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Curtis Bonk has been named a , the most prestigious appointment offered by Indiana University to honor faculty whose outstanding scholarship, artistic or literary distinction, or other achievements that have won significant recognition by peers.

Bonk, a professor of learning, design and adult education in the School of Education, has primarily focused his work on studying self-directed online learning in informal and technology-enhanced settings. Recently, Bonk’s research teams have conducted multiple studies on self-directed online learning (SDOL) using generative AI tools for language learning and writing. This work examines how learners monitor and manage their own learning and maintain motivation in informal online environments like MOOCs, leading to several publications and practical guidelines for improving SDOL in open and online learning settings.

“I have been tracking and predicting the evolution of human learning, as it has become increasingly open, online, blended, video-based, massive, immersive, and self-directed, among other significant changes. Such educational delivery transformations have received much attention since the COVID-19 pandemic,” Bonk said. “However, human learning was dramatically changing long before the pandemic. The selection of Distinguished Professor rank lends validation to my nontraditional academic journey.”

Throughout his career, Bonk has researched how various emerging learning technologies can be used in nontraditional and informal ways to foster human learning and, at times, to significantly change lives. Now in his 34th year as an SOE faculty member, Bonk says he’s been most fortunate to work with several advisees who are themselves academic superstars in the making.

“It is doubtful that I would have been recognized with the Distinguished Professor rank without the myriad collaborations for them and their leadership and planning skills on many research projects,” Bonk said.