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My Perspective
My Perspective
Scholarly service should be practical, accessible, and focused on real-world problem solving. I see scholarly service as an opportunity to use my knowledge and skills to make a difference in the world. I believe that scholars have a responsibility to use their research to solve real-world problems, and that scholarly service is one way to do that.
Practical: Scholarly service should be practical in the sense that it should be relevant to the needs of the community. It should not be an ivory tower exercise, but rather a way to use research to solve real-world problems. A scholar who studies education might provide professional development to teachers, or a scholar who studies learning may help develop instructional strategies that address researched learning needs.
Accessible: Scholarly service should also be accessible. This means that it should be understandable to people who are not experts in the field. It should be written in plain language, and it should be available in a variety of formats, such as online articles, infographics, and videos.
Real-world problem solving: Finally, scholarly service should be focused on real-world problem solving. This means that it should not be just about generating new knowledge, but also about using that knowledge to solve problems. For example, a scholar who studies climate change might work with businesses to develop new ways to reduce their carbon emissions, or a scholar who studies poverty might work with government agencies to develop new programs to help people out of poverty.
I believe that scholarly service is a powerful way to use my research to make a difference in the world. I am committed to using my skills to provide practical, accessible, and real-world problem-solving scholarly service.
How It Fits
How It Fits
As a graduate student, my service to the profession is demonstrated through a practical, accessible, and problem-solving approach. This commitment to scholarly service is evident in my efforts to apply research towards addressing real-world challenges. My work extends beyond academic discussions to tangible contributions in the community, such as offering professional development for educators and developing strategies to meet specific learning needs. By making scholarly service both understandable and accessible to non-experts, I ensure that my research and skills have a practical impact, further illustrating my evolving competency in serving the profession effectively.
Primary Evidence
Primary Evidence
Organization Membership & Activity
Goals Addressed: Change Leader, Designer, Collaborator
Focus Area Addressed: Leadership, Collaboration, and Continuous Improvement, Sharing Information
Delta Kappa Gamma
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, including its Cleburne, Texas chapter, focuses on promoting the professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. This organization unites women educators worldwide in spiritual fellowship, honors women with distinctive service in education, and advances their professional interests. It also supports legislative actions beneficial to education and women educators, endows scholarships for graduate studies, and informs members about key societal issues. For more information, you can visit their website. Below are images from our most recent induction, where I welcome and agree to sponsor my mentee, Cleburne High School teacher India Garms, as she joins the organization.
I am also a member of the following organizations:
Texas Digital Learning Association (TxDLA)
I have served on the conference presentation review and selection committee for the last twoyears (2022-2024)
Texas Computer Educators Association (TCEA)
I have presented for the TCEA conference for over a decade and also present for smaller events (Coaching, EdTech, etc.) for the organization
Instructional Technology Council (ITC)
I have provided free webinars and resources for this organization
North Texas Canvas Users Group (NTxCUG)
I serve on the steering committee, have sat on expert panels, and regularly present at the quarterly meetings
American Association of Colleges and Universities Institute on Digital Equity (Team Member)
Goals Addressed: Change Leader, Designer, Collaborator
Focus Area Addressed: Leadership, Collaboration, and Continuous Improvement, Sharing Information
TCC Connect Admitted to the American Association of Colleges and Universities Institute on Digital Equity - TCC News.pdfTarrant County College is proud to announce that its dedicated online campus, TCC Connect, has been admitted to the prestigious American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Institute on Digital Equity. This notable institute facilitates a seven-month online program aimed at fortifying the efforts of educational teams who strive to propagate digital equity within their campuses, regional communities, and even state-wide.
Open Educational Resources
Goals Addressed: Change Leader, Designer, Collaborator
Focus Area Addressed: Leadership, Collaboration, and Continuous Improvement, Sharing Information
TCC Connect Campus OER Project Manager
TCC Connect OER Trifold.pdfThe Tarrant County College (TCC) Connect Campus's Open Educational Resources (OER) Program underscores the importance of OER in supporting student success and completion in college. The program's objective is to enhance equity and access to quality, no-cost educational materials, especially for underserved students such as those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, students of color, and first-generation college students. By focusing on the adoption and development of OER, TCC's program addresses the need for inclusive educational resources that reflect diverse perspectives. This initiative not only makes education more accessible but also aims to improve educational outcomes for all students, aligning with the broader goal of making higher education more inclusive and effective.
I manage the OER project for TCC Connect Campus and supervise project lead Dr. Arturo Ozuna as he and a cohort of faculty are working to create an interactive OER textbook experience for Texas Government.
Florida OER Summit 2023 Presenter
In May of 2023, I presented with my colleague, Dr. Arturo Ozuna for the Florida Open Educational Resources (OER) Summit. Here's the presentation write up as it appears in the conference program.
In support of the institutional goal to be a student-ready college, Tarrant County College Connect campus (TCC CN) established peer-developed courses (PDCs) in 2015 which provide financial stipends to TCC CN faculty to develop online courses to quality standards for faculty adoption and general use by the college. Traditionally, these courses are textbook agnostic.
To further promote its commitment to equity and access, TCC CN recently established an OER development program. It also provides stipends to selected faculty for the revision, redesign, or new development of OER textbooks. The primary purpose of this project is to increase equity and access to quality, no-cost textbooks, and to improve educational outcomes for traditionally underserved or marginalized students.
These two programs will work in tandem to improve faculty experiences with PDC development and promote inclusive resources for TCC CN students.
In this session, we will share information about our established PDC program, discuss the new OER development program as part of a three-phased implementation plan for OER development at TCC CN, discuss how we plan to manage both programs, and explain how we will assess program impact and success. We will also explain how we strategically aligned these programs to maximize institutional buy-in.
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Invitation to Speak
After seeing our presentation at the Florida OER Summit, representatives from THECB reached out to Dr. Azuna and I and asked us to peak as part of their OER Advanced Skills Academy. Dr. Ozuna and I presented and held a Q&A with participants of the academy in the summer of 2023 and were invited to participate in the academy in the summer of 2024 due to the positive response to our session.
TxDLA Game On Conference 2024 Presenter
Dr. Ozuna and I will be presenting the same presentation from the Florida OER Summit at the Texas Digital Learning Association conference in Galveston, Texas in March of 2024.
Next Phase Partnership with Tarrant County Correctional Facility
Goals Addressed: Change Leader, Designer, Collaborator
Focus Area Addressed: Leadership, Collaboration, and Continuous Improvement, Sharing Information
The Tarrant County College (TCC) Next Phase project, in collaboration with Tarrant County Correctional facility, represents a transformative initiative aimed at providing life-changing opportunities for non-violent offenders. This innovative program is designed to reduce recidivism and support the reintegration of these individuals into society by offering them educational and vocational training while they are still incarcerated.
Participants in the Next Phase Program can enroll in courses such as Welding Level I, Business Level I, or Office Professionals, with the potential to complete these programs within months. These courses are strategically chosen to provide viable career paths upon release, in fields like welding, administrative assistance, and human resources, which offer financial stability and are in high demand. This approach not only equips individuals with the skills needed for employment but also addresses the broader social challenge of supporting those who have been involved in the criminal justice system, thereby contributing positively to their families and communities.
TCC Connect, as the virtual campus of TCC, not only offers two courses in the program but complements this initiative by offering flexible learning options through online and weekend classes. This allows for a continuation of education and skill development post-release, further supporting the goal of successful reintegration and long-term success of the program's participants.
Through these collaborative efforts, the Next Phase project embodies TCC’s commitment to serving the community and providing second chances, emphasizing the college's role in fostering social and economic mobility.
For more detailed information about the Next Phase Program and TCC Connect, you can visit their respective pages on TCC's website: Next Phase Program and TCC Connect.
My role in the project is to ensure that courses offered to incarcerated students meet not only the safety and security protocols of the correctional facility, but also meet the quality and accessiblity standards of TCC Connect Campus. I also serve as a liason between the LMS IT team at TCC and the correctional facility assigned officers working in the program to ensure that all LMS settings meet facility requirements, and that all course materials can be/are whitelisted by the facility. The courses we have created will now serve as Peer Developed Courses for future iterations of the program and the faculty who follow will use them to teach in the program.
Tarrant County College instructors teach their first set of classes for people in jail _ KERA News.pdfSupplementary Evidence
Supplementary Evidence
Instructure Canvas Connect Conference Planner and Host
Goals Addressed: Change Leader, Designer, Collaborator
Focus Area Addressed: Leadership, Collaboration, and Continuous Improvement, Sharing Information
From my first day at Tarrant County College (TCC) Connect Campus, I knew I wanted to host an event at our beautiful Trinity River campus. Working closely with Instructure, the parent company of the Canvas LMS, gave me that opportunity. By hosting the Canvas Connect conference, (TCC) Connect Campus significantly served the local and state educational community. The event, in collaboration with Instructure, provided a dynamic platform for both K-12 and higher education faculty to share and learn. Presentations focused on innovative educational technologies, demonstrating effective digital teaching tools and strategies relevant to both sectors. This fostered a unique learning environment where educators from diverse backgrounds could gain insights into enhancing their teaching methodologies, thus benefiting the broader educational landscape.
Photos from the Conference
Homebound Hub - Free Public Educational Site for Students and Parents During the Pandemic
Goals Addressed: Change Leader, Designer, Collaborator
Focus Area Addressed: Sharing Information
During the pandemic, one of my team members, Lindsay Foster, and I created a Homebound Hub that was open to the general public with activities for parents and students who were trapped at home due to Covid. We also ran free public Goosechase missions to help students stay active and engaged (and to help parents out a bit too). Visit the Homebound Hub using the button below.
During the pandemic, Mrs. Foster and I also ran a free Goosechase digital scavenger hunt that was also open to the public. The scavenger hunt, using the Goosechase App, encouraged the sharing of learning and focused on activities that parents and students could do safely during the pandemic. Below is the list of missions from the game.
Missions - Boredom Buster.xlsxAwards
Awards
Over the course of my career, I have been fortunate enough to have receive several accolades:
2024 TxDLA Outstanding Commitment to Excellence and Innovation in Digital Learning (2-Year College), TCC CN Campus Instructional Design Department
2020 ESC 11 Teacher of the Year Essay Award Winner (Secondary)
2020 Cleburne HS & Cleburne ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year
2018 Support Staff of the Year - Kerr Middle School, Burleson ISD
2017 TEA Technology Lending Grant Recipient ($100,000)
2013 Fuel Up to Play 60 and Dairy Max Grant Recipient ($60,000)
2008 NASA International Space Station Downlink Grant Recipient
2007 Support Staff of the Year - Crossroads High School, Burleson ISD
2006 Yellow Rose of Texas Award Conferred by Gov. Rick Perry
2005 Teacher of the Year, Alvarado High School, Alvarado ISD
Course Work: Instructional Systems Design and Technology (SHSU)
Course Work: Instructional Systems Design and Technology (SHSU)
ACE Experience Data Analysis Study
Goals Addressed: Change Leader, Designer, Collaborator
Focus Area Addressed: Research and Data Analysis, Leadership, Collaboration, and Continuous Improvement, Sharing Information
As part of EDER 7374 Advanced Statistics, I worked with classmates on an ACE Experience. The purpose of our experience was to evaluate data provided by the Tarrant County College (TCC) Campus Accessibility Roadmap project, a campus-wide project to improve accessibility in the online content and communication from TCC's Connect Campus. The analysis team endeavored to evaluate state-wide and campus data to determine areas for improvement in the campus roadmap based on that data. To the right is the report submitted as part of the course requirements.
Roadmap to Accessible Online Learning_ TCC Connect Analysis.pdfWork-Related Artifacts
Work-Related Artifacts
Committees
I currently serve on the following TCC-specific committees:
Tarrant County College Academic Continuity Plan Committee
Tarrant County College Microcredential Task Force
Tarrant County College Institutional Outcomes Committee
TCC Connect Campus Software Acquisition and Instructional Technology Roadmap Team Lead
TCC Connect Campus Faculty Guide Committee
TCC Connect Campus Data Team
TCC Connect Emergency Management Team
Regular and Substantive Interaction
Goals Addressed: Change Leader, Designer, Collaborator
Focus Area Addressed: Leadership, Collaboration, and Continuous Improvement, Sharing Information
The U.S. Department of Education's Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) regulations are crucial for online colleges and universities, primarily to ensure quality in distance education. These regulations, which came into effect on July 1, 2021, stipulate that all online courses and programs eligible for federal financial aid under Title IV must include regular and substantive interaction between students and instructors. This applies to both synchronous and asynchronous courses, with particular emphasis on asynchronous formats. As these regulation clarifications went into effect the month after I began working at TCC Connect Campus, I made it a priority to ensure that our faculty were trained on them.
Regular interaction is defined as occurring on a scheduled and predictable basis and must be initiated by the faculty member concerning the course material. Substantive interaction involves engaging students in teaching, learning, and assessment, and includes at least two of the following actions: providing direct instruction, assessing or providing feedback on student's coursework, providing information or responding to questions about the content of a course, facilitating group discussions, or other instructional activities approved by the institution’s accrediting agency.
These regulations are important for several reasons. First, they serve as a consumer protection mechanism for students, ensuring that they receive a quality education that justifies the federal financial aid expended. Second, the regulations delineate federal financial aid eligibility for courses and competencies, which is vital for the financial sustainability of online programs. Third, by requiring regular and substantive interaction, the Department of Education encourages adherence to research-based best practices in online learning. This includes ensuring that the instructors are actively engaged in the learning process, thereby enhancing the educational experience and potentially improving student outcomes.
Online colleges and universities must demonstrate compliance with these standards to maintain their eligibility for federal financial aid, which is a significant source of funding for many students and institutions. Failure to comply can result in substantial fines and the revocation of federal financial aid, making adherence to these guidelines a top priority for educational institutions offering distance education.
To support our faculty at Connect Campus, my team and I created resources, educational webinars, hands-on workshops, and we present outside of of our college to share information about Regular and Substantive Interaction in online college courses.
RSI Magazine Brochure APPROVED (1).pdfThis informational brochure for TCC faculty is an example of the informational items provided by the Instructional Design team to support our faculty who must work online.
We also include a module on RSI in our Online Instructor Certification course to ensure that faculty who teach online at TCC are well trained on the subject.
We help to spread the word about RSI to other higher education faculty and staff through free webinars and conference presentations like the one above for Hispanic Educational Technology Services.
Free Resources for Online Faculty
Goals Addressed: Change Leader, Designer, Collaborator
Focus Area Addressed: Research and Data Analysis, Leadership, Collaboration, and Continuous Improvement, Sharing Information
In an effort to support online faculty, both at TCC and not at TCC, one of the first items I initiated at Connect Campus was the Instructional Resource Hub. While the Canvas LMS hub has TCC-specific information, it is houses a wealth of information for online faculty regardless of their institution. The site covers everything from accessibility to Regular and Substantive Interaction and includes strategies and research-based practices for student engagement, course design, and more.
Click the image below to view the site.
Generative Artificial Intelligence in Education
Goals Addressed: Change Leader, Designer, Collaborator
Focus Area Addressed: Research and Data Analysis, Leadership, Collaboration, and Continuous Improvement, Sharing Information
In the summer of 2023, I served on a committee of faculty, staff, and administrators who created the following guidance for student use of Generative AI for faculty use in their syllabi.
TCC Generative AI Guidance August 16.pdfI also assigned, presented, and hosted several events regarding Generative AI for the TCC district that were open to the general public. I mapped the registrations to show the global interest in the topic.
Ongoing Training and Learning
Goals Addressed: Change Leader, Designer, Collaborator
Focus Area Addressed: Leadership, Collaboration, and Continuous Improvement, Sharing Information
Our efforts to fine-tune the leadership team of the TCC Connect Campus. We hosted Dr. Michelle Cantu-Wilson and Mayra Olivares-Urueta, PhD facilitated an excellent session today. This training is part of a year-long series of leadership training for the Connect Campus Leadership team.
Community Involvement
Goals Addressed: Change Leader, Designer, Collaborator
Focus Area Addressed: Leadership, Collaboration, and Continuous Improvement, Sharing Information
Forth Worth Film Collaborative
One of my team and I worked with TCC South Campus, the Fort Worth Film Commission. and 101 Studios (one of the production companies for the Yellowstone series) to design an online Introduction to Film Careers course in an effort to offer training and certification to individuals interested in getting into film in Fort Worth, and to help meet the hiring needs of production studios in the area. The president of South campus thanks us in her speech during the Fort Worth Film Collaborative launch party on August 30th.
Phi Theta Kappa: TCC Connect Campus Chapter - Fun Run and Dog Adoption
I volunteered to help with planning and photography of this event to support the students at our campus.
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