Higher Education
As an educational developer, researcher, and author specializing in faculty development, course design, and instructional innovation, my work on adult learning and blended learning environments has been recognized by EDUCAUSE and the Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network, appearing across several volumes of Blended Learning Research Perspectives. Beyond higher education, my writing spans experiential learning in travel education and WWII public history. Inspired by my father, Al Albrecht, who drove a Sonic Halftrack in the secret 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, my feature articles honor the Ghost Army and their life-saving mission of mobile tactical deception to mislead enemy forces.
Skibba, K. & Widmer, M. (2021). Blended Faculty Community of Inquiry Transforms Online Teaching Perceptions and Practices. In A. B. Picciano A.G., Dziuban, C., Graham, C. & Moskal, P. (Eds), Blended Learning Research Perspectives Volume 3. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
Karen Skibba, Ph.D. and Maria Widmer, Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin-Madison) share their award-winning research on how the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework can transform online teaching. Their findings show that experiencing social, teaching, and cognitive presence firsthand as a student has a direct impact on how instructors design their own courses. This research won the 2020 Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Robert J. Menges Award for Outstanding Research in Educational Development. Read the details and watch the video (10:17).
Skibba, K. A. (2014). Choice Does Matter: Faculty Lessons Learned Teaching Adults in a Blended Program. In A. G. Picciano, C. D. Dziuban, & C. R. Graham (Eds.), Blended Learning Research Perspectives Volume 2. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
Skibba, K., Moore, D., & Herman, J. H. (2013). Pedagogical and Technological Considerations Designing Collaborative Learning Using Educational Technologies. In J. Keengwe (Ed.), Research Perspectives and Best Practices in Educational Technology Integration (pp. 1-27). Hershey, PA: ch001
Skibba, K. A. (2012). Adult learning influence on faculty learning cycle: Individual and shared reflections while learning to teach online lead to pedagogical transformations. In Virtual Mentoring for Teachers: Online Professional Development Practices.
Skibba, K. (2011). An investigation of how faculty members learn to teach adult students in a blended program. Doctoral dissertation, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
Kaleta, R., Skibba, K. A., Joosten, T. (2007). Discovering, designing, and delivering hybrid courses. In A. B. Picciano & C. D. Dziuban (Eds), Blended learning: Research Perspectives: Sloan-C.
Travel
Conceição, S. C. O., & Skibba, K. A. (2008). Experiential learning activities for leisure and enrichment travel education: A situative perspective. Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 7(4), 17–35.
WWII Ghost Army
Skibba, K. (2024, Nov 7). “Life in the WWII ‘Ghost Army’ Through a Milwaukee Veteran’s Eyes.” Milwaukee Magazine.
Skibba, K. (2024, Nov 7). “The Remarkable Story of the WWII Ghost Army.” Milwaukee Magazine.
