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Course Videos
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Bullet-free Slides
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Ever since discovering the work of Garr Reynolds and Nancy Duarte, I've transformed "bullet-riddled death machines" that worked more like documents and less like learning tools into bullet-free visual/textual support for my lessons. Devoting 12 hours or more to designing each set of slides I use in class and online, allows me to really consider what my students need to see on screen and what can really be best communicated via discussion or application. Students are furthermore held accountable for note-taking and critically processing information.

 

Goals/Growth Opportunities:

  • Adapt existing decks to better fit classroom display challenges.

  • Include notes and useful links in all slideshows.

  • Unify design across all lessons.

In order to enhance the online student experience, I've created a series of video lessons on subjects related to composition, public speaking, and design. These videos are accessible via YouTube and feature a blend of live instruction and voice over. In addition, I use tools like Jing and QuickTime's screen capture feature to create interative tutorials and how to videos.

 

Goals/Growth Opportunities:

  • Create video lessons for instructors.

  • Create 10 best practices video to serve as a refresher for past students.

  • Create new set of videos on visual design basics and speech delivery.

Thanks to the leadership of our Liberal Studies director, Dr. Kim Murray, the English department implemented a more interactive form of feedback, video feedback. Instead of text or comments alone, I now provide my online and campus students with detailed explanations and interactive suggestions/revisions. This feedback is particularly useful in the online revision process, as it allow students to see course concepts in action and provides me with additional teaching moments.

 

Goals/Growth Opportunities:

  • Use interactive video feedback consistently in the classroom.

  • Integrate video feedback into students' critique of classmates' work.

  • Use screen sharing to create play by play tutorials.

One of my initiatives for 2013 was the integration of infographics as teaching tools. I began by creating a visualization of Simon Sinek's Golden Circle concept, which I use as part of my course introduction in the campus iteration of Professional Communication and Presentation. I've since created an infographic on choosing a strong persuasive presentation topic as well as a course introduction infographic for online Professional Communication and Presentation.

 

Goals/Growth Opportunities:

  • Create infographic versions of all instruction sheets.

  • Create infographic faculty development workshop.

  • Create infographic tipsheet for major course concepts.

Video Feedback
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Infographics
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Instructional design is a task that should be a part of any educator's repetoire. The act of creating assignments, lesson plans, and entire courses is integral to an educator developing his or her teaching style, pedagogy, and critique process. I began my work as instructional designer by creating a special topics section of English composition II at Valencia college that was entirely based on the literature of the beat generation. I followed that by becoming part of a course shell development project. Working with two other composition instructors, I created a universal course shell for English composition I. After gaining valuable skills in course development, I created a course shell for English composition II; a Web-CT based lab for preparatory English I and II; a course shell for Latin American Humanities campus and hybrid; and am now responsible for quarterly revisions to the structure of both the campus and online iterations of Professional Communication and Presentation.

 

Goals/Growth Opportunities:

  • Revise online class structure to streamline and focus on revision.

  • Create infographic instruction sheets.

  • Create new series of course videos with ID department.

Throughout my career, I've had the privilege to select textbooks for courses I've developed. My goal in choosing a textbook is to find a text or set of texts that is affordable, deeply relevant, and that has application beyond a specific class. For Beat Literature, this text was The Portable Beat Reader. For Latin American Humanities, the solution was several texts--The Companion to Latin American Studies, Latin American Art of the 20th Century, and The Oxford Book of Latin American Short Stories. When tasked with choosing a presentation book that tailored to the needs of 21st century students, I chose first Nancy Duarte's Slide:ology, and upon its later release, Nancy Duarte's Resonate. In 2012, Duarte released an interactive HTML5 version of this text that further brings the core concepts of audience-centered, story-driven speech to life.

 

Goals/Growth Opportunities:

  • Transition exclusively to the HTML5 version of Resonate.

  • Utilize tools to track student learning beyond the text.

  • Integrate supplementary texts into lessons; provide reading list.

Instructional Design
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Course Textbook
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Innovation & Growth

Instructional innovations to date and goals for the future

Synchronicity and interaction are two pressing concerns of any online course. Despite advances in online learning plaftorms and learning management systems, the challenge to create a rich learning experiences for students is still to be met. Nowhere is this challenge more clear than in the online presentation/public speaking classroom. In addition to using tools like Skype and iChat to consult with students, I've used programs like Wimba and GoTo Meeting to hold online class sessions and open office hours.

 

Goals/Growth Opportunities:

  • Integrate Google Hangouts as an alternative to GoTo Meeting.

  • Use GoTo Meeting as a way for students to present live.

  • Integrate Google Hangouts for students to use for peer evaluation.

Synchronous Online Education
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Since beginning my career as an educator, I've immersed myself in faculty development courses and initiatives. I've created 14 original workshops and presented at one poster session. In addition, I've served on four committees, served as faculty advisor for three student organizations, advised final project students in Entertainment Business and Music Business at Full Sail University, and served as a course shell developer and Quality Matters peer reviewer.

 

Goals/Growth Opportunities:

  • Develop and deliver session on infographics.

  • Deliver new workshop on visual design basics for teachers.

  • Develop and deliver session on John Medina's Brain Rules.

  • Conduct more Liberal Studies Round Table sessions.

  • Collaborate more closely with Academic Effectiveness Faculty members on best pratices across departments.

Faculty Development & College Service
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