About Me

My beautiful Family in Muscat Oman

I’m David Porcaro and I’m in my final year in the Learning, Design and Technology PhD program at UGA.  I am married to a wonderful speech language therapist named Dawnell, and we have two amazing kids, Ethan (4) and Claire (2).  I am originally from Orem, Utah, a town about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City, but I have moved a lot, having lived in Utah, Washington, Virginia, England, Israel/Palestine, Oman, and now Georgia.

Me Teaching in Oman

My family got back this summer from spending the 2009-2010 school year as a Fulbright Fellow in Muscat, Oman, where I taught a similar class to this for future English language teachers at Sultan Qaboos University and researched cultural reactions to innovative teaching methods.

Darwin College, Cambridge UK

I love the Middle East, and have been to several  countries in the area, starting with a study abroad in Jerusalem when I was an undergrad at Brigham Young University.  I got my BA in Near Eastern Studies there, and then I got my Master’s degree from Cambridge University in ancient Middle Eastern history, languages and archaeology.  I then got really interested in the ways technology could be used to teach foreign languages, and started the PhD program here at UGA.  My research interests have expanded to exploring how technology is used in developing countries to improve education, and I hope to work on international education development projects after I graduate.

Climbing in Zion National Park

I love being outdoors, climbing, mountain biking, skiing, sailing, hiking… name it.  I love to read, and travel, and love talking to people about their lives, their beliefs and cultures, and learning new things from them.  I’m also involved as a leader of my church’s youth group, and enjoy working with other people.

Mountain Biking with friends and family near Moab, Utah