Michael is Professor of Digital Futures in the Faculty of Education.

Michael is a world expert in learning design, in particular the effective use of digital technologies in teaching and learning. In 2020 and 2024 Michael was identified by The Australian as the national Field Leader in Education research.

Unique to his profile is that his research spans higher educatoin and professional learning contexts through to schools and early childhood. This broad perspective has allowed him to broker theories and perspectives relating to digital technologies across what may be seen as impermeable boundaries.

Michael has a continuing interest in all technology enabled learning. Some of his current research projects are focused on assessment and feedback, creative risk, AI in learning design, online safety, instructional media design, and effective teaching and learning with online technologies more broadly. His research in assessment feedback has had a large impact on research and practice nationally and internationally. Most recently his work in AI in education has helped to shape national and local policy and practices. 

Michael is an experienced leader in research, education and technology innovation. Michael has served on a variety of boards and committees in international and national organisations, as well as strategic roles within Monash University. His work has shaped and strengthened the Australian scholarly and professional field in teaching and learning design. 

He is the recipient of ARC Discovery and Linkage grants, as well as other notable research schemes including the Spencer Foundation. He has served as the Lead Editor for the international journal Australasian Journal of Educational Technology (AJET), co-leader of the UNESCO sponsored EDUsummIT Creativity and Digital Technologies working group, been an Expert Advisor for the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Authority (TEQSA), Committee of Management for the Victorian association for teachers of digital technology curriculum (Digital Learning and Teaching Victoria, DLTV). Michael has served as a Technical committee member of the International Federation for Information Processing and as an Executive Committee member for the Australian Association for Educational Research.

Michael is an experienced leader in higher education provision. Having served in various strategic roles including Acting Associate Dean of Education and Director of Graduate Studies he has led the creation and redesign of courses as well as student focused initiatives that have improved the quality of teaching, student satisfaction and a strong increase in student numbers. Michael is also an , with a specialist focus in digital online delivery.

Michael has been program director and course leader to many courses over the years. He has taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses on educational technologies and has received teaching awards, including a national Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (2010). Michael has supervised to completion 13 PhD and 3 MEd(Research) students.