loyd Rieber was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He came to the University of Georgia in 1993 after spending 6 years on the faculty at Texas A&M University. He began his education career teaching elementary school in rural New Mexico. He received his Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University in 1987. He also has degrees from the University of New Mexico and the University of Pittsburgh.

He is interested in visualization, cognitive psychology, and constructivistic orientations to instructional design. He has published extensively on the use of dynamic visualizations in the design of interactive learning environments. His most recent research is about the integration of computer-based microworlds, simulations, and games using play theory as the theoretical framework. He is now applying this research to support online learning environments and to help students with cognitive disabilities.

He has written two books. The first, "Computers, Graphics, and Learning," is the recipient of AECT's James W. Brown Publication Award. He is also "moderator
emeritus" of ITFORUM (http://it.coe.uga.edu/itforum), a successful professional listserv devoted to instructional technology issues. He is a recent chair of the Special Interest Group for Instructional Technology (SIG-IT) of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). He is a past-president of the
Association for the Development of Computer-Based Instructional Systems (ADCIS) and is very active in the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT).