Dr. Gina Solano Assistant Professor of Educational Technology

Education

PhD in Educational Technology, University of Utah

MEd in English as a Second Language, University of Utah

BA in English Teaching, Brigham Young University

Utah Level 3 Teaching License

• English
• Spanish
• Educational Technology
• Reading
• Gifted & Talented
• English as a Second Language
• K-12 Library Media

Teaching Experience

SUNY Oneonta

• EDUC 246 Development of Language & Adolescent Literacies
• EDUC 254 Integration of Technology In Middle & High School
• EDUC 50066 Introduction to Educational Research
• EDUC 5080 Integrating Technology in Education
• EDUC 5081 Instructional Technology Design Principles
• EDUC 5083 Telecommunications & Online Learning
• EDUC 5086 Multimedia & Instructional Courseware Design
• EDUC 6055 Seminar in Graduate Study: Project Proposal
• EDUC 6950 Seminar in Graduate Study: Master's Project & Practicum

Walden University

• EDDD 8900 Completing the Doctoral Prospectus
• EDDD 8990 Completing the Doctoral Capstone
• EDDD 8090 Trends & Issues in Educational Technology
• EDDD 8091 Creating Digital Media
• EDDD 8107 Designing & Instructing E-Learning
• EDPD 8012 Innovative Curriculum

Salisbury University 2018-2021

• EDUC 503 Classroom Management
• EDUC 545 Learning, Instruction and Assessment
• EDUC 570 Current Issues in Educational Technology
• EDUC 571 Web-based Teaching and Learning
• EDUC 585 Technology Tools for Teaching and Learning
• EDUC 590 Special Topics: STEM Education
• EDUC 694 Learning and Leading with Technology
• ELED 202 Technology in Education
• EMAT Technology in Education
• SCED 318 Computers in Education

Weber State University

• EDUC 3115 Technology Integration in Elementary Education Settings
• EDUC 3315 Media Integration in Secondary Education Settings
• EDUC 3900 Preparing, Teaching, and Assessing Instruction
• EDUC 3910 Secondary Education Practicum
• EDUC 3935 Reading & Writing Across the Secondary Curriculum
• EDUC 3969 Content Literacy
• MED 6229 Instructional Technology for Preservice Teachers
• MED 6860 Practicum Supervision for Graduate Students
• SPAN 1010 First Semester Spanish
• SPAN 2010 Third Semester Spanish

Scholarship

Awards, Recognitions & Fellowships

• PRODIGY Faculty Fellow as a STEM Researcher (3 years, 2022-2025).
• Faculty Fellow in the Faculty Academy for Inclusive Pedagogy. (August 2023 - May 2026). Office of Diversity and Inclusion. SUNY Oneonta.
• Online Learning Consortium 2022 Best-in-Track Award, May 27, 2022.
• Faculty Excellence Recognition (2020, September). Walden University.
• Digital Learning Showcase Recognition (2019, September). The Maryland Society for Educational Technology (MSET). https://mset.wildapricot.org/September2019_Solano/
• Presidential Award Candidate for Utah Campus Compact. (2017, February). Weber State University, UT.
• Best Presentation Award. (2017, January). International Conference on Education, HI.
• Hemingway Faculty Collaboration Award. (2017, April). Weber State University, UT.
• Hemingway Faculty Excellence Research (2016, April). Weber State University, UT.

Publications

• Croft, M. & Solano, G. L. (2025). Using multi-touch interactive whiteboards by high school teachers to promote active student participation in the classroom. In A. Gierhart (Ed.), Cases on Enhancing P-16 Student Engagement With Digital Technologies (pp. 349-370). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-5633-3.ch013
• Zawacki, S. & Solano, G. L. (2025). Creating immersive learning experiences using ThingLink to teach middle school geography skills. In A. Gierhart (Ed.), Cases on Enhancing P-16 Student Engagement With Digital Technologies (pp. 371-398). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-5633-3.ch014
• Quattrini, A. & Solano, G. L. (2024) Using technology-supported mindfulness tools to alleviate test anxiety in the elementary classroom. Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research,25(2). https://doi.org/10.4148/2470-6353.1386
• Solano, G. (2024). Designing XR into Teacher Education: Transitioning from Slides to Immersive Learning Environments Using ThingLink. In T. Cherner & R. Blankenship, Research highlights in technology and teacher education 2024, (Vol. 1). Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/224713/
• Solano, G., & Ramanathan, G. (2024). Bridging the gap in early career teachers’ STEM pedagogy: Exploring micro-credentials as a possible creative solution. Future in Educational Research. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fer3.55
• Solano, G. (2023). Merging AR into the Reality of Education: Perspectives and Strategies for Integrating Merge EDU in the K-12 Classroom. In A. Fegely & T. Cherner (Eds.), Bridging the XR Technology-to-Practice Gap: Methods and Strategies for Blending Extended Realities into Classroom Education (Vol. 2). Waynesville, NC: Association for the Advancement in Computing in Education (AACE). https://www.learntechlib.org/p/222293/
• Solano, G. (2023). Integrating digital badges in the school or workplace. [Micro-Credential Course]. Walden University, School of Life Long Learning.
• Waid, N., Graham, L., & Solano, G. (2023). Abolishing White Slavery. Towards Abolishing White Supremacy. New York, New York: Peter Lang. https://www.peterlang.com/
• Solano, G. (2022, March 21). Micro-credentials, badges, and how to use them. The Teaching Professor. https://www.teachingprofessor.com/topics/online-teaching-and-learning/micro-credentials-badges-and-how-to-use-them/
• Waid, N., Graham, L., & Solano, G. (in press). Abolishing White Slavery. Towards Abolishing White Supremacy. New York, New York: Peter Lang. https://www.peterlang.com/
• Solano, G. (2020). The End of LIFE: Thoughts on the marginalization of powerful service-learning in higher education. Critical Questions in Education, 11(3), pp. 208-228. LINK
• Shelley, G. (2015). How to design the best collaborative group projects using cloud technology. Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education, 1756-1758. LINK
• Shelley, G. (2013). Affordable and simple solutions for digital storytelling: Using web 2.0 and freeware to create dynamic digital stories & videos. Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education, 1726-1729. LINK
• Shelley, G. (2010). Technology and teacher education: Is technology professional development meeting the needs of English teachers? University of Utah. LINK
• Schrum, L., Shelley, G., & Miller, R. (2008). Understanding tech-Savvy teachers: Identifying their characteristics, motivation, and challenges. International Journal of Technology in Teaching & Learning, 4(1), 1-20. LINK

Recent Presentations

• Solano, G. (2025, Feb. 26). AI tools for teaching and learning. [Presentation]. Association for Secondary Educators, SUNY Oneonta.
• Gierhart, A. (Host), & Solano, G.. (2025, Feb. 16). Journeys of teaching [Audio podcast]. https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/aaronrgierhart
• Solano, G. (2024), May 16). Creating digital breakout and escape rooms for formative assessments. [Workshop]. Catskill Regional Teacher Center. SUNY Oneonta, New York.
• Solano, G. (2024, May 9). Strategies for getting started with AR/VR technologies. [Workshop]. Catskill Regional Teacher Center. SUNY Oneonta, New York.
• Solano, G. (2024, April 25). Developing multimedia and graphic design skills in teachers. [Workshop]. Catskill Regional Teacher Center. SUNY Oneonta, New York.
• Solano, G. (2024, April 18). Integrating micro-credentials and digital badges into the curriculum. [Workshop]. Catskill Regional Teacher Center. SUNY Oneonta, New York.
• Solano, G. (2024, March 21). Instructional design techniques to maximize your learning management system. [Workshop]. Catskill Regional Teacher Center. SUNY Oneonta, New York.
• Solano, G. (2024, February 29). Technology tools to increase student engagement and learning. [Workshop]. Catskill Regional Teacher Center. SUNY Oneonta, New York.
• Solano, G. (2024, February 15). International and global classroom connections. [Workshop]. Catskill Regional Teacher Center. SUNY Oneonta, New York.
• Solano, G. (2024, February 1). Using the SAMR model for curriculum design. [Workshop]. Catskill Regional Teacher Center. SUNY Oneonta, New York.
• Solano, G. (2024, January 25). Using artificial intelligence tools responsibility in the classroom. [Workshop]. Catskill Regional Teacher Center. SUNY Oneonta, New York.
• Solano, G. (2024, January 11). New York digital fluency standards. [Workshop]. Catskill Regional Teacher Center. SUNY Oneonta, New York.
• Solano, G. (2023, September 23 ). Exploring and integrating safe AI tools into your teaching. [Workshop]. New York Master Teacher STEM Program. SUNY Oneonta, New York.
• Solano, G. (2023, September 26). New trends in education: AI tools for teaching and learning. [Presentation]. Association for Childhood Education International Club. SUNY Oneonta, New York.
• Solano, G. (2023, May 24). Improving education through communication: How the use of a communication app transforms the student learning experience. [Presentation]. Conference on Instructional Technology (CIT), SUNY Oswego, New York.
• Cruz, V., & Solano, G. (2023, March 16). Using Pear Deck in a mathematics classroom [Presentation]. 34th International Conference for the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education, New Orleans, LA. http://academicexperts.org/conf/site/2023/papers/61847/
• Solano, G. (2023, March 15). Put AR into the hands of your students: Strategies from K-12 teachers for using Merge Cubes augmented reality [Presentation]. 34th International Conference for the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education, New Orleans, LA. http://academicexperts.org/conf/site/2023/papers/61793/
• Solano, G. (2022, November 21). Virtual reality and coding using Merge Cubes [Poster Presentation]. New York State Association for Computers and Technology in Education (NYSCATE). Rochester, New York. https://www.nyscate.org/page/annual-conference
• Solano, G. (2022, November 16-17). Reducing communication intimidation: How the use of a communication app can improve the student learning experience [Poster Presentation]. Life of the Mind Conference. SUNY Oneonta, New York. https://suny.oneonta.edu/scholarly-activities/life-mind
• Solano, G. (2022, October 21). Innovative ways to use alternative assessments to increase classroom engagement [Presentation]. Fall Teaching Institute. SUNY Oneonta, New York. https://suny.oneonta.edu/faculty-center/programs-and-services/teaching-institute
• Solano, G. (2022, October 28). Virtual escape rooms using ThingLink [Presentation]. Technology Fall Conference. SUNY Oswego, New York. https://fallconference.com/
• Solano, G. (2023, March 15). The culture of quilts: Using ArcGIS story maps to teach about culture, history, storytelling, and how quilts have been used as maps to freedom [Presentation]. 34th International Conference for the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education, New Orleans, LA. http://academicexperts.org/conf/site/2023/papers/61792/
• Solano, G. (2022, July 3-5). Strategies for using social media apps to increase engagement in online learning. [Presentation]. 33rd International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies. Palma de Mallorca, Spain. doi: 10.21125/edulearn.2022.0013
• Solano, G. (2022, August 7). Breakout EDU and escape rooms. [Workshop]. New York Master Teacher Program, Summer Retreat. Oswegatchie Educational Center, New York.
• Solano, G. (2022, August 7). Games and gamification. [Workshop]. New York Master Teacher Program, Summer Retreat. Oswegatchie Educational Center, New York.
• Solano, G. (2022, August 3). The culture of quilts and heritage writing using story maps. [Workshop]. Leatherstocking Writing Project Summer Workshop. SUNY Oneonta, New York.
• Solano, G. (2022, June 28). Getting started with digital badging and micro-credentialing. [Virtual conference presentation]. Online Learning Consortium, Summer Workshop Series. https://onlinelearningconsortium.org/webinar/strategies-for-using-badging-and-micro-credentialing-in-online-courses/
• Solano, G. (2022, April 28). Learning recognition assessments: E-portfolios for assessing learning. [Presentation]. Faculty Advisory Council on Teaching and Learning Conference, SUNY.
• Solano, G. (2021, December 14). Open educational resources: Part 2 [Presentation]. SUNY Oneonta Master Teacher Program. https://suny.oneonta.edu/master-teacher-program
• Solano, G. (2021, November 30). Creative commons and open educational resources: Part 1 [Presentation]. SUNY Oneonta Master Teacher Program. https://suny.oneonta.edu/master-teacher-program
• Solano. G. (2021, October 19). Fantastic free multimedia resources [Online presentation]. Catskill Regional Teacher Center. https://sites.google.com/view/catskill-regional-teacher/home
• Solano, G. (2021, October 2). EdTech Workshop Showcase, Featuring Adobe Spark. [Presentation] was given to the New York State Master Teacher Program cohort at SUNY, Oneonta.
• Solano, G. (2021, March 13). Tech Tools to Build a Better Online Classroom Community [Presentation]. WoCo Tech Summit, Worcester County School District.
• Solano, G. (2021, February). Build a better online classroom community using graphic design software. Connecting: Student Engagement Despite COVID-19. Online conference.
• Solano, G. (2021, February). Connecting and engaging online students: Strategies to build classroom community. Presentation given at the Walden National Faculty Meeting.
• Solano, G. (2020, October). Create a better online classroom community with Canva. Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education. Online Conference.
• Solano, G. (2020, March). Breakout of boredom! Digital and traditional breakout EDU activities to challenge and engage your students. Tech Summit, Worcester County School District, MD.
• Solano, G. (2020, February). Igniting the spark of creativity: Using Adobe Spark to design e-portfolios, websites, videos, digital stories, social media, and so much more! Presentation given at Salisbury University’s annual Teaching and Learning Conference.
• Solano, G. (2019, March). Keeping current: Are preservice teachers being adequately prepared to teach in 21st century blended learning environments? Presentation given at the 13th International Technology, Education and Development Conference in Valencia, Spain.
• Solano, G. (2019, November). Awesome assessments: Tech tools that deliver data. Presentation given at the Powering Up with Technology Conference, organized by Prince George’s County Public Schools.
• Solano, G. (2019, November). Breakout EDU traditional and digital games. Presentation given at the Anne Arundel County Public Schools PDS Networking Event & Professional Development workshop, Salisbury, MD.
• Solano, G. (2019, October). Terrific tech tools for teaching and assessing. Presentation given at the Association of Latino Administrators & Superintendents (ALAS) conference. Orlando, FL.
• Solano, G. (2019, February). Breakout of the old and into the new utilizing technology-based engagement strategies. Salisbury University’s Teaching & Learning Conference, MD.
• Shelley, G. & Espinosa, C. (2018, January). The refiner’s fire: Removing barriers for teachers and marginalized community members. Paper presentation at the Hawaii International Conference on Education. Oahu, HI.
• Solano, G. (2018, November). When tyranny is law, revolution is order. Research paper presentation given at the International Conference on Urban Education in Nassau, Bahamas.

Service

Professional Service

• Workshop presenter for the Catskill Regional Teacher Center
• FACT2 Committee Member for AI in Education
• Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education SIG Co-Chair: Games & Simulations & Geospatial Technologies
• SUNY FACT2 Committee Member: Assessments & E-Portfolios
• Board Member: Maryland Society of Educational Technology, professional organization
• Digital Learning Advisory Committee, Maryland State Board of Education
• BreakoutEDU teacher professional development workshops
• STEM teacher professional development workshops
• Journal Reviewer

University & College Service

• SUNY Oneonta Secretary of the University Senate
• Microcredentials Committee Member
• College Diversity Committee
• SUNY Oneonta Faculty Senator
• SUNY Oneonta Common Read Humanities Grant Committee
• SUNY Oneonta Leatherstocking Writing Project
• Chair of Seidel School's Curriculum Committee
• New Faculty Orientation Committee Member
• Fullbright Scholar Committee
• University Digital Literacy Committee
• University Globally Engaged Learners Committee
• Academic Support and Technology Committee
• College Technology Specialist

Graduate Student Mentoring

• J. Miller, EDD Doctoral Graduate, Walden Univ. (Graduated September 2024). Dissertation: "The Impact of Communication Apps on College Students' Experiences of Distance Learning."
• S. Saad, EDD Doctoral Graduate, Walden Univ. (Graduated June 2023). Dissertation: "Teachers’ Use of Game-Based Technology Assessment Tools in United Arab Emirates Middle Schools."
• A. Beasley, EDD Doctoral Candidate, Walden Univ. (Graduated Nov. 2022). Dissertation: "College Students’ Perceptions of the Importance of Student Engagement in Online Courses."
• Susan McCurry, EDD Doctoral Candidate, Walden University.
• M. Croft, MSEd Educational Technology Specialist, SUNY Oneonta
• M. Eckhardt, MSEd Educational Technology Specialist, SUNY Oneonta
• D. Ferrara, MSEd Educational Technology Specialist, SUNY Oneonta
• A. Gambina, MSEd Educational Technology Specialist, SUNY Oneonta
• S. Imberman, MSEd Educational Technology Specialist, SUNY Oneonta
• A. Kilanowski, MSEd Educational Technology Specialist, SUNY Oneonta
• B. Klein, MSEd Educational Technology Specialist, SUNY Oneonta
• E. Moore, MSEd Educational Technology Specialist, SUNY Oneonta
• O. Nappe, MSEd Educational Technology Specialist, SUNY Oneonta
• K. Riegel, MSEd Educational Technology Specialist, SUNY Oneonta
• M. Scanlon, MSEd Educational Technology Specialist, SUNY Oneonta
• J. Schechtman, MSEd Educational Technology Specialist, SUNY Oneonta
• G. Sheehan, MSEd Educational Technology Specialist, SUNY Oneonta
• V. Waters, MSEd Educational Technology Specialist, SUNY Oneonta
• W. Western, MSEd Educational Technology Specialist, SUNY Oneonta
• N. Wieczorek, MSEd Educational Technology Specialist, SUNY Oneonta
• N. Young, MSEd Educational Technology Specialist, SUNY Oneonta
• S. Zawacki, MSEd Educational Technology Specialist, SUNY Oneonta
• A. Quattrini, MEd graduate, Salisbury Univ.
• E. Aman, Honors BA in English Teaching, Salisbury Univ.
• M. Rojas, MEd graduate, Weber State Univ.
• T. Taurone, MEd graduate, Weber State Univ.
• B. Fuller, MEd graduate, Weber State Univ.
• B. Peterson, MEd graduate, Weber State Univ.