R622 Fall 2025 participant introductions by Curt Bonk

cjbonk3 — 2025-08-11 01:54:30 UTC

Milwaukee, Wisconsin (actually West Allis on the west side of Milwaukee. Currently it is under a huge flood but normally, it is a safe place and lovely to visit in the summer and go to a baseball game like I did last week and the Wisconsin State Fair as well.
I minored in educational technology and majored in educational psychology. I moved to IST in 2005 after 16 years in ed psych mainly to avoid people who I had difficulty working with.
Accounting undergraduate degree. I am a former CPA. Then a master's and a doctorate in ed psych.
How to use Padlet. It is not intuitive. It could be better built. Poor instructional scaffolding for new learners.
Write, write, and write some more...or mentor students. Read, read, and more reading.
Run. I have run at least 2 miles outside every day since Covid and my podcast, Silver Lining for Learning started March 21, 2020 except for 17 days off when I had an elective surgery last year.
I like to fish. I have not gone fishing in over 3 decades.
I hope to learn from my students. Lots of things.

2025-08-21 18:13:02 UTC

Burgos, Spain, It has a beautiful gothic cathedral and lots of old, beautiful buildings. I miss it a lot.
I just switched careers in August. After teaching Spanish for 24 years (18 of those at IU) I have just started working as the Director of the BFC Office at IU.
Translation and Interpretation. I have always loved languages and learning about other cultures.
How to use WebCMS. Not the easiest software for websites...
Respond to lots of emails and cross things off my to do list while I add more :)
Read, work out, cuddle with my cats Mac&Cheese, Sushi, and Rachel, walk my dog Coco.
I was once in a music video for Reverend Payton's Big Damn Band.
I hope to learn which factors to consider when designing learning environments to give give learners (and facilitators) the best experience possible.

2025-08-22 17:53:17 UTC

I was born and raised in Milford, CT - a lovely area and I always enjoy visiting my parents who still live there. I didn't know when I was kid that having a Costco and a Trader Joe's in a 3-mile radius of your home was such a blessing. I recently moved from Puerto Rico to Alexandria, VA, so again, enjoying the access that city life provides.
I am a lieutenant in the U.S. Coast Guard. My most recent assigned was the Commanding Officer of a 154 ft patrol boat in San Juan, Puerto Rico. When I was a junior in high school deciding what I wanted to do next in life, joining the Coast Guard was an opportunity that offered excitement, humanitarian service and a chance to see a lot of the country/world. Luckily, the service has afforded me all of those things!
I earned my BS in Civil Engineering at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (similar to West Point or Airforce Academy - most people don't know we also have an Academy for the Coast Guard!). I decided not to continue to pursue Civil Engineering after graduating, though that was an option for me within the Coast Guard.
The most recent thing I have learned is how to build an accent wall, or at least one very specific style of accent wall! My husband and I recently moved into our new house, so I have been driving both of us crazy with my home upgrades to included stripping wallpaper and replacing it with an accent wall.
At my previous assignment, my time at work was spent on the ship, whether at sea or back at home port. I oversaw the success of 4 main components: Operations (search and rescue, drug interdiction, enforce laws, etc), Maintenance (does the boat work the way we want it to?), Training (are we prepared to execute the mission?), Rest/Recovery (is my crew mentally and physically ready to get the job done?). As the Captain of the ship, I spent a lot of time training my crew and talking to various departments to make sure we were always on track. All past tense because I left this specific assignment a few weeks ago to complete Grad School full time.
When not working, I spend a lot of time cooking and attempting to turn my new house into a cozy home. This is also my first station on the East Coast since I graduated from college, so my parents/sister are excited to be in the same time zone as me finally.
I love hiking, but only if it's challenging. I need to earn pretty mountain views...
I am hoping this course can challenge the creative side of my brain (right side I think?) and help me better brainstorm unique ways to enhance learning environments within the U.S. Coast Guard.

mtrahyn — 2025-08-25 20:28:38 UTC

1. Although I was born in Springfield, Illinois, I have lived in six different states and two different countries and don’t consider any of my childhood homes my “hometown”. I lived in Louisville, KY from 2^nd through 12^th grade, Columbus, OH for college, Baku, Azerbaijan for a couple years after college, and now I have lived in Indianapolis for about 25 years. Since this is where I live raising my kids, this is my home.

2. After a 22-year career in International Higher Education, I pivoted during COVID to Educational Technology, where I have been for five years. I’d say, overall, my occupation is educator/teacher. I currently work at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis as the IT Manager & Educational Technologist. This occupation/profession fell into my lap when I was exploring careers outside of International Ed as I have a strong self-taught technological background and a strong foundation in working in Higher Ed.

3. I have a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from The Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) and a master’s degree in Teaching and Leadership (with a focus in Instructional Technology) from Butler University’s College of Education. I’m currently pursuing an EdD in IST here at IU.

4. Actually, the most recent thing I learned concerns DKIM and DMARC settings for bulk email distribution – what that means and why it’s important for keeping your email and your organization safe (I know, a little dull, but I had to learn about it on Friday due to an issue). I’m not an expert, but I could explain the technical language in layman’s terms to our Communications Department who were freaking out when a bulk email was quarantined. (and it’s fixed now!).

5. When working, I do all kinds of stuff, even things I don’t like to do (LOL). I train and work with faculty on our systems, Zoom Rooms, course design, engagement in our hybrid classrooms, and sometimes I troubleshoot the tech and press buttons to make it work.

6. This summer, I started walking with about 7200 steps a day and now I’m up to 12,000 a day. Since the summer started, I’ve walked 409 miles and I currently walk 6 miles a day, spending about 1-2 hours outside every day this summer. I’m very proud so keeping my streak and not getting complacent is key for me so I just keep on walking (plus, I feel so much better and my health is much better).

7. I was in The Ohio State University Marching Band in my undergrad (yes, The Best Damn Band in the Land – look them up on YouTube if you don’t know who they are) and I have played trombone (and I still play) for 40 years. I have also traveled and/or lived in 29 different countries since the age of 18.

8. I’m very focused here on learning environments and how the environment influences student (and instructor) engagement.

2025-08-25 22:01:06 UTC

Hometown

I am from Seoul, South Korea. It’s a fast and convenient city where tradition and modern technology coexist. I especially enjoy the calm atmosphere along the Han River.

Occupation

I just started as a Ph.D. student in Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University. My main interest is exploring how humans and AI interact in learning, and how large language models can function as part of the learning environment.

Academic Background

I completed my B.A. in Education and English Language & Literature at Yonsei University and my M.A. in Educational Technology at Seoul National University.

Most Recent Thing I Learned

While adjusting to daily life in the U.S., I learned that at the grocery store self-checkout, once you place items in the bag, you shouldn’t touch them again until the transaction is fully completed!

What I Do When Working

I often walk to think, and I spend much of my time writing and analyzing ideas.

What I Do When Not Working

I enjoy playing instruments like the piano and staying active through running and other sports.

Something Few People Know About Me

I used to be a taekwondo athlete through high school. Even as an adult, I competed in an amateur national tournament in Korea and placed third.

What I Hope to Learn in This Course

I hope to understand how different factors interact to shape learning environments and how these environments influence change. In particular, I’d like to explore how AI systems-like large language models-might serve as environments themselves to support and transform learning.

garrinross — 2025-08-25 22:38:22 UTC

1. My hometown is Maple Valley, Washington state. A once-small town at the foot of the Northern Cascades in the Pacific Northwest. An ideal place to grow up, a short distance from hiking trails and not too far from the ocean.

2. I have been working in ISD for about 20 years and currently manage a course design and development at a private worldwide university. I began in law enforcement, and I had a 20-year career in community corrections. The seeds of training began at the Criminal Justice Training Commission and ended up shaping into training designs for law enforcement, counterterrorism, and commercial pilot operations. Here I am in academia. The threaded path is a bit more like a meandering.

3. Undergraduate studies in Law & Justice with specialization in Law Enforcement. Masters in Psychology with emphasis on performance under stress. Masters in Aeronautics with specialization in Aviation/Aerospace Educational Technology. Now, pursuing EdD in Instructional Systems Design & Technology.

4. On my red-eye flight last night, I was reading more about muscle hypertrophy and delayed onset muscle soreness. Nothing shockingly new, but more evidence supporting changes I'm making in my workouts as I approach 60 years old and ~50 years of training in some capacity.

5. A variety of common managerial tasks in ISD/T. Still too many meetings, although I keep trimming them down when I can and eliminating when possible. If we don't need to meet about it, no sense in meeting.

6. Working out, learning about new research in exercise and nutrition, and following my wife around to see world-class Elvis Tribute Artists. I'm not an Elvis fan, but she is an Elvis nut.

7. I caught on fire while working as a logger with Weyerhaeuser in Washington state. It was Winter, and a mate near me responded with a quick tackle into the snow and only my hand sustained significant injury. My beard didn't do so well either, but mostly just a terrible smell and needed to come off. HA!

8. After 20 years in the field, I am looking to have the hive kicked and jars shaken. It is the approach I take in all my courses. I anticipate that something I experience in the course will shape what I do. If not, it is my own fault.

2025-08-26 00:33:45 UTC

Hi everyone! My name is Arpita Pal. I am originally from the eastern part of India, from a city called Kolkata, which is also known as the city of joy. I grew up in a very diverse environment where people came from all corners of India and abroad, which has shaped my appreciation for inclusion and resilience. My hometown is known for its rich theatre, art, and literature culture, and it also boasts the best street food. I am a Learning Experience Designer, and currently live in Virginia. I originally started my career back in India in Human Resources. I pivoted to learning and development, and later, when I came to the USA, I completed my second Master's degree in Instructional Design to continue my passion for designing learning programs. I have received the "Distinguished Achievement Award" from San Francisco State University. I was a finalist at the 2021 AECT Design and Development competition, and last year, I received the "Organizational Training & Performance" best practice award from AECT. I chose this path because I am deeply committed to creating inclusive, accessible, and meaningful learning opportunities.

Most recently, I have been learning how to integrate inclusive personas, liberatory design thinking, and artificial intelligence into microlearning design. This allows me to address equity gaps in learning experiences, particularly for culturally diverse and neurodivergent learners.

In my work, I analyze learning needs and create learning solutions that range from microlearning to larger learning programs on a variety of topics in adult talent development in a corporate environment. I focus heavily on inclusion, equity, and accessibility in both patient-facing and system-level training. I also conduct research, evaluate program impact, and facilitate design processes that bring diverse voices into the conversation. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, vlogging, and doing art-related work. People know me as an introvert, with quiet strength, and someone who sings and cooks delicious food.

In this course, I aim to explore how the learning environment influences learning outcomes, particularly at the intersection of technology, inclusion, and cultural humility.

khaworth4 — 2025-08-26 22:33:31 UTC

I'm from Floyds Knobs, Indiana, which is a lovely small town about 15 minutes north of Louisville, KY. It has exactly one stoplight and was an idyllic place to grow up. I lived on six acres with horses and lots of woods to explore, but could easily enjoy all the benefits of a medium-sized city, too.
I am a knowledge manager in HR for a company called Equinix. We have data centers all over the world and employees in 48 countries, and we are growing. HR is an interesting space, and the company is going through some major transformation and growing pains. I'm focused primarily on the employee experience.
I have my BS in secondary Education from IU Southeast, a master's in Information Science from IUB, and now I'm here doing my Ed.D. in IST. I started college in 1996 and it keeps calling me back over and over again.
Most recently, I learned a new (to me) feedback model called Situational Learning II (or SLII) and it was by far the best professional development I've had as a manager.
I spend a lot of my work days talking to stakeholders and negotiating working agreements. Knowledge Managers rarely have teams and authority, so we have to lead through influence.
When not working, I read, cross-stitch, crochet, watch TV, and take little jaunts in my convertible on nice days.
Few people know how truly introverted I am because my life requires me to pretend to be extroverted so much of the time.
In this class, I hope to learn about better ways to serve professional development up in corporate America. It is a depressing space right now and I'm in this program to help me find a new perspective and way to contribute. To reinvigorate myself.

2025-08-26 23:33:06 UTC

My name is Maria Ceresoli. I grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia. It's a beautiful city, full of history and culture. I wish my kids had more opportunities to travel there!
I am a high school science teacher. This year I teach AP physics (a new subject for me) and chemistry. My school is extremely diverse so I work with kids from communities historically underrepresented in STEM fields. Many of my students have very limited English language proficiency. I love watching them gain confidence and spread their wings as they learn science.
I have BS in chemistry and biology (pre-med), MA in secondary education, and am currently working on EdD in curriculum and instruction in science ed. I am seriously considering educational technologies as my EdD minor.
The most recent thing I learned is AP physics content. When the previous AP physics instructor unexpectedly resigned, I had to take the training over the summer. I passed the physics Praxis two weeks ago! Big deal for a chemistry/biology teacher.
At work my responsibilities revolve around regular teacher tasks. But am I trying to keep is fun for the students.
When not working, I take care of my family, work on IU course projects, work out, walk my dogs, and try to squeeze in some quality time with my loved ones
I get up before 5 am every week day to run 7 miles or ride my Peloton bike before the craziness of the day sets in.
In this class I hope to explore different ways and learning environments pertaining to the science education, specifically for students from racial and linguistic minorities

2025-08-27 02:29:02 UTC

My hometown is Angola, Indiana, a small, rural university town.
I currently serve as the Vice President of Online and International Studies at Trine University, where I have worked for nearly 13 years. Over the years, I have held a variety of roles, including admissions, advising, instruction, and Dean. I discovered my love for education when I first joined Trine in 2013, and I have especially enjoyed working with post-traditional and international students.
Academically, I hold a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Science in Leadership. I am pursuing the Doctor of Education in Instructional Systems Technology.
Something new I have learned is I recently started using ChatGPT to help write HTML and CSS code, and it has been a game changer!
I lead a team of around 90 faculty and staff. Every day brings something new, which is one of the things I love most about my job. I spend much of my time problem-solving, helping my team discover more efficient ways to work, and sharing our successes and challenges with the university cabinet and Board of Trustees.
Outside of work, I spend most of my time with my husband and our two-year-old daughter. I also travel occasionally to our education centers in Phoenix, Detroit, and DC. In my limited free time, I enjoy reading, and I try to stay active through yoga or Peloton every day.
While I love leading people, one of my favorite aspects of my role is improving processes through technology, so much so that my team often jokes that I am their IT department. I am also passionate about course development and review. I currently serve as a Quality Matters peer reviewer, which I find both meaningful and exciting.
Through this course, I hope to continue learning how to design online courses that are engaging, innovative, accessible, and ultimately lead to greater learner success.

2025-08-28 00:12:52 UTC

Hi I'm Amanda.

I'm from Indiana (Evansville but live in Avon now) but have bounced around following my husband's career mostly in FL and LA but to IN to raise our family. As soon as they are out of the house, I plan to get lost above an alpine tree line.
/3. I have a BS in Pre-vet/animal health, minor in equine science. I am a credentialed veterinary technician with a specialty in anesthesia and analgesia. I have dedicated my professional and much of my personal life to the science of veterinary medicine to help my peers and colleagues help pets. I occasionally still anesthetized some of our most critical cases on emergency on call at a referral practice in Indianapolis. Because I have always found myself in roles helping others learn my craft, I'm pursuing the MEd in IST.
1. I very much enjoyed the summer course I took because it was application not theory and it was directly relatable to my current role. It involved learning CSS and HTML.
2. Speaking of my role, my title is Senior CE specialist for VETgirl (www.vetgirlontherun.com) a subscription based online continuing education global platform for veterinary professionals. I have 20+ years as a credentialed veterinary technician specialist in anesthesia and analgesia. I have worked for veterinary teaching hospitals, graduate programs associate programs and now online learning platforms to help veterinary professionals obtain their licensing required CE. For the website above, I provide lectures but mostly I format, code and beautify the videos, blogs and podcasts on the site. I handle making the graphics, originating ideas for successful topics-success in clicks/reads/downloads etc, I do audio and video editing, herding of deliverables from external contributors, managing of assets from sponsors and design downloadable/printable clinical resources. I've been with the org 1.5 years. Over which my assets have been the largest downloaded, purchased and viewed.
3. Outside of work I have a family, 3 kids. My oldest shows horses at the world competition level. I'm on the road a lot with her. I also run, I say shuffle 5 days a week with my son. And my youngest does art. I should mention outside my full time role, I speak heavily on our professional conference circuit. I've learned to limit myself to 1 conference a month. Sometimes I fail...like last month and Sept. But it's a nice supplement to my income.
4. Something I like to do--eventually I won't have to share a horse with my kid....so that is something I look forward to doing again. I rode competitively in college. It paid for my schooling. But that was 20 years ago sadly. Now I occasionally ride or show when I can. I am also a dog person. My dog is the love of my life. The horses are not pets, they are a basketball to the basket ball player. It's hard to describe really to most people. But don't worry our horses board and training is more than our mortgage every month ...they are well taken care of. The image is one of horses with my daughter on him.
5. I hope to continue my journey learning how to create CE courses for a diverse audience of veterinary professionals that truly closes performance gaps in clinical practice resulting in improved care to pets which further cultivates the human animal bond. Most specifically, I hope to help my employer meet their self proclaimed "most tech savvy way to get your veterinary CE" to which I find to be outdated. Maybe I will learn ways to improve the platform and methods of delivery. That's the hope (oh and that it will make me more money!)

Unrelated, I would love to know if anyone would be interesting in partnering for the tasks? I would love to work collaboratively with someone of a different background (I think I'm the first vet med person here so shouldn't be hard) so that I can gain a fuller understanding of their experiences in instructional design and hopefully bring that to my profession!

2025-08-31 07:22:18 UTC

Hello,

My name is Zhongfang Dai, and I am thrilled to be joining you all in EDUC-R622 Learning Environments Design this semester! Here is a little more about me:

1. What is your hometown and what is it like?
I am originally from China, from a beautiful city known for its long and rich history.

2. What is your Occupation and why did you choose it?
I am the Registrar at KLC International Institute in Singapore. I chose this career because it allows me to apply my passion for systems-thinking to the human-centric field of education, optimising structures to better support learners.

3. What is your Academic Background?
My academic foundation is in Electronic Engineering.

4. What is the most recent thing you learned?
The most recent significant thing I learned was how to lead a group of team members with diverse backgrounds and age groups to achieve a common goal by leveraging their individual strengths and applying solution-focused coaching techniques.

5. What do you do when working?
In my day-to-day work, I manage student and learning management systems and optimise institutional processes. I focus on how the architecture of an institution - its data systems, administrative workflows, and support structures - profoundly impacts the student learning experience.

6. What do you tend to do when not working?
When I'm not working, I tend to be gardening, cooking, enjoying a variety of sports, or travelling with my family.

7. What do few people know about you?
Few people know that my engineering background makes me the unofficial repair-person at home - I enjoy the quiet quest of fixing appliances and gadgets!

8. What do you hope to learn in this course?
I hope to move from intuitive practice to a more theoretical and evidence-based understanding of environmental design. I am particularly interested in studying the interrelationships among environmental variables and exploring decision models that can help us intentionally construct environments where every learner can thrive.

I look forward to learning alongside all of you and collaborating throughout this course.

Best regards,

Wing

Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/zhongfang-dai-0bb4b4a6

rkmohr4 — 2025-08-31 18:54:03 UTC

1. I am from Antioch, Illinois, a small town about an hour north of Chicago. It sits on the Chain O' Lakes, so there are a lot of marinas and boating. I now live in St. Louis, Missouri, and enjoy living somewhere less rural and having more options for things to do, places to eat, etc.

2. I currently work as the Head of Academics at TPH St. Louis, an academy-style program offering ice hockey training and academic support to students in grades 6-12. I chose it because it is a good combination of my past professional roles: classroom teaching and academic advising for student-athletes.

3. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Saint Louis University and a Master of Arts in Higher Education from Lindenwood University. I am currently pursuing the M.S.Ed in IST through IU.

4.Recently, I have taken on a second title for my job (Coordinator of Operations and Programming). In order to complete tasks for this role, I have had to learn and become adept in our company's CRM, as well as other softwares used for customer registrations, payments, etc.

5.When working, my primary responsibility is to oversee academic operations for our academy (TPH). We have three classrooms on-site and three academic success coaches who oversee them. I ensure academic staff are supporting students and that students' academic needs are met- whether that be course enrollment or success with coursework.

6.When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my French bulldog, Millie. I am also passionate about fitness and have a wonderful gym/community that is part of my daily routine.

7. I minored in Spanish in college and really enjoyed it! Unfortunately, I ended up needing to drop the minor, as I played for SLU's DI field hockey program and had too many schedule conflicts with my training and the Spanish course offerings. I would love to pick the language back up again one day!

8.I am looking forward to learning about the many ways that learning environments impact instruction and learner experience!

2025-09-03 15:37:26 UTC

1. What is your hometown and what is it like?

My home town is Saint-Anne d'Auray in France where I just went to get married at the basilica (Aug 18th). This picture is my wedding at the city Hall in Toronto (Aug 12th) after my Iranian's wedding (Aug 9). Like this wedding, mu hometown is full of love, joy, and fun.

2. What is your Occupation and why did you choose it?

Entrepreneur to make an impact in this world.

3. What is your Academic Background?

Engineering and Psychology before educational studies.

4. What is the most recent thing you learned?

How to go with the flow, which is a book that I read via the course R626 taught by Dr. Ugur Kale.

5. What do you do when working?

I am on maternity leave; so, right now is all about personal care. When I'll be back to work, I'll need to focus on hiring, performance review, administration, software development for educational setting.

6. What do you tend to do when not working?

I take care of my 2 children of 7 months and 2 years old. I also take care of my 3 dogs. And also invest time with my husband.

7. What do few people know about you (e.g., your skills and competencies; interests; quests and adventures; hobbies; famous moments; etc.)?

The impossible is possible

8. what do you hope to learn in this course?

Explore different learning environment and apply my learning by creating mini courses.