DipTchg, BA, PGDipArts, MA, PhD
Email: russell.butson@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 5789
http:edtech.otago.ac.nz/
About Russell
Russell is a senior lecturer in higher education/educational technology. His research is focused on the learning that takes place within the university setting. He is currently leading a research program that incorporates innovative topics and methods to explore, understand and change our conceptions and approaches to academic learning. He is a pioneer in the use of digital devices and sensors to capture naturally occurring behavioural data (Reality Mining). His current research is focused on the role of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) in the academic development of faculty and students.
Teaching
Courses:
Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education
Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education
Master of Higher Education (MHEd)
Research Interests
- Behaviour of Learning in Higher Education
- Reality Mining - New Methods in Higher Education
- Educational Technology
Supervision
Russell is available to supervise postgraduates in higher education who wish to undertake research into any aspect of academic life/learning within professional and university settings, particularly where there is a focus on the use of digital technologies.
Please feel free to contact Russell directly to discuss your ideas.
russell.butson@otago.ac.nz
Current students
Senorita John (PhD) Mining Reality: Detecting behavioural patterns in student spatio-temporal data
Miriam Gibson (PhD) Making Meaning - The role of activity in learning
Farah Shawkat (PhD) Teacherpreneurship and the digital learning landscape in higher education
Larian Nkomo (PhD) Data mining students' engagement patterns in technology enhanced learning environments
Glory Ndukwe (PhD) Technology-enhanced education
Lev Lafayette (MHEd)
Kait O'Callahan (MHEd)
Taylor Wilson (MHEd)
Past students
Belinda Lawrence (PhD) Aligning teaching goals with learning outcomes in an Online and Distance Learning system
Hamid Mahroeian (PhD) Big Data and Analytics in Higher Education
Senorita John (MHEd) An investigation into the study practices of health science students
Kwong Nui Sim (PhD) Postgraduate Use of Computer Technology
Suzie Bartlett (MHEd) Use of Actor-based Simulations in Heath Education
Dallas Knight (PhD) Digital Channels in healthcare service delivery
Kwong Nui Sim (MA) The importance of personal computers in Higher Education
Belinda Lawrence (PGDipHighE) Web Based Technology Use in Online and Distance Learning
Khalaf Alsalm (MSc) Factors and Characteristics of Successful Research Collaboration and E-collaboration Tools
Publications
Butson, R., John, S., & Suazo, A. (2020). The behaviour of learning: Exploring independent study practices of undergraduate heath science students. Medical Science Educator. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s40670-020-00974-5
Butson, R. (2019). The office: The impact of the digital revolution on the office practices of early career academics (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/9020
Ndukwe, I. G., Daniel, B. K., & Butson, R. J. (2018). Data science approach for simulating educational data: Towards the development of teaching outcome model (TOM). Big Data & Cognitive Computing, 2(3), 24. doi: 10.3390/bdcc2030024
John, S., Butson, R., & Spronken-Smith, R. (2018). Mining digital reality: Exploring the virtual activities of undergraduate students. In M. Campbell, J. Willems, C. Adachi, D. Blake, I. Doherty, S. Krishnan, … J. Tai (Eds.), Proceedings of the 35th Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE) International Conference: Open Oceans: Learning without Borders. (pp. 418-422). Retrieved from http://ascilite.org
Perumal, V., Daniel, B., & Butson, R. (2017). Learning analytics of clinical anatomy e-cases. In B. K. Daniel (Ed.), Big data and learning analytics in higher education: Current theory and practice. (pp. 253-263). Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
Chapter in Book - Research
Perumal, V., Daniel, B., & Butson, R. (2017). Learning analytics of clinical anatomy e-cases. In B. K. Daniel (Ed.), Big data and learning analytics in higher education: Current theory and practice. (pp. 253-263). Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
Daniel, B. K., & Butson, R. J. (2017). The rise of big data and analytics in higher education. In E. Rodriguez (Ed.), The analytics process: Strategic and tactical steps. (pp. 113-126). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781315161501-6
Butson, R., Cook, J. M., & Kardos, R. (2009). The oral health e-portfolio: A three-year project. In J. Zubizarreta (Ed.), The learning portfolio: Reflective practice for improving student learning. (2nd ed.) (pp. 97-108). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Journal - Research Article
Butson, R., John, S., & Suazo, A. (2020). The behaviour of learning: Exploring independent study practices of undergraduate heath science students. Medical Science Educator. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s40670-020-00974-5
Ndukwe, I. G., Daniel, B. K., & Butson, R. J. (2018). Data science approach for simulating educational data: Towards the development of teaching outcome model (TOM). Big Data & Cognitive Computing, 2(3), 24. doi: 10.3390/bdcc2030024
Sim, K. N., & Butson, R. (2017). Visualising the doctoral research process: An exploration into empirical research processes of emerging researchers. International Journal of Learning, Teaching & Educational Research, 16(9), 42-59. doi: 10.26803/ijlter.16.9.4
Mahroeian, H., Daniel, B., & Butson, R. (2017). The perceptions of the meaning and value of analytics in New Zealand higher education institutions. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 14(35). doi: 10.1186/s41239-017-0073-y
Perumal, V., Butson, R., Blyth, P., & Daniel, B. (2017). Clinical anatomy e-cases: A five-year follow-up of learning analytics. New Zealand Medical Journal, 130(1449), 22-29. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Bartlett, S., & Butson, R. (2015). Trained actors help students learn mental health nursing skills. Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand, 21(8), 17-19.
Butson, R., & Thomson, C. (2014). Challenges of effective collaboration in a virtual learning environment among undergraduate students. Creative Education, 5(16), 1449-1459. doi: 10.4236/ce.2014.516162
Sim, K. N., & Butson, R. (2014). To what degree are undergraduate students using their personal computers to support their daily study practices? IAFOR Journal of Education, 2(1), 158-171.
Butson, R., & Sim, K. N. (2013). The role of personal computers in undergraduate education. International Journal of Digital Literacy and Digital Competence, 4(3), 1-9. doi: 10.4018/ijdldc.2013070101
Butson, R., Hendrick, P., Kidd, M., & Brannstrom, M. (2012). Developing a virtual interdisciplinary research community in clinical education: Enticing people to the "tea-room". Journal of Research in Interprofessional Practice & Education, 2(3), 320-338.
Butson, R. (2011). Does higher education need deschooling? Industry & Higher Education, 25(3), 153-160. doi: 10.5367/ihe.2011.0042
Butson, R., & Thomson, C. (2011). Reflections on the use of autovideography in an undergraduate education context. Journal of Research Practice, 7(2), Article D1. Retrieved from http://jrp.icaap.org/index.php/jrp/article/view/243/236
Kardos, R. L., Cook, J. M., Butson, R. J., & Kardos, T. B. (2009). The development of an ePortfolio for life-long reflective learning and auditable professional certification. European Journal of Dental Education, 13(3), 135-141. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0579.2008.00551.x
Miyahara, M., Butson, R., Cutfield, R., & Clarkson, J. E. (2009). A pilot study of family-focused tele-intervention for children with developmental coordination disorder: Development and lessons learned. Telemedicine Journal and e-Health, 15(7), 707-712. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2009.0022
Butson, R. (2005). The role of faculty in the digital education of tomorrow. Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 17(1), 3-16.
Butson, R. (2003). Transcending the flatland. Teaching in Higher Education, 8(3), 447-451.
Butson, R. (2003). Learning objects: Weapons of mass instruction. British Journal of Educational Technology, 34(5), 667-669.
Butson, R. (2003). That 'teaching' is a prodigious illusion: In the words and form of Soren Kierkegaard. Essays in Education, 6(Summer). Retrieved from http://www.usca.edu/essays/vol62003/butson.pdf
Butson, R. (2003). Teaching as a practice of social injustice: Perspectives from a teacher. Radical Pedagogy, 5(1). Retrieved from http://radicalpedagogy.icaap.org/content/issue5_1/10_butson.html
Butson, R. (2002). The experience of practitioners with technology-enhanced teaching and learning: A response. Educational Technology & Society, 5(3). Retrieved from http://ifets.ieee.org/periodical/vol_3_2002/butson.pdf
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
John, S., Butson, R., & Spronken-Smith, R. (2018). Mining digital reality: Exploring the virtual activities of undergraduate students. In M. Campbell, J. Willems, C. Adachi, D. Blake, I. Doherty, S. Krishnan, … J. Tai (Eds.), Proceedings of the 35th Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE) International Conference: Open Oceans: Learning without Borders. (pp. 418-422). Retrieved from http://ascilite.org
Butson, R. (2017). Measuring stress in doctoral research: A case for reality mining across psychological, physiological and environmental dimensions. Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Computers in Education (ICCE). (pp. 45-49). Retrieved from http://icce2017.canterbury.ac.nz
Mahroeian, H., Daniel, B., Butson, R., & Kumar, V. (2017). The impact of analytics within the institutions of higher education in New Zealand. Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Computers in Education (ICCE). (pp. 17-19). Retrieved from http://icce2017.canterbury.ac.nz
Sim, K., Butson, R., Stein, S., & van der Meer, J. (2014). Seeing between the lines: How do PhD students use computer technologies in their research practices? In B. Hegarty, J. McDonald & S.-K. Loke (Eds.), Proceedings of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ascilite) Conference: Rhetoric and Reality: Critical Perspectives on Educational Technology. (pp. 233-241). Retrieved from http://ascilite2014.otago.ac.nz/
Sim, K., & Butson, R. (2013). The role/importance of personal computers to support learning in higher education. Proceedings of the Inaugural European Technology in the Classroom Conference. Nagoya, Japan: International Academic Forum. Retrieved from http://iafor.org/Proceedings/ECTC/ECTC2013_proceedings.pdf
Sim, K., & Butson, R. (2013). Do undergraduates use their personal computers to support learning? Procedia Social & Behavioral Sciences, 103, (pp. 330-339). doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.10.341
Daniel, B. K., & Butson, R. (2013). Technology enhanced analytics (TEA) in higher education. In P. Kommers, T. Issa, N. M. Sharef & P. Isaías (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Educational Technologies (ICEduTech). (pp. 89-96). Lisbon, Portugal: IADIS Press. [Full Paper]
Kardos, R., Chrzan, J., & Butson, R. (2007). Professional ePortfolio Project: Bridging the divide between student and practicing professional. Proceedings of the Health Informatics New Zealand 6th Annual Forum & Exhibition. Auckland, New Zealand: HINZ. [Full Paper]
Butson, R., Carr, S., & Bosselman, G. (2006). Engagement as a more helpful measure of student learning. In J. M. Jennings & T. Angelo (Eds.), Proceedings of the Student Engagement Symposium. (pp. 26-28). Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Universities Academic Audit Unit. [Full Paper]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
John, S., Butson, R., & Spronken-Smith, R. (2017). I am what I do: Using digital devices to detect behavioural patterns in student spatiotemporal data. In L. G. Chova, A. L. Martínez & I. C. Torres (Eds.), Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies (EDULEARN). IATED Academy. doi: 10.21125/edulearn.2017.1443
Shawkat, F., Daniel, B., & Butson, R. (2017). Teacherpreneurship: A paradigm shift within the digital landscape of higher education. Proceedings of the University of Otago Student Research Symposium: Te Wānaka Rakahau: Ākoka. (pp. 84). Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/graduate-research/scholarships/otago643219.html
John, S., & Butson, R. (2017). I am what I do: Detecting behavioural patterns in student spatiotemporal data. Proceedings of the University of Otago Student Research Symposium: Te Wānaka Rakahau: Ākoka. (pp. 39-40). Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/graduate-research/scholarships/otago643219.html
Gibson, M., & Butson, R. (2016). Making meaning: The role of activity in learning. Proceedings of the Tertiary Education Research in New Zealand (TERNZ) Conference. Retrieved from http://herdsa.org.nz/ternz/2016
Sim, K. N., & Butson, R. (2016). Visualizing the doctoral research process. In M. Picard & A. McCulloch (Eds.), Proceedings of the 12th Biennial Quality in Postgraduate Research (QPR) Conference. (pp. 34). Adelaide, Australia: QPR Organising Committee. [Abstract]
Sim, K. N., & Butson, R. (2016). Blackboard: Its future as an agent of change. Proceedings of the Innovate & Educate Teaching & Learning Conference by Blackboard. Retrieved from https://experience.blackboard.com/TLC-Sydney/the-conference/detailed-program/
Butson, R. (2016). Learning potentialities against the backdrop of the digital revolution. Proceedings of the First Year Biology Educators' Colloquium (FYBC). (pp. 4). Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/fybec/programme-and-speakers/index.html
Butson, R. (2016). The digital academic: Measuring daily practice. Proceedings of the 5th International Academic Identities Conference. Retrieved from http://sydney.edu.au/education-portfolio/ei/getinvolved/aic2016/program.htm
Shawkat, F., Daniel, B., & Butson, R. (2016). Teacherpreneurship: Transforming teaching within higher education. Proceedings of the Tertiary Education Research in New Zealand (TERNZ) Conference. Retrieved from http://herdsa.org.nz/ternz/2016
John, S., Butson, R., & Spronken-Smith, R. (2016). Mining reality: Detecting behavioural patterns in student spatiotemporal data. Proceedings of the Tertiary Education Research in New Zealand (TERNZ) Conference. Retrieved from http://herdsa.org.nz/ternz/2016
John, S., & Butson, R. (2015). Beyond the lecture: Exploring study practices of health science students. Proceedings of the Tertiary Education Research in New Zealand (TERNZ) Conference. Retrieved from http://www.herdsa.org.nz/ternz/2015/
Butson, R. (2009). Virtual research environment: An Otago experience. Proceedings of the eResearch@Otago Bi-annual Conference. Retrieved from http://extreme.otago.ac.nz/ocs/index.php/eResearch/er09/
Miyahara, M., Clarkson, J. E., Cutfield, R., & Butson, R. (2009). Family focused tele-intervention for children with developmental coordination disorder: Development and lessons learned. Physical Therapy Reviews. 14(1), (pp. 3). [Abstract]
Butson, R. J., & Kardos, R. L. (2008). The role of ePortfolios in continuing professional development. Proceedings of the Faculty of Dentistry 3M Research Day. Retrieved from http://dentistry.otago.ac.nz/research/rd2008/presentations.html
Kardos, R., & Butson, R. (2008). The role of ePortfolios in continuing professional development for an emerging health professional. In C. Bond & R. Spronken-Smith (Eds.), Proceedings of the Spotlight on Teaching at Otago Conference. (pp. 25). Dunedin, New Zealand: HEDC, University of Otago. [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Butson, R. (2016, November). Measuring stress in doctoral research: A case for reality mining across psychological, physiological and environmental dimensions. Verbal presentation at the aWEAR: Wearable Technologies, Knowledge Development, and Learning Conference, Stanford, USA.
Bartlett, S., & Butson, R. (2015, November). The value of actor-based simulations in mental health education. Verbal presentation at the Australasian Nurse Educators Conference (ANEC): Co-creating the Future, Auckland, New Zealand.
Elliot, G., Meek, J., & Butson, R. (2012, August). e-Research initiatives at Otago: Thinking globally, applying locally. Verbal presentation at the University of Otago General Staff Conference: The Life in Our Day... Dunedin, New Zealand.
