I recently returned to higher education. From the spring of 2016 to the fall of 2019, I focused my efforts on adjusting to a family move from Corpus Christi on the coastal bend of Texas to the DFW Metroplex. We settled our family of five in Lake Highlands, a small town in the northeast quadrant of the 4th largest city in the US. For three years I focused on learning about the city of Dallas where my children would finish their schooling years. I volunteered in the library at school. I worked with community organizations serving vulnerable populations. My eyes have been opened to homelessness and the great disparities that continue to exist in my city. This journey led me back to higher education as I saw the need for continued innovation in reaching low income neighbors.

After a year in my role as the academic technology and innovation specialist, I started looking for graduate programs that helped me understand the theory behind the technology and course design. I am learner in every sense of the word. I am curious about people and how they learn. I had on-the-job experience, but wanted a deeper understanding of how the brain retains information and how to create learning experiences based on neurocognitive research. The University of North Texas Masters of Learning Technologies program fit the bill. So I applied and started a graduate degree…in the middle of a global pandemic.

Mobile-first design that increases access to educational opportunities is my current focus at work. I am moving from the innovation office to the course design team soon. With the recent implementation of a mobile-first learning management system, we have an opportunity to further enhance the course design through strategic use of micro-learning technologies. I look forward to studying about these strategies with the opportunity to quickly implement what I’m learning in my job.

I used to blog about conference presentations in a previous role, with work centered around hybrid learning. The pandemic made hybrid learning the standard across the board – I do hope we never go back.

Thanks for joining me on this new journey. I look forward to connecting again soon.