Michael VanPutten

Michael has more than 20 years of experience utilizing Web and new media in higher education, nonprofit, and business sectors. Among his many accomplishments, he founded a Web and new media consulting company—VanPutten Interactive—to serve clients specializing in public works, social work, higher education, documentary film, and professional development. In his current role at Bronson Healthcare, he provides leadership for digital marketing, communications, and innovative utilization of new media. Michael has a master’s degree in educational technology from Western Michigan University.

Photograph of vintage handheld video cameras.

Inspiration: First person point of view from 74 films

See film maker’s creative use of the first-person perspective to communicate emotion and drive story in films produced from 1931 to 2014.

Photograph of a speeding rally car with a huge plume of smoke trailing behind it.

Interesting comparison of desktop and mobile website load times

A new study reports on year-to-year changes on download performance for desktop and mobile devices.

Photograph of a man descending a spiral staircase.

Flickr RSS: How to display more than 20 photos in a feed

A collection of workarounds to bypass photo limitations of the native Flickr RSS feed.

A collage of famous Penguin Book covers.

Remixing popular culture and Penguin Books covers

A roll-up of album covers, fantasy fiction, and video games that have been redesigned to look like Penguin Book covers.

A collection of mobile phones. Image Credit: Irita Kirsbluma, via Flickr/CC

Mobile and tablet web analytics for higher education

Increase in website visitor’s use of mobile devices continues according to Karine Joly’s annual State of the Mobile & Responsive Web in Higher Ed Survey.

Rugby players dive for the ball. Image Credit: Tony McIntyre, via Flickr/CC.

Why playing the game and showing up matters

Playing with ideas, trying out products, and having new experiences is fuel for creativity and invention.