Alexandra Bal, Assistant Professor (tenured)

CURRICULUM VITAE
Name:
Alexandra Bal, Assistant Professor (tenured)
School of Image Arts
Faculty of Communication and Design
Ryerson University
Degrees:
PhD, Information and Communication Sciences,
Université de Paris, Paris Nord (also known as Paris 13), France, December 1998
to December 2003
Topic: Impact of information and communication technologies on educational
environments
Director: Pierre Moeglin, Paris 13
D.E.A., Information and Communication Sciences, Université de Paris, Paris
Nord (also known as Paris 13), France, December 1996 to November 1998
Topic: Analysis of an experimental online course in Ontario
Director: Yolande Combès, Paris 13
B.A.A., Media Arts, Ryerson Polytechnic University, Toronto, 1986-1990
Studies: Computer Graphics (Major), Film (Minor), Video, Photography, Theory
and Practice
DEUG (1st year only) in L.A.E.C. (Literature, Art, Expression, Communication),
Université de Paris, La Sorbonne Nouvelle, France, 1984-1986
Studies: Critical Analysis of Literature, Art, Expression, Communications
Employment History:
2004- present Ryerson University: Adjunct Faculty
Faculty of Graduate Studies, Program in Communication and culture and Program
in Documentary media
2002-2005
York University, Toronto: Adjunct Faculty
Faculty of Graduate Studies, Program in Visual Arts
2002-present Ryerson University: Tenure
Faculty, New Media Studies, School of Image Arts.
1997-present Ryerson Polytechnic University: Tenure-Track
Faculty, New Media Studies, School of Image Arts.
Courses taught included: 1st year Introduction to Video, 2nd and 3rd year Digital
Production, Interactive Media, 4th year Critique, Multimedia Minor.
Administrative responsibilities included:
New Media Program Director, 1997-1999 (Hiring of instructors, promotion of
program, academic integrity, curricular development, program coordination).
Image Arts Web site development, Fall 1997 to Spring 2000 (Visual,
architectural and information design, database (ASP) programming, student
supervision).
Overall core courses co-ordination including co-ordination of marking schemes and scheduling
for:
MPM022: Fall 1997-Spring 1999
MPM042: Fall 1997-Spring 1999
MPM032: Fall 1997-Winter 1998
MPM042: Fall 1999-Winter 2000
MPM022: Fall 2001-Winter 2002
1995-1997
Ryerson Polytechnic University: Limited Term
Faculty, New Media Studies, School of Image Arts.
Courses taught included: 1st year Introduction to Video, 2nd and 3rd year Digital
Production.
Administrative Responsibilities included:
Continuing Education New Media Certificate Coordinator, 1996-1997 (Day
to day operation of the New Media Certificate program, hiring of instructors,
promotion for the certificate, academic integrity of the program).
1994-1995
Multimedia designer/Programmer for the CLOSET Application at the Institute for
Space and Terrestrial Sciences, Toronto.
1991-1995
Assistant to the Academic Director/ Research Assistant at the Rogers
Communications Centre, Ryerson Polytechnic University, Toronto.
1989-1990
Assistant to R. Bruce Elder, filmmaker, Lightworks, Toronto.
1988-1989
CO-OP computer artist, Computer Imaging Group, AT&T Canada Inc., Toronto,
Ontario.
Honours:
Certificate of commendation for the article “Virtual Higher Education: A
Liberalist or Humanist Socialization Tool”, International conference on
Technology, Knowledge and Society, University of California, Berkeley,
presenter, February 18th, 2005.
2003:
Doctorate received with “félicitations du jury”, highest rank in France
Scholarly and Professional Activities:
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2006
Co-editor with Elizabeth Fichez of the special issue on virtual education for the
journal Études de communication.
Associate editor for International Journal of Technology, Knowledge and Society,
Volume 1, 2005 and International Journal of Learning, Volume 12
2004-present Université de Paris XIII, LabSic - Laboratoire sciences de l'information et de la
communication, Researcher
2003-present MSH Paris Nord, Associate researcher on the “Cultural Industries and Arts” and
“socio-economy of culture and communication”
2001- Present SIF: séminaire sur l’industrialisation de la formation
2001
Consulting for the Continuing Education Department of Paris 13 on the issues of
online learning (production, learning and teaching issues)
1997-2001
Ryerson Polytechnic University, Toronto:
Supervisor and programmer of School of Image Arts Web Site (Visual,
architectural and information design, database (ASP) and interface programming,
supervision of material production).
1997-2001
Community Resource Consultant of Toronto, Non-profit Organization, Toronto:
Supervisor and programmer of CRTC Web Site (Visual, architectural and
information design, database (ASP) and interface programming, supervision of
material production).
1997-2001
Community Resource Consultant of Toronto, Non-profit Organization, Toronto:
Board of directors member, treasurer.
1990
Children’s Aid Society: Director.
Concept, production and direction of a promotional video, for the Catholic
Children’s Aid Society (a 30 min. documentary on sexually abused young women
going through therapy).
Graduate Supervision:
Principal Supervisor
2007-present:
Heather Lidberg, New Narrative Collections: Creating a new site for lesbian identity. Exploring
Second Life individual collective histories as real time experiences for documentary mediums.
M.F.A. Documentary Media, Ryerson University, Canada. (ongoing).
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Tori Foster, The subverters: A typology of Conscientious Objectors to Globalization. M.F.A.
Documentary Media, Ryerson University, Canada. (ongoing)
Cynthia Shulak, Not just Boys’ fun, M.F.A. Documentary Media, Ryerson University, Canada.
(ongoing)
Secondary Advisor:
Randy Horton, Experiencing martial arts history, M.F.A. Documentary Media, Ryerson
University, Canada. (ongoing)
Robert Lendum, Physical Avatars, M.F.A. Documentary Media, Ryerson University, Canada.
(ongoing)
Lyndall Musselman, Experiencing primitive network culture, M.F.A. Documentary Media,
Ryerson University, Canada. (ongoing)
MarieWustner, Punch Line for Progress M.F.A. Documentary Media, Ryerson University,
Canada. (ongoing),
Committee Member:
2001-2002:
Kari Bergerson, “Things that become me”, MFA, York University, Canada, granted.
Committee Contributions:
2008-present
2008-present
2007
2001-2002
Ryerson, Senate
Ryerson, Academic Standards Committee
SSHRC, external reviewer, as Virtual Education expert
SSHRC, National Data Archive Consultation Working Group, Research subcommittee
2001-present Academic Council, Ryerson
Learning and Teaching Committee
Communication and Design (Applied Arts):
2006-present Rogers Communication Centre, Operations Committee
2000-2003
SRC Committee
2001
Rogers Research Chair Committee
1999-2001
IBDG Curriculum Committee, co-Chair
1999-2001
IBO Steering Committee
1999-2001
IBDG Innovation Group
1998-2001
Multimedia Minor, curriculum development
1997-1999
Digital Advisory Committee
School of Image Arts:
2008-present Departmental Appointment Committee
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2007
2007-present
2007-present
1995-present
2003
2001-2003:
1997-1999:
1997-1999:
1999:
SRC committee
RFA representative
Local norm committee
Departmental Council
IMA 204 renovation Committee
Departmental Appointment Committee
Curriculum Committee
Steering Committee
Chair Search Committee
Graduate studies
2006-present MFA in Documentary media, curriculum committee
2006-present SSHRC awards sub-committee
Professional Associations:
IMAT membership
ACM membership
MSH Paris Nord
LabSic - Laboratoire sciences de l'information et de la communication
Research Funding:
YEAR: 2007
SOURCE : Ryerson University, FCAD
AMOUNT/YEAR: $7,000
PURPOSE: Experimental design of virtual gaming simulations for education.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: A. Bal
YEAR: 2005
SOURCE : Ryerson University
AMOUNT/YEAR: $3,500
PURPOSE: Experimental reactive agents design.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: A. Bal
YEAR: 2005
SOURCE : Ryerson University, FCAD
AMOUNT/YEAR: $3,500
PURPOSE: Research on Reactive agents.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: A. Bal
YEAR: 2004
SOURCE : Ryerson University, FCAD
AMOUNT/YEAR: $3,500
PURPOSE: Research on reactive agents.
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PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: A. Bal
YEAR: Jan. 2003
SOURCE: Ministère jeunesse, éducation, recherche, France, ERTE: Equipe de Recherche
Technologique en Education
AMOUNT/YEAR: €120,000
PURPOSE: Modèles économiques et enjeux organisationnels des campus numériques.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Y. Combès, P. Grevet
YEAR: January, 2000
SOURCE: Interactive Digital Media Small Business Growth Fund
AMOUNT/YEAR: $1.2 million
PURPOSE: InterCast Ontario, Bridging the Gap Between the Interactive New Media and
Broadcast Paradigms
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Dr. Michael Murphy
Publications and
Presentations:
LIFE-TIME SUMMARY
Papers in refereed journals
Papers in refereed conference proceedings
Lectures/Professional Meetings/Workshops:
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PAST SEVEN YEARS
Refereed journals:
A. Bal, 2007: Les campus numériques au carrefour d’enjeux pédagogiques,
industriels et institutionnels, volume spécial sur l’enseignement virtuel,
Septembre / 2006, Science de la Société, PUM.
A. Bal, 2006: La délocalisation de la formation universitaire à Ryerson : une
évolution vers l’internationalisation du savoir, Distances et Savoirs. Volume 4 n°3 / 2006. Hermès/Lavoisier.
A. Bal, 2005: Virtual Higher Education: A Liberalist or Humanist Socialization
Tool, International Journal of Technology, Knowledge and Society, Volume 1,
2005.
A. Bal, 2005: Virtual University Education as an Agent of Social Change:
Educational Design as a Battleground for Liberalist and Humanist Socioeconomical Values”, International Journal of Learning, Volume 12, 2005.
Refereed Conference Proceedings:
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Bal, Alexandra. (2008). Communities of praxis: the Second Life and OLPC
components of a mixed-reality primer. IR 9.0 - Rethinking Communities,
Rethinking Place, Copenhagen, presenter.
Bal, Alexandra, 2008: “Second life: émergence de communautés de pratiques
humaines et artificielles?”, Colloque « Web participatif : mutation de la
communication? », 76e congrès de l’ACFAS, Institut national de la recherche
scientifique, Québec, May 6th and 7th, 2008.
Bal, Alexandra. (2008). Can Second Life House Artificial Organisms?
Toronto/Montreal/Lille: TOGETHER ELSEWHERE - A biennial of artistic
exchange - third edition January 31st through February 2, 2008. Montreal: Presse
de l’Université du Québec. In press.
Bal, Alexandra, 2005: “Virtual Higher Education: A Liberalist or Humanist
Socialization Tool”, International conference on Technology, Knowledge and
Society, University of California, Berkeley, presenter, February 18th, 2005.
Bal, Alexandra, 2005: “Virtual University Education as an Agent of Social
Change: Educational Design as a Battleground for Liberalist and Humanist
Socio-economical Values”,The Twelfth International Conference on Learning,
University of Granada, presenter, July 2005.
Bal, Alexandra, 2002, “L’autonomie de l’apprenant: un enjeu pour la
globalisation de l’éducation virtuelle”, in Bugs 2001, Globalism and Pluralism,
Colloquium proceedings, UQAM.
Papers Presented/Symposia/Invited Lectures/Professional Meetings/Workshops:
«L’industrialisation de la formation », MSH Paris-Nord via video conference, Journée des
doctorants, presenter, Paris, MSH Paris Nord, May 2003.
« Multimédia : quelle offre de formation pour quelles compétences ?, la Maison des Sciences de
l'Homme Paris Nord, Paris, May 2002.
Campus numériques: “L’autonomie de l’apprenant: un enjeu pour la globalisation de l’éducation
virtuelle,” UQAM, presenter, Montreal. April, 2002.
Participation in the international symposium: “Echanges des biens culturels. Comptabilité des
modèles et des approches en sciences humaines et sociales.” January 26-27, 2001.
Weekly participation in video conferencing seminars between Montreal (UQAM), Paris (Paris
13) and Université de Grenoble, on the topic of cultural industries. January, 2001.
Greet Presentation, Ryerson: Photographic Conservation and Preservation (In collaboration with
Profs. D. Snyder and R. Burley. My role was to discuss the function of digital
media in relation to photography). May, 2000.
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Greet Presentation: IBDG Group. In collaboration with Brad Fortner (RCC), Bob Jones
(Sheridan), Lucie Hall (RTA), Lila Pine (Image Arts), Deb Fels (ITM). My role
was to discuss the curriculum development foreseen for Interactive Broadcast in
Ontario. May, 2000.
Research Reports
2006
A. Bal. “Digital arts: Cross pollination of socio-economic models in Canadian
and French artists practices”, MSH Paris Nord, in progress.
2005
A. Bal. Le cas My.ryerson.ca, MSH Paris Nord
A. Bal, Y. Combès. Analyse des modèles de production des campus virtuels, MSH Paris Nord,
in progress
A. Bal. Analyse socio-économique des arts numériques, MSH Paris-Nord.
2000
A. Bal. IBDG – Existing new media Business models, Interactive Digital Media Small Business
Growth Fund, from the Ontario Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology
Interruption in career
2004.2005
2004.2006
maternity leave
maternity leave
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