educational and Cognitive Psychology with tested educational methodologies and advanced tools and technologies, including technology-enhanced learning (TEL) and web-based E-Learning, user-adaptive systems, computer-mediated communication (CMC), adaptive hypermedia systems, multimedia tools, and computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environments. Building from an understanding of audience needs and customer requirements, Dr. Dara-Abrams designs “anytime, anywhere, anyone, anyhow” training and education, harnessing technology to implement proven educational methods that reach a wide spectrum of learners through effective and engaging technology-enhanced learning experiences.

Dr. Dara-Abrams has been involved in the Internet, ARPANet (the Internet predecessor), training, and education for thirty-four years, E-Commerce, Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL) and E-Learning for twenty-four years, and the World Wide Web for eleven years. She has published papers on multi-intelligent technology-enabled learning and is the co-author of two books in the Prentice-Hall Advanced Website Architecture Series: Supporting Web Servers, and Exploring E-Commerce & Internet Law. She has published and presented training workshops and papers on E-Learning at organizations and conferences in the United States, Canada, Russia, and Germany and has co-founded an International E-Learning Collaboratory through which members collaborate on action research projects and share results from their e-learning projects. Through the International E-Learning Collaboratory, Dr. Dara-Abrams is able to draw on the experience of other seasoned e-learning professionals in Germany, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden, and across the United States.

Dr. Dara-Abrams received her Ph.D. in Computer Science and Educational Psychology, her M.S. and B.S. in Computer and Communication Sciences, and her M.A. in Counseling. She has consulted with non-profits, community organizations, educational institutions, and high-tech industry.

Collaborated on design and development of online training course, Unleashing Multiple Intelligences in Literacy Instruction, to train literacy tutors through a national training program conducted online. The course trains tutors to apply the Theory of Multiple Intelligences and effective educational methodologies based on the theory to reach their non-traditional students.
Developed and led face-to-face and online workshops in Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL) for staff and faculty at various organizations in order to help them learn how to harness technology to implement effective educational methods and enhance the learning experience for a variety of learners.
Designed and implemented online modules for the University of San Francisco Master of Science degree program in Information Systems (MSIS), blending in-person and online instruction for non-traditional adult learners.
Co-founded International E-Learning Collaboratory and organized Expert Discussion Forum in E-Learning in Germany to share action research results, methods, and techniques with an audience from Poland, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and various parts of the United States.
Demonstrated that the cognitive Theory of Multiple of Intelligences can be used to support adaptation in an online learning environment by designing a prototype multi-intelligent online learning environment and online learning modules.
Established Master of Science degree program in Electronic Commerce and Internet Computing at the University of Hong Kong. Launched program through partnership with Stanford University Western Institute of Computer Science (WICS), while serving as Curriculum Development Director for the continuing education program in Computer Science offered by WICS.

To learn more about multi-intelligent online learning, please see the BrainJolt site at: http://www.brainjolt.com/