I'm an experienced distance educator passionate about creating engaging online college courses for adult students, with a solid understanding of how people learn and how to create learning experiences that are engaging and effective.
I've designed courses for community colleges and universities. I am familiar with various learning theories and effective teaching strategies, and I utilize multiple methods for presenting information, including text, visuals, and interactive activities. I design assessment methods, such as quizzes, projects, or reflections, that measure my students' learning goals.
My interest in distance education began during my doctoral studies when I worked as a teaching assistant, helping professors design hybrid courses on Blackboard. In these courses, we combined in-person and online meetings, with me creating online activities and group discussions to complement our face-to-face sessions.
In my work, I enjoy utilizing new educational technologies, web 2.0 tools, and learning management systems, such as Canvas, Blackboard, Brightspace (D2L), and Moodle. I am familiar with accessibility standards, ensuring that learners with diverse needs can access and use the courses I design. Additionally, I possess design skills, including selecting visuals, formatting content, and creating multimedia, which I utilize in each of the courses I design.
I earned my M.Ed. in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education, with a specialization in Global Online and Distance Education. I've continued to pursue my interest in online teaching and course design, obtaining online teaching certifications from various institutions, including Palo Alto College, San Antonio College, Penn State, and Dallas College. I've put what I've learned into practice through teaching online.
I've also completed certificate programs, including the Certificate in Media and Technology for Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Certificate for Effective College Instruction from the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE), the Next-Generation Learning with Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools Certificate from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (2024), and currently I am completing the Instructional Design Certificate at the SUNY Center for Professional Development.
As a lifelong learner, I'm always eager to improve my skills and knowledge in distance education, online course design, and technology in higher education.