Karen Louise Smith
PhD Student
Faculty of Information Studies
University of Toronto
90 Wellesley St. West
Toronto, ON
M5S 1C4
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Online Services and Information; Qualitative Methods, Video/Visual and Ethnographic Methods, Participatory Research; Participatory Design; Public Consultations; The Digital Divide
EDUCATION
PhD Student, Faculty of Information Studies (FIS) and Collaborative Program in Knowledge Media Design, University of Toronto (U of T), Toronto, ON (2006-present)
• Completing coursework in research methods, human-centered design, and communications to prepare to conduct a dissertation related to information communication technologies, deliberation and public policy
Master of Arts, School of Communication , Simon Fraser University (SFU), Burnaby, BC (2004-2006)
• Conducted thesis research to examine the design and use of government produced health information websites in a community health center waiting room - PDF thesis copy
• Completed courses in qualitative research, interactive design, theories and philosophies of communication, and audited a health policy course
Bachelor of Arts (Honours), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, (1998 – 2002)
• Graduated with distinction from a Combined Honours BA program in Multimedia and Women’s Studies
AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
i) External (National, Provincial and Regional):
• Canadian Graduate Scholarship (Doctoral Award), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (2006-2009)
• Affiliate Studentship, Western Regional Training Center for Health Services Research, University of British Columbia (2005-2006)
• Canadian Graduate Scholarship (Master’s Award), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (2004-2005)
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Province of Ontario (2004-2005) - Declined
ii) Internal (Home Institution):
• Faculty of Applied Sciences Graduate Fellowship, Simon Fraser University (2005)
• Graduate Fellowship (Entrance), Dean of Graduate Studies, Simon Fraser University (Deferred to 2005)
• Bank of Montreal Humanities Multimedia Scholarship, McMaster University (2000)
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Research Assistant. Everyday Technologies for Alzheimer Care (ETAC) and SenseCam Research. KMDI & Computer Science. University of Toronto (06.2007-present)
• Managed the transcription and data analysis of ethnographic video data from multimedia biography screenings with individuals experiencing Alzheimer’s Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment for the ETAC project
• Assisted with the authoring of an ethics proposal for photo-based research with SenseCam to be used in households where a family member is experiencing AD
• Completed pilot use of the SenseCam
• See Dr. Ron Baecker’s homepage for more information
Contract Position (Co-op). Directorate of Information Management Enablement Services. Public Works and Government Services Canada. Gatineau, PQ (05.2006-08.2006)
• Reviewed academic literature and media to augment understanding around online consultation technologies used across departments within the federal government (surveys, workbooks, and webinars) for the Online Consultation Center of Expertise
• Analyzed health policy online consultation workbooks using usability heuristics
• Researched and wrote a comparison report of US and Canadian practices around regulatory consultations
Research Assistant, Applied Communication Technology Information Organization Networks (Action) for Health Grant, SFU (09.2004 – 12.2005)
• Executed research tasks related to the design, use, and implementation of technology in the health sector
• Participated in research planning and research projects related to lay use of consumer health information with community partners such as the Mid-Main Community Health Center and Vancouver Public Library
• Planned and implemented a research project to gather interview and motion screen capture video data from health information seeking activities carried out from a publicly available internet terminal in the waiting room of the Mid-Main Community Health Center (used data for masters thesis)
TEACHING AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE
i) Teaching Assistant Positions
• Human Factors for Designers, Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD), Toronto, ON (01.2008- 04.2008)
• Writing and Research Methods in Communication, Communication, Culture and Information Technology (CCIT), University of Toronto at Mississauga (09.2007 - 12.2007)
• Introduction to Information Technology: The New Media, School of Communication, SFU (01.2006 - 04.2006)
• Introduction to Multimedia, School of the Arts, Multimedia, McMaster University (09.2001 - 04.2002)
ii) Administrative Positions
MediaGenerator@UTM Co-ordinator, CCIT, University of Toronto at Mississauga (09.2006 – 04.2007)
• Worked with a team to launch a Student Experience Fund initiative (awarded from the Provost’s office) to enhance access to digital media-making equipment for undergraduate students
• Duties included co-ordinating a student planning workshop, chairing meetings, planning a launch event, organizing workshops, researching purchases, and creating an equipment sign out policy and process
PRESENTATIONS
i) Conferences:
•Smith, K.L. "Photoblogging: A Digital Challenge for Change?" Politics: Web 2.0: An International Conference. Royal Holloway, University of London, UK. April 17-18, 2008.
•Lottridge, D.M., Sellen, K., Smith, K.L., Bittle, S., Casselman, M. "User-centred design of a web-based tool for locally relevant information sharing for new mothers." e-Health conference. Quebec City, PQ. May 27-30, 2007.
•Smith, K.L. "Capturing Internet Session in Context: Can Technology and Ethnography Inform the Design of Health Websites." Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) 28th Conference. Vancouver, BC. Nov. 1-5, 2006
•Smith, K.L. “Technology-Enabled Citizenship? Viewing E-Health Initiatives from Community Perspectives” Panelist. The Technology & Citizenship Symposium, McGill University, Montreal, PQ. June 9-10, 2006
•Smith, K.L. “Go Directly Online, Do not Pass ‘Emerg’”: Seeing the Social Construction of Health Information Websites Through Policy.” Intersections 2006 (York/Ryerson Communication & Culture Student Conference). March 24-26, 2006.
•Smith, K.L. "Online/Offline: Studying User Experience of Consumer Health Information Websites." Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) 27th Conference. Pasadena, California. Oct. 20-22, 2005
•Smith, K.L. “The User Experience: Seeking Health Information Online.” Canadian Communications Association Annual Conference. Graduate Masters Session, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario. June 2-4, 2005
•Smith, K.L. "Democratic Renewal and Rationalization: Mobilizing Citizens Before Technology.” 2nd Conference on Online Deliberation: Design, Research, and Practice/DIAC-2005. Stanford University, Stanford, California. May 20-22, 2005.
ii) Guest Lectures and Presentations:
•Smith, K.L. "Cloudtags and talk back: Sketches from critical and digital design research practice." Design Research: Views from Across the Disciplines, Spring Seminar Series, KMDI, U of T. May 1, 2008.
•Smith, K.L. "The NFB and Social Change." Guest Lecture for Mass Communication and Popular Culture (CCT310H5). University of Toronto at Mississauga. March 18, 2008
•Smith, K.L. "Introduction to HyperResearch." Guest presentation for Dr. Megan Boler’s research group. University of Toronto. December 12, 2007
iii) Community Presentations:
•Smith, K.L. “Guiding Online.” Invited Speaker. Communicating Guiding Conference, Girl Guides of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. February 26, 2005
•Smith, K.L. "The Internet in a Development Context." Invited Speaker. The Rotary Club, Aurora, Ontario. 2003
•Smith, K.L. "Migrants’ Rights Online." Internship Presentation. Kakammpi, Quezon City, The Philippines. 2003
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Content Management Specialist, Internet Channel, Customer Experience, Amicus Bank, CIBC. Toronto, ON (05.2003 - 08.2004)
• Coordinated web content including copy, art, and functionality for a major online banking site
• Created solutions to enhance transaction flows and online customer experience
• Oversaw the translation of offline marketing campaigns into web-ready formats
Human Rights Internet (HRI) Netcorps Intern; Kakammpi, Quezon City, The Philippines (08.2002 – 03.2003)
• Transferred radio dramas into Flash format to allow for Internet distribution of content related to health and human rights
• Designed and taught 20 hours of workshops in web communications and print production to train staff to maintain the site
• Researched policy topics related to absentee voting and international development
• Completed networking visits with over 20 non-governmental organizations to discuss issues related to human rights, migrant workers and international development
AFFILIATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
• President, Doctoral Students’ Association, FIS, U of T (2007-2008)
• Committee Member, Hiring Committee, FIS, U of T (2007)
• Committee Member, Student Section of the Society of the Social Studies of Science, (planned student accommodations and events for the 4S conference) (2006).
• Member, Assessment of Technology in Context Design Lab, SFU (2004-2006)
• Member, Vancouver User Experience Group (VanUE) (2004-2006)
• Treasurer, SFU Communication Graduate Caucus (2004-2006)
SOFTWARE
• Qualitative Data Analysis: Nvivo 7.0, HyperResearch
• Multimedia Authoring/Editing: Photoshop, Flash, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, iMovie/Premiere
• Office: Word, Excel, Powerpoint
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Conversational Danish and interested in expanding French skills