2.     Occupation: I am an instructional designer\learning technologist but an educator at heart. I was fortunate to blend my love for learning, art, and tech together.

3.     Academic Background: My undergrad has been in Computer Science and both my Masters and Doctorate have been in Instructional Systems Technology with a minor in Adult Learning.

4.     Recent Learning: On the personal side, I am currently taking French classes and this week I learned how to order at a restaurant. On the professional side, I learned about a plugin called “Mighty” which allows you to enhance the look of your Articulate Rise course with advanced formatting options for text, blocks and transitions.

5.     When working: Meeting with stakeholders and vendors, creating design documents, reviewing courses or materials for courses, developing courses, budgeting, reporting, setting up Moodle courses, conducting training internally and externally, developing presentations and attending meetings meetings, and more meetings.

6.     When not working: DIY projects, travelling around Europe, hanging out with friends, picnicking at the park or by the lake or sleeping.

7.     Few people know: I once jumped off a boat in the middle of the ocean and swam to shore. In my younger days, I did competitive open-water swimming.

8.     Learning:  I look forward to learning from each of you as you share your experiences and perspectives. I am also looking forward to learning more about how the field is evolving.

2. Occupation: I am a project coordinator for a medical simulation company that works with healthcare students in Boston.

3. Academic Background: I graduated in 2021 from Plymouth State University with a B.A. in Theater Arts.

4. Recent Learning: I recently got back from a vacation to Ireland and learned a lot about the history of Irish emigration to America as well as my own family's connections to Ireland.

5. Outside of Work: I love attending live theater and concerts. Most recently I saw Noah Kahan at Fenway Park. To stay active, I play soccer and kickball weekly. When I'm at home, I spend my time reading and cuddling with my cat, Milo.

6. Fun Fact: I had a YouTube channel in high school that I used to vlog my experiences with music, theatre and dance! No, I will not share it here as it is very cringe-worthy.

7. Experience with IST: I have developed and led several training modules with our employees which is what sparked my interest in IST.

8. Learning: I hope to learn more about the use of simulation as a learning tool and how to design successful training tools for learners and employees.

1. Hometown: I currently live in southern Virginia, about 30 minutes from the North Carolina Border. However, I am from the land of gumbo and alligators, SOUTHERN LOUISIANA!!! I am very proud of my Cajun heritage.

2. Occupation: I have worked in education for nearly 20 years and currently serve as a homebound educator and virtual instructor. I am certified in history, English, computer science, and English as a Second Language.

3. Academic Background: I have a bachelor's in Social Studies Education from BYU-Idaho. I also hold a master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from Southeastern Louisiana University and a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from Liberty University.

4. Recent Learning: I have recently taken classes in computer science and business.

5. Outside of work and school: I enjoy spending time with my wife and our three children. The old saying, "the days are long but the years are short," is very true about my children. It seems like yesterday we were bringing them home, and now my youngest is 14, and my oldest is 20. So I try to enjoy every moment I have with them.

6. Fun Fact: I am an Eagle Scout. I am also the oldest of five children. Finally, I served several missions for our church in places such as German, Houston, TX, and Milwaukee, WI. I have also competed in ballroom dancing competitions.

7. Experience with IST: As a teacher, I have always been at the forefront of technology in our building. As a teacher, I have experience using learning management systems such as Canvas and Blackboard, developing online learning materials, adapting instruction for diverse learners, and using technology to improve student engagement and achievement.

8. Why IST?: I am pursuing a master’s degree in Instructional Systems Technology to strengthen my skills in instructional design, learning experience design, eLearning development, and performance improvement. My long-term goal is to transition into an instructional design or training position with a government agency or nonprofit organization. I am especially interested in using emerging technologies to create engaging, accessible, and effective learning experiences for adults.

   
   

I look forward to learning with everyone and seeing the different experiences and perspectives each person brings to the course!

1.      Where am I from: I currently live in Sea Beach, CA (Orange County, just south of LA) but grew up in Brooklyn, NY. Since leaving Brooklyn, I’ve lived in Connecticut, North Carolina, Key West and Jacksonville, FL, Kodiak, AK, and now Southern California.

2.      What do I do: I am an active-duty Coast Guard officer; I have been in the service for over 10 years. For my most recent assignment, I served as the Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Cutter George Cobb (WLM 564) in San Pedro, CA. Previously, I served as the Executive Officer of a Cutter in Kodiak, the Executive Officer of a Cutter in Key West, a Deck-Watch Officer/Training Officer onboard a Cutter in North Carolina, and for my one ashore tour, I led a team of Coasties to perform training and inspections on Cutters along the Southeast Atlantic Coast.

3.      What shaped my academic/professional journey: I graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 2016 and this past March completed the Joint Professional Military Education program from the U.S. Naval War College. I have also attended dozens (I’ve lost track) of internal Coast Guard schools ranging from leadership to how to conduct search and rescue.

4.      What do I enjoy outside of work: I’m a big fan of going to the beach, so it’s great that I live in So-Cal. Unfortunately, I have spent August finding a new place to live/moving because my current lease is running out in three days. I am excited to be completed with my move and I hope that the water won’t be too cold by then. I also love playing hockey (don’t do that too much here in So-Cal) and have been playing roller-hockey on the streets of Brooklyn since I was a little kid.  

5.      What experience do I have with Instructional technology: As I said before, I have attended dozens of internal Coast Guard schools. I have also been involved in shipboard training my entire CG career. I started out as a trainee (still am; never stop learning!) and eventually someone decided that I was good at operating/doing, so then I started training other people. For my ashore duty station, I got to travel around from Cutter to Cutter and train/inspect other Coasties. It was evident which Cutters had good instructional/training processes and which didn’t.

I’m excited to learn with everyone here, thanks for reading!

-Vlad

I am originally from Southern Indiana but the Indianapolis area has been home for the past 20 years. My husband and I currently live in Fishers, IN, a suburb of Indy.

What do you do?

I teach AP Language and Dual Credit Comp at Hamilton Southeastern HS. This is my second year at HSE, but my 15th year teaching.

Academic Background:

I earned my BS in secondary education from Indiana University Bloomington, and I completed my MA in English from Indiana University Indy.

What do you enjoy outside of work?

Health and Fitness are my primary ways of de-stressing; I do strength training, reformer pilates, and a healthy amount of walking to hit my 10k+ daily step goal. Otherwise, I am reading or playing video games. My husband and I like to go to the movies or stay in with our dog!

Instructional Tech experience?

I have primarily made use of Learning Management Systems, like Schoology and Canvas. However, I am interested in creating learning modules outside of those LMS.

I currently work as a process specialist at a CDMO, where I have also designed a training module used to train new employees.

My academic background includes a BS in Chemistry from KNUST, Ghana and an MS in Organic Chemistry from Ball State University, Muncie. I have experience teaching in both college and online settings. I also serve in the US Army Reserves.

I have used videos, online materials, and other digital tools in teaching and training. These experiences made me more interested in how people learn and how training can be designed more effectively. They also sparked my curiosity about how technology can support teaching and learning.

In R511, I hope to better understand the foundations of instructional technology and how to apply those ideas to real teaching and workplace training.

1. Hometown: I was born in West Allis (a suburb of Milwaukee), Wisconsin. I worked at the Milwaukee County Zoo the summer before college which was the absolute best job of my life; especially, working at the children's petting zoo and the train station (and seeing his friends, the orangutans every day).

2. Occupation and Training:I am a distinguished professor as of February of this year. I have been part of 160 or so dissertations to date and have written or edited 20 books. I have over 450 publications and given nearly 2,000 presentations and speeches (including over 340 keynotes on 6 continents.)

3. Academic Background: In college, I trained as an accountant at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater and later became a corporate controller and CPA. After 4-5 years as a pencil neck, bean counter, and trained monkey who could quickly use a hand calculator to add columns of numbers from a phone book, I became sufficiently bored with that and went to night school. I also took correspondence and TV courses in psychology to qualify for graduate school at the University of Wisconsin Madison where he got his master’s and Ph.D. in educational psychology with a minor in educational technology. A year after starting my graduate degrees, the person I took correspondence courses with, Professor Robert Clasen, hired me to help him create a national distributed telecourse called, “Teachers Tackle Thinking: Critical Thinking in the Classroom.” A year later, a colleague and I developed a keystroke mapping system and a computer prompting system for critical and creative thinking in writing when using WordPerfect while simultaneously developing the generative-evaluative model of writing and writing as reprocessing model that all became part of my dissertation adventure. After graduation, I worked in educational psychology at West Virginia University in Morgantown (also known as Morganhole due to the coal mining) for 3 years. I have spent the past 34 years at IU; 13 of those years in ed psych and the past 21 years in IST. Do the math—this will be my 38th year as a faculty member or since the late 1980s. I have authored or edited 20 books in learning technologies and he has published hundreds of research papers. For over two decades, I have been interested in self-directed learning or SDL in open, online, blended, informal, and nontraditional learning environments; most recently SDL with generative AI for online language learning and writing support. Anyone is allowed to sit in any of my courses—The World is Open for learning as per one of my book titles.

4. Recent Learning: listen to auidiobooks when I run each day; lately these books on on AI as well as the Beatles and Paul Mccartney. I also learn a ton from people on my podcast show each Saturday. My weekly podcast show is called Silver Lining for Learning (SLL). It started in March 2020 after getting his arm twisted by friends during COVID. SLL has had over 275 episodes to date.

5. Outside of my professional life, I enjoy running, reading, travel, and connecting people. In 2023 and 2024, I made daily 365 calendars using the 40,000 pictures I took of Southern Indiana and Bloomington and IU during the first 2-3 years of COVID. as well as personal quotes I thought of on Leadership, Learning, and Life.

   
   

6. Fun fact. I used to give conference keynotes with 3-part skits, complete with costuming, My skits in Iceland and Barcelona over 20 years ago, when I dressed in a full body suit of Mickey Mouse and later Dr. Evil and Merlin the Wizard predicting the future were a blast.

7. Experience with IST. I have been in the department since 2005. I minored in educational technology at the University of Wisconsin long long ago.

8. Learning: I hope to learn from all of you in the discussion forums and your reflection papers.

2+3+7) I have been working at the IU Interprofessional Practice and Education Center for nearly 9 years (Oct) in Indianapolis. My current role is as an Educational Resources Specialist and my two largest responsibilities include being the primary administrator for our Center's 6 unique Canvas pages and providing data assistance for curricular outcomes, CQI, and learner assessment measurements (distribution, cleaning, basic interpretation, and visualization). I have learned many of my Canvas and Instructional Design skills through trial by fire and self-taught methods but decided to take the next step in my career to seek the Instructional Systems Technology MSEd (now in my second semester).

After my office completely redesigned our curriculum from the ground up and I was able to be at the center of some of the design choices, I realized how exciting it was to be a key contributor to making something that learners would engage with. This combined with data later down the road that showed over a 0.5 satisfaction increase (on a 5 point scale), it was incredibly satisfying to know the impact I had on helping to design content and our Canvas pages. Ideal career paths include High-School to Adult instructional design with a preference towards Health Science programs.

5) I am a relatively new father, so spending time with my precious 1 year old, I enjoy playing board/video games with my friends (frequently attend GenCon in Indy), bouldering and most outdoor activities (particularly kayaking, whitewater rafting, and hiking), and just about any other sport casually like volleyball or soccer (I was taught tennis at a summer camp by a former Olympic coach).

Last October I officially retired after serving 22 years on active duty with the U.S. Army. I was an Infantryman, but the last 10 years of my career was spent in the operations realm where I resourced and tracked training events, ensured Soldiers were attending their designated professional military education courses, deployed and redeployed Soldiers from location worldwide, and anything else that would come through the office.

Earlier this month I completed a M.S. in Management with IU Kokomo. I had GI Bill benefits remaining, so I decided to pursue an additional degree. I chose IST because I am looking to lean more into the Learning and Development aspect of my current position.

I currently work for Sterling Industrial. We are an industrial construction company and a majority of our workforce is unionized labor. In my current position I track our craft (trade) personnel and ensure they are receiving the correct pay, any uplifts or benefits we give them outside of the CBA, and any relevant certifications they have or we need them to pursue. I have also been bringing our key craft personnel in for reviews to find out how we can better assist them on the job sites and to start working on recruiting and retention programs aimed at the trades.

Outside of work, I spend all my time with my wife, kids and pup. We have some trips coming up as a family, so that should be fun. I am also hoping to have time to get out and do some deer hunting this fall.

I am originally from Farmersburg, IN, but Bloomington has been my home since 2014. My husband and I came for school (though I ended up switching to ISU online for my undergrad) and fell in love with the community. Bloomington is so diverse, and there are so many things to do. We particularly love the art community here. Oh, and the food options!

What do you do?

Currently only a student right now. I just finished a year-long internship with Eskenazi Health last week, with their Leadership and Professional Development department. I’m going to be focusing on school mostly, but still open to remote part-time work.

Before my disability, I worked as a Member Service Specialist at a credit union, and I presented different seminars on credit, auto buying, and other financial subjects. I hosted events to encourage new memberships and answer questions. I loved this job so much. I loved teaching and helping people save money and plan for their future.

Before that, I mostly worked in retail in my high school/early college years. I was an associate manager at Build-A-Bear Workshop for two years, and it also helped solidify my coaching/teaching passion.

What shaped your academic or professional journey?

My academic and professional journey did not start or end like I thought it would, but I really like where I have ended up, regardless. I started out wanting to pursue art or graphic design. The computer has notoriously been my enemy, though, so I decided to go more in the traditional art realm. Unfortunately, an invisible chronic illness turned my life upside down. I had been struggling with symptoms since I was 14 years old, and I had trouble attending in-person school because of it. I switched to Indiana State University’s online Human Resource Development program for my undergrad, but then in 2019 I became completely paralyzed for two weeks. I finally got a diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorder, and I had to relearn how to walk, talk, and process new information. I was approved for disability in 2021 and was only focused on getting better. I was able to return to my degree program in 2023, and I added a minor in psychology because the brain and how we learn became something that I was extremely passionate about, having gone through my lived experience. I still struggle at times, but today, August 31, is my seventh anniversary of the official onset of my disorder, and I am the healthiest and strongest I have ever been in my life. I finished my bachelor’s degree in 2024, and then I interned with Eskenazi. I had no idea what I was going to do with my HR degree. I only chose it because it was the only option of their 100% online degree programs that actually interested me, since I knew it would be people-focused and also transferable skills. I knew that I was good at training and presenting in my “before” times, and so I thought maybe I would start there. My year at Eskenazi shaped so much of my professional goals, and my boss encouraged me to pursue Instructional Design because she believed I had a natural talent for it. I truly enjoyed creating/revamping/editing some of their training programs. I took her advice and found this program and applied. This is the next step on my journey! I’m very excited for week 13 to dive into career options.

What do you enjoy outside of work?

Outside of work, my favorite activities are reading (since the ability to read was taken from me for a couple of years). I wasn’t much of a reader before my disability, but since it was taken from me, my passion is fierce. I have read over 400 books since getting that ability back. I had to practice retaining information by only reading one paragraph at a time and telling my husband or family what I read.

I also love spending time with my nieces and nephews (and other family- but they’re the cool ones). My husband and I are childfree and love being aunt and uncle (actually it’s Ta and Da, or Lala and Uncle as our different groups call us).

I’m an acrylic painter, an unorganized crafter, and a lover of live music/theater. My husband and I like to travel as much as possible, even if it’s just a short road trip to see a new concert a state away. We always enjoy seeking out local stores and restaurants.

What experience have you had with instructional technology?

Not a ton, and that is why I want to pursue this Certificate (and maybe eventually a Master's). I worked with Articulate Rise360 and PowerPoint at Eskenazi primarily. I have also made a couple of different things in Canva.

What do you hope to learn in R511?

I hope this class reinforces that this is the direction I want to go and perhaps points me in an even more specific path. I’m excited to be a sponge and soak up all of the different information that has been provided and will continue to be presented throughout this semester. I don't take learning for granted.

After teaching all levels of high school English for almost 20 years, I left education for the world beyond. Over the past five years, I have held three positions: adult education specialist with an electrical safety training company; a corporate trainer with a mid-size furniture manufacturing company; and, currently, as an instructional systems designer with an agency within the U.S. Department of War.

I received my BS in Secondary Education from IU a very long time ago. Since then, I have added Master's in Liberal Studies (English & Journalism) from Indiana University Southeast along with some other education certifications.

My journey to my current location started with LinkedIn. I researched positions that fell, loosely, under my umbrella and tumbled into instructional design. Noting that most job descriptions require some sort of certification, I completed Purdue's four-course Instructional Design and Technology program.

In my current position, I am learning all the time - usually on the fly. Government has a lot of acronyms.

Outside of work, I listen to Audible. I was an avid reader (of physical books) but, years ago, when my son played travel baseball, and I spent hours driving, I started listening to books and haven't quit. Currently, my total listening time is 23 months, 25 days, 2 hours, and 42 minutes. I have listened to books for nearly two years of my life.

I'm Sinem

My Hometown

I'm from Ankara, Turkey. I first came to Bloomington to participate in an Intensive English Program at Indiana University and I really enjoyed living here. During this time, I also had the opportunity to visit Chicago, New York, and Indianapolis. I'm excited to return to Bloomington and start a new chapter here.

My Academic Background

My academic background is in both Computer Education and Instructional Technology and Primary Education. I also completed my master's degree in Computer Education and Instructional Technology.

Following my master's degree, I received the YLSY scholarship, supported by the Turkish Ministry of National Education, which provides opportunities for graduate education abroad. This scholarship gave me the opportunity to continue my academic journey as a doctoral student at Indiana University.

Instructional Technology Experience

Before starting my doctoral studies, I worked as an educational technology specialist for about three years at a K-12 school in Türkiye. I collaborated with teachers to integrate technology into their lessons, created digital learning materials, and supported teachers and students in using different educational technologies.

My Interests

I enjoy traveling, taking photos and videos, and exploring new places. I also love drawing and coloring mandalas. I find it both creative and relaxing.

What I Hope to Learn at R511

I hope to develop a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of instructional technology and how the field is evolving.

I'm excited to be a part of R511