Teaching & Learning Philosophy

My intention is to create learning environments in which people learn naturally and passionately. I am committed to forwarding effective and rich e-learning as a killer application. 

Learning is something natural that people do every day. Human beings are thirsty for knowledge and seek learning constantly. A healthy learning ecosystem is inviting and engaging. The nature of the designed ecosystem is learner-centered and learner-generated. 

Learning ecosystems are designed to be an invitation to learn – not an obligation or something to be forced. A successful strategic approach to learning occurs when learning strategies and learner needs are aligned, having learning emerge as a natural product of organizational design.

Learning should be relevant, immersive, and engaging – therefore, maximizing productivity outcomes.

I strongly prefer a three-pronged approach:

1)    Instructional Design - Outstanding instructional design is key to excellent instructional outcomes. I specialize in the creative and innovative applications of Gagne / Dick and Carey Instructional Systems Design (ISD) model, as well as related models. The ISD model and its derivatives are the core of excellent learning applications. I integrate components of Lozanov's Accelerated Learning Cycle whenever possible and practical to enrich learning approaches.

2)    Blended / Hybrid Approaches - I have over 20 years of applying blended approaches to learning. Long before the internet was mainstream as a learning resource, I was involved in creating high end authoring tools, learning management, and virtual world / web interfaces. Recent successes in blended learning implementation have resulted in dramatic increases in performance and return-on-investment (ROI).

3)    Continuous Improvement Curriculum (CIC) - I love to design and implement entire learning efforts; on those occasions, I provide clients and learners with a completely integrated continuous improvement curriculum (CIC). The CIC approach is outlined to provide a path for optimizing performance, optimizing budget and savings, and using provided template approaches to develop innovative learning.

When a learner enters the learning environment, it is the job of the instructor and/or instructional designer to facilitate the intentions and goals of that learner. My job is to assume the learner is there to achieve one’s desired outcomes, and every assignment should be a stepping stone to that end. I also believe that the more learner-centered the environment; the stronger opportunity for the learner. I am a resource and facilitator more than the conveyor of information or expertise. Every component is designed with the learner in mind. Every assignment is focused on the learner exercising one’s intellectual curiosity and cognitive musculature – the outcome of which is not only a learner who becomes an expert in one’s own right, but one that has the capability of continuing to build on that existing knowledge independently.

 I have over 35 years in the corporate learning and development and higher education industries. I am A.B.D. with my doctoral work in curriculum & instruction, with areas of specialization in organizational development and education leadership; educational research, applied statistics, testing and measurement; educational evaluation; and instructional design. My undergraduate degree is in chemistry.

I had my own business for over 32 years. My major clients included Fortune 50 oil and petrochemical companies, institutions of higher education, major providers in the hospitality industry, the healthcare and medical industries, and more. I currently work for a major medical school in the School of Nursing as an instructional designer, course builder, AI media specialist, gamification specialist, and I coach faculty on their research design and publishing. I was adjunct faculty for a university for over 7 years in the areas of education, educational technology, and technology applications. I was the preferred provider for over 15 years for the North American Shell MATPC refineries for instructional design training for subject matter experts (SMEs) that were moving into training and learning roles.

I am thrilled to forward virtual world learning using unique, non-traditional applications for immersive learning. When designing learning environments and applications for the virtual world, I ask myself and others these questions:

• What can we do in the virtual world regarding learning that we cannot do in the real world as effectively or more effectively?

• How can we use the virtual world to inspire and impassion our learners, stimulating the highest levels of learning, critical thinking, and collaborative learning?

• What unique and cost-effective learning applications can we provide in the virtual world?

• How do we optimally apply instructional design methods in the virtual world?

• How do we optimize virtual world applications in hybrid learning?

• ·How do we make virtual world learning engaging and fun?

• How can virtual world learning change the world at large?

Some of the optimum accessible and affordable ways we can utilize virtual worlds in learning is to create inspiring learning spaces and to have learners create projects that are proof of concept.