Associate Professor, Director of General Education
Phone: (239)590-7272
E-Mail: skarakas@fgcu.edu
Office: AB5 214-D

Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Art History, 2002
M.A., University of Minnesota, Art History, 1994
B.A., University of Minnesota, summa cum laude, 1992

Teaching and Research Interests: 

Ancient art history, new classroom technology and pedagogy, online and e-learning, problem-based learning, critical and creative thinking, issues in general and liberal education.

Recent Academic Publications:

With Elizabeth Heath and Lisa Courcier, "Lessons From the Ether: Using Technology to Facilitate Learning in a Large-Enrollment Online Introduction to the Visual and Performing Arts," The International Journal of Learning 14:12 (May 2008) 201-16: http://ijl.cgpublisher.com/product/pub.30/prod.1572.

"Of Blind Men and Elephants:  Some Thoughts on a Learning-Centered Approach for Bridging the Gulf Between the Arts and Sciences," Oxford Forum on Public Policy Online (Winter 2007): http://www.forumonpublicpolicy.com/archive07/karakas.pdf.

With A. James Wohlpart, Craig Rademacher, Lisa Courcier and Charles Lindsey, "Online Education in the Visual and Performing Arts: Strategies for Increasing Learning and Reducing Costs," Journal of Educators Online 3:1 (January 2006): http://www.thejeo.com/Wohlpart%20Final.pdf.

Recent Conference and Seminar Presentations:

With Halcyon St. Hill and Kamla-Kay McKenzie, "FGCU Strategic Model for Revitalizing General Education: Shared Governance in Action," 112th Annual Meeting of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools - Commission on Colleges, New Orleans, December 8-11, 2007.

"From Lecture to Online: Using Technology in the Redesign of a Large Enrollment Humanities Course," University System of Georgia MED/MAT Distance Education Program Development Symposium, Macon, March 29, 2007.

"Developing Effective Faculty Roles in a Large Enrollment Online Course," The National Center for Academic Transformation Course Redesign Alliance Conference, Tampa, March 18-20, 2007.

With Rebecca Totaro and Pamela Schreiber, "The University Conversation on General Education: A New Approach to Engaging a Campus in Issues of Assessment," Association of American Colleges and Universities Conference on General Education and Assessment, Miami, March 1-3, 2007.

"Some Thoroughly Modern Methods for Teaching Ancient Art History," Southeastern College Art Conference, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, October 25-28, 2006.