Teaching
"Thank you for your vote of confidence ….They want to hire me….Thank you again for making us do that portfolio! Today I got more feedback about how impressed they were with it…." (Sandi Margolis)
Throughout my years teaching I have found that I am most successful when my students direct the learning. To encourage this I try to provide a classroom atmosphere and/or online environment in which there is a sense of community where “we’re all in this together.” I encourage questions, discussions, and peer-to-peer interaction. Many times I will give learners a problem situation and resources with little or no explanation and have them work towards a solution. Watching students take responsibility for their own learning is not only profound but also rejuvenating. Having them share their strategies and revealing my own helps to instill the idea that I am a co-learner in the classroom and not the sole possessor of knowledge. The following remarks are taken from student correspondence. These remarks best depict what I try to accomplish in my teaching of instructional technology.
I feel proud, like I’ve really accomplished something!I believe that excellence in teaching only occurs when we give our students the opportunity to take ownership of their learning.
"Your patience has continued as you've mentored my way through the transition from student to instructor." (Dolly Bernard-Marks)
To be a successful teacher is to be constantly evaluating, updating, and improving materials, techniques, and yourself to provide the best possible learning experience for your students. I strive to continually re-evaluate and reassess my teaching methods and tools in an effort to grow and develop as an educator. Each term I have the students assess the course materials and activities. I use this assessment to reflect on my effectiveness as an educator and to refine the curriculum. My continued struggle to improve my teaching, my willingness to serve my students, and my strong evaluations from my peers and my students indicate that I am progressing towards excellence in the area of teaching effectiveness.
My corporate training, higher education teaching, and experience in Instructional Systems have prepared me to teach courses in: instructional design and theory, training design and development, instructional technology, courseware authoring, multimedia development, digital media and emerging technologies, and distance education. The following is a listing of some of the most recent courses that I have taught:
Design and Development of Online Courses
Eight week online faculty development course designed to teach faculty how to migrate classroom based courses from a classroom setting to a pedagogically sound online learning environment. Course was designed to run on Blackboard, WebCT, and Angel – it is offered twice each term. Scheduled to teach it again summer 2008.
Business Communications and Information Strategies
Graduate course designed to provide new graduate students in an online MBA program with an introduction to: oral, written, and virtual communication; methods for finding and evaluating course resources; online research techniques; critical thinking, and program standards. Last taught spring 2007.
- Sample syllabus
Computers in Education
Graduate course is designed to provide students with a focus on the seamless integration of technology into the classroom. Last taught Spring 2005.
Corporate Trainer Certificate Program (non-credit)
Certificate program designed specifically for the in-house training staff at Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia, PA. The program is delivered utilizing a hybrid online and classroom learning environment. Sample lecture
Designing Distance Education (3 credits) - Graduate course offered every Spring and Fall online. Last taught 2003.
Foundations of Instructional Technology
Graduate course offered every Spring and Fall on campus. Last taught spring 2002.
Internet: Theory/Practice in Telecommunications
This undergraduate course provides students with a working knowledge environmental variables influencing the Word Wide Web. Last taught summer 2005.
Management of Technological Change in Instructional Technology
Graduate course each Spring and Summer online and Fall in the classroom. Last taught fall 2002.
Technology Integration
In keeping with the growing use of technology, I have increased the use of multimedia in my classes. The use of the Internet, PowerPoint and Web based development tools provide dynamic interaction for my instructional design classes and corporate trainer offerings. Web-based development tools are used to create WebQuest projects and PowerPoint and Flash are used to introduce instructional design concepts. Various multimedia games, as well as computer programs, are used in Research and Development in Instructional Technology and Distance Learning courses.
…I have received some positive feedback from my teaching colleagues … they are also asking about webquests …. Thank you for creating a challenging, but comfortable learning environment. I’ve always felt that you were approachable and open to discuss many (life) topics. (Karla Whaley)
Over the course of the past several years I have integrated the Internet and multimedia tools seamlessly into the all of my courses. During the summer of 2001 I created an Internet portal that houses a collection of online resources that assist students, faculty, and administrators with the development of curriculum related projects. In the spring of 2004 I completely rewrote the site to adhere to recommended accessibility guidelines and to address student recommendations. I have also created a series of faculty and student technology support sites for various institutions.
