Experiential Learning, Effective Teaching
I think I was an instructional designer before that was a common term. I have always had a passion for teaching, amplified by my 30 years of experience as a developer and entrepreneur. Throughout my career, I have appreciated setting high expectations and empowering individuals to reach their full potential. Along the way, I have been fortunate to have great mentors, and I have also served as a mentor to some of the most talented creative professionals in the industry.
When I joined the Game Development and Simulation Department at New England Institute of Technology, my initial focus was on leveraging my expertise in visual skills to enhance the multidisciplinary craft of creating video games. However, it took me only a short time to discover new opportunities that aligned perfectly with my experience as a project manager and producer in electronic entertainment and education. Day in and day out, I am deeply involved in game theory, design, brainstorming, storytelling, production workflow, and team dynamics.
As my role within the department expanded, so did my influence in shaping the curriculum. Collaborating with my colleagues, we introduced numerous new courses and revised lesson plans to keep up with the evolving digital media landscape. The industry drove these developments, but a holistic understanding of the student experience also inspired them.
A Bridge to Growth
I pride myself on being a bridge between the fast-paced industry and students’ expectations. These connections have resulted in a more relevant program and greater student confidence, which are the key ingredients for student success.
In addition to my extensive experience in game development and simulation, I bring a robust multimedia, web, and graphic design background to my new instructional designer role. These skills will undoubtedly add value to my contributions to developing effective and engaging educational content.
Engaging the Learner’s Senses
Having worked on various multimedia projects, I am well-versed in creating interactive and visually appealing content that captures learners’ attention. I understand the importance of visual design principles, user experience, and incorporating multimedia elements, such as images, videos, and animations, to enhance the learning experience. By leveraging my expertise in multimedia design, I can ensure that your instructional materials are informative, visually appealing, and engaging.
Agile Scrum Session
Furthermore, my proficiency in web design enables me to design and develop e-learning platforms and websites that are user-friendly and intuitive. I have hands-on experience creating immersive digital environments and interactive interfaces that facilitate effective learning. I know web technologies and can use various tools and languages to create compelling online learning experiences.
Effective and Efficient Course Development
Lastly, my skills in graphic design allow me to create visually impactful visuals, infographics, and layouts for educational materials. I understand how to effectively communicate information effectively and visually using typography, color theory, and layout principles. By incorporating visually appealing graphics and design elements into instructional materials, I can enhance the overall learning experience for students.
I can bring a fresh perspective to your instructional design project. By utilizing these skills, I will create engaging and effective learning experiences that inspire and empower students to excel in their educational journey.
Tools and Techniques
Human-Centered Design ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Design Think ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Agile Scrum ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ADDIE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Google Sprint ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Instructure Canvas ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Blackboard ⭐️⭐️
Thinkific ⭐️
Moodle ⭐️
Miro ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
MindManager ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Confluence ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
JIRA ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trello ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
MS Project ⭐️
Photoshop ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Illustrator ⭐️⭐️
Sketchbook ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Canva ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Premiere ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Final Cut Pro ⭐️⭐️⭐️
AVID ⭐️⭐️
AfterEffects ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Unity ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
UnReal ⭐️⭐️
Adobe Aero ⭐️⭐️⭐️
WebAR ⭐️⭐️⭐️
WordPress ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Joomla ⭐️
Drupal ⭐️
Google Sites ⭐️
AWS Console ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Digital Media Journeyman
Much of what I have done professionally has intersected and was in large part supported by the crafts of digital media. Brand Design and Marketing ultimately are revealed in the channels of video, print, web advertising, and public exhibits of other sorts. I teach these crafts using a combination of hands on practicals and immersive critical thinking exercises. I also feel strongly that good digital media producers are first and foremost good listeners. To this end my digital media lessons plans are peppered with soft skill challenges.
Lessons Learned and Taught
As a teacher and a craftsman, I find myself learning and relearning these three lessons:
“You don’t know what you don’t know.“
The Dunning-Kruger effect doesn’t just affect the learner; it can also affect the Subject Matter Expert and the Instructional Designer. It’s essential to be open to the possibility of cognitive bias in all of its nasty forms.
“It ain’t what you know; it’s what you can learn in four hours.”
We live in an amazingly dynamic technological and cultural landscape. I have never been a person who can accept that ignorance or a skill gap is a fixed thing. So often, the investment of only four hours can make all the difference in moving the needle toward growth and accomplishment.
“It’s not that the glass is half empty or half full. It’s that the glass was often too big to begin with.”
I believe that most things are scope problems. I believe in checking and resetting expectations for the benefit of effect and efficiency.
“Don’t worry — Be Crappy”
Design and innovation are endless frontiers. Knowing where an hour, day, year, or decade will lead is impossible if you are truly breaking new ground. That’s why practicing the discipline of gritty iteration in all things is essential. Innovation is never easy, nor is it always pretty. However, the experience of failure is crucial to the craft and ultimately leads to the highest quality.