As an educator specializing in online learning, Jennifer facilitates learning experiences to support the effective and efficient uses of educational technology. The following describes the graduate-level courses she has taught.
Cognition and Instructional Design
Students are introduced to the theoretical frameworks that form the basis of instructional systems theory and design. The course focus is on learning theories, instructional psychology, and instructional systems theory. Recent developments in cognition, learning, and instruction for educators are also be considered. Topics include perspectives of behaviorism, socio-historical constructivism, cognitive science, situated cognition, and cultural influences on cognition.
Consulting Skills for Instructional Designers
This project-based course is designed to develop and enhance the ability of instructional designers to work as partners and consultants to clients and superiors. The focus is on consulting skills and not any particular content. All students are required to do an individual consulting project, supervised by the instructor.
Courseware Tools
Using technology in instructional settings requires an understanding of the content, skill or practice to be taught, relevant pedagogical knowledge, and understanding of the technology and how the technology supports and/or augments learning in a specific context. In this project-based course, students develop and apply this kind of technological pedagogical content knowledge through discussion, coursework, and a final course project.
Instructional Materials Development
This project-based course covers the design and evaluation instructional materials for use in any environment based on an understanding of how people learn and how learners process audio and visual information. Focused on multimedia learning principles, as well as the underlying theories and research on information processing, cognitive load, and other design principles, the course helps designers learn to structure and organize online and multimedia materials, as well as print materials used in a classroom setting.
Instructional Strategies for Innovation
This course focuses on instructional practices through the use of research-based and experienced-based instructional strategies. Particular emphasis is placed on systematic instructional planning using knowledge of learning and instructional theories. Participants explore traditional and non-traditional strategies to solve instructional problems related to the realities of practice in various instructional contexts.
Introduction to Computer-Based Multimedia Design
This course covers the theory, design, and evaluation of computer-based multimedia instruction. Students will demonstrate a thorough understanding of instructional theory and design strategies for computer-based drills, tutorials, hypermedia, simulations, games, tools, open-ended learning environments, tests, and web-based instruction. Class projects will center on the design and development of instruction utilizing at least two of these methodologies.
Principles and Practices of Human Performance Technology
This course introduces students to the field of Human Performance Technology (HPT). Students explore what HPT is, why Instructional Designers should know about it, how performance improvements can be measured, and most critically, how HPT can be applied in real environments to solve real problems. Students gain practice in thinking systematically and systemically about performance and enhance their value as instructional design professionals by being able to offer solutions to organizational needs that go beyond traditional instruction.
Technology, Learning Systems, and Culture
Technology is among the most important contemporary social features inviting the need for reflective practice, yet we rarely have time to reflect on the nature of our work and the impacts we have through technology or are experiencing. This course is designed to develop “reflective practice” around technology’s impact on learning and learning organizations. We will explore how systems theory and cultural studies help us evaluate educational technologies and their impact, how systems behave to influence technological adoption, how culture and context shape technologies and learning, what the ethical considerations are, then translate these insights into design, selection, and implementation of educational innovations.