Director of Distance Learning
Dr. Yi Guan-Raczkowski is fully dedicated to helping every student succeed. As Director of Distance Learning/Educational Technology, Dr. Guan-Raczkowski works closely with faculty in developing high-quality online courses as well as training faculty and using new technology. With a passion for helping students, Dr. Guan-Raczkowski is involved in planning and conducting technology orientation sessions for new students and first-time online students.

Working at Middlesex for 20-plus years, Dr. Guan-Raczkowski has provided many technology training workshops for faculty and technology orientations for students. She has been a key presenter at various national and international conferences with topics including Student Self-Assessment: Guiding Online Learners to Become Better Prepared, Quality Control of Online Learning: From Design to Student Services , and Services for Retaining Online Students. Dr. Guan-Raczkowski’s major interest is to explore how new technology can help students achieve their best.

Since 2007, Dr. Guan-Raczkowski has served as an adjunct faculty member for the social science division. She taught General Psychology, Lifespan Development, Child and Adolescent Development, Introduction to Early Childhood Education, and Infants & Toddlers Growth and Development. Dr. Guan-Raczkowski also taught Introduction to Information Technology at the University of Connecticut.

From 1998 to 2005, Dr. Guan-Raczkowski was an Educational Technology Specialist at Middlesex, Quinebaug Valley and Three Rivers. Her main responsibilities were researching new technology, integrating new technology into curriculum, and training faculty to use technology in teaching.

Before coming to Connecticut community colleges, Dr. Guan-Raczkowski earned a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Connecticut. Her program of study was in cognition and instruction with an educational technology focus. Prior to UConn, Dr. Guan-Raczkowski obtained a Master of Science in Educational Media and Technology from Indiana State University.

Born and raised in Beijing, China, Dr. Guan-Raczkowski speaks fluent Mandarin. After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Electronics from Beijing Normal University, she came to the United States to pursue her graduate studies in educational technology, a field of study not offered at any institutions in China. Her graduate studies fulfilled her dream of working at a higher education institution, specifically helping faculty and students use technology to cultivate their potential.

In her free time, Dr. Guan-Raczkowski treasures time spent with her family. As a world traveler, she visited many well-known cities such as London, Paris, Rome, Venice, Florence, Milan, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Athens, Istanbul, Cairo, Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns and Taipei. Although every city has its charm, but her favorite city is Istanbul, which offers a mixture of Asian and Western cultures.

Dr. Guan-Raczkowski is an active member of several choral groups in Connecticut and Massachusetts.  She participated in international choral competitions and traveled to several cities to perform Chinese choral works. Her most memorable performances include singing under the conduction of Eric Whitacre in Carnegie Hall and singing a Chinese contemporary Cantata, “Asking the Sky and the Earth” at the Sydney Opera House. In 2012, she traveled to Frankfurt, Munich, Prague and Vienna for a singing festival. Her choral group performed two songs in the Golden Hall of Vienna Musikverein and won a Gold Award in the 2012 Vienna World Choral Festival of Adults.

Conference Presentations

Guan-Raczkowski, Y. (2021). The Power of Learning: Past, Present, and Future. Presented at 2021 International Forum of Women in E-Learning, December 2, 2021, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Guan-Raczkowski, Y and Adkins, M. (2020) Achieving a 10% Reduction in Failure Rates in Online Courses Using Non-Cognitive Data.  Presented at the 2021 National Symposium on Student Retention, November 19, 2020, virtual.

Guan-Raczkowski, Y. (2019). The Sky is the Limit: A Learning Space for Innovation. Presented at League for Innovation 2019 Conference, February 27, 2019, New York, New York.

Guan-Raczkowski, Y. (2015). Quality Control in Distance Learning. Presented at Technology Training and Development Conference held at Guangxi Normal University, October 27, Guilin, China.

Adkins M., Boozer, T. and Guan-Raczkowski, Y. (2013) Measuring Grit: Do Non-Cognitive Attributes Impact Academic Success, Engagement, Satisfaction and Retention?  Presented at E-Learning 2013 San Antonio Conference, February 18, San Antonio, Texas.

Boozer T. and Guan-Raczkowski, Y. (2011). Services for Retaining Online Students.  Presented at Innovations 2011 – League for Innovations Conference, March 2, San Diego, California.

Guan-Raczkowski, Y. and McNulty, T. (2011).  Student Self-Assessment: Guiding Online Learners to Become Better Prepared.Presented at Innovations 2011 – League for Innovations Conference, March 2, San Diego, California.

Guan-Raczkowski, Y. and McNulty, T. (2010).  Student Self-Assessment: Guiding Online Learners to Become Better Prepared.Presented at Success 2.0: Enhancing Student Learning & Retention with Technology Conference by CT Community Colleges, October 29, Middletown, Connecticut.

Guan-Raczkowski, Y. and McNulty, T. (2010). Student Self-Assessment: Guiding Student Preparation, Deepening Reading Comprehension through Course Design, Presented at Post University Distance Learning Conference, September 17, Waterbury, Connecticut.

Guan – Raczkowski, Y. (2008 – 2012).  MxCC Distance Learning Overview.  Presented for Chinese Distance Education Delegations.

Guan-Raczkowski, Y. (2008).  Quality Control of Online Learning: From Design to Student Services.  Presented at the League for Innovation Conference, October 18, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Guan-Raczkowski, Y. (2008).  Quality Control of Online Learning: From Design to Student Services.  Presented at the TELECOOP Conference, April 16, Breckenridge, Colorado.

Guan-Raczkowski, Y. (2003).  Educational Technology Literacy: An Innovative Approach for Faculty Training.  Presented at the Consortium of College and University Media Centers Conference, October 31, Charleston, South Carolina.

Brassington, C. and Guan-Raczkowski, Y. (2003).  Digital Video for an Online Medical Terminology Class.  Presented at Technology Showcase, Facing the Challenges of Technology in Teaching, June 6, Danielson, Connecticut.

Guan, Y. (2001).  Using Web Syllabi: A Way to Enhance on Campus Classroom Teaching.  Presented at the professional development day for Connecticut Community Colleges.  September 29, Manchester, Connecticut.

Guan, Y., Donohue-Lynch, B., Sokonu, J., Emigh, D., & Potter, L. (2000).  Compressed Video Based Learning from Student and Instructor Perspective.  Paper presented at League for Innovation Conference, February 29, Orlando, Florida.

Guan, Y., Donohue-Lynch, B., Sokonu, J., Emigh, D., & Potter, L. (1999).  PictureTel Learning from a Student’s Perspective. Paper presented at Connecticut Consortium for Enhancing Learning and Teaching, November 5, 1999, Hartford, Connecticut.

Guan, Y., Owen, S. V., Young, M. F., Andrew, R., & Wang, J. (1999, ERIC).  Motivation: Personal Goals, Agency beliefs, and Emotions in Web Assisted Learning.  Paper presented at the meeting of the Association of Educational Communication and Technology, February 13, 1999, Houston, Texas.

Guan, Y., Wang, J. J., Gable, R., & Young, M. F. (1998, ERIC).  Students’ Attitudes Toward Multimedia Classroom.  Paper presented at the meeting of the Eastern Educational Research Association, February 23, 1998, Tampa, FL.

Guan, Y., Owen, S. V., & Young, M. F. (1998).  Motivation Factors in Web Assisted Learning.  Paper presented at the meeting of Northeastern Educational Research Association, October 23, 1997, Ellenville, NY.

Guan, Y., Znamenskaia, E., Wang, J. J., & Young, M. F. (1998).  Anchored Instruction in Faculty Training. Paper presented at the meeting of Northeastern Educational Research     Association, October 22, 1996, Ellenville, NY.

Guan, Y., Shen, Q. Y., Tang, L., & Andrew, R. (1995).  Computer Instruction in Secondary and elementary schools in China. Paper presented at the meeting of the Association of     Educational Communication and Technology, February 14, 1995, Anaheim, CA.

Wang, J., Young, M., Barab, S. A., & Guan, Y. (1999, ERIC).  Effects of Navigational and Generative Hypertext on Problem Solving and Reading Comprehension. Paper  presented at the meeting of the Association of Educational Communication and Technology, February 1999, Houston, Texas.

Znamenskaia, E., Guan Y., & Young, M. F. (1999, ERIC).  Teacher in-Service Multimedia Training: A View of Outcomes from Situated Learning Perspective.  Paper presented at the meeting of the Association of Educational Communication and Technology, February 1999, Huston, Texas.