KMN DESIGN
Instructional Design, Learning Platform Administrator & eLearning (EdTech) Experience
Certifications
Quality Matters: Higher Ed. - Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR)
Quality Matters: Higher Ed. - Designing Your Online Course (DYOC)
Quality Matters: Higher Ed. - Designing Your Online Course (DYOC)
Google: Certified Educator 1
In 2008, I left my full-time teaching position to pursue a career integrating technology and learning. Observing how quickly my students were adapting to technology that I knew I had to focus on technology to be a successful educator. Since graduating from James Madison University with a master’s degree in educational technology, I have been employed in several educational technology positions. These various experiences have allowed me to develop valuable skills with a variety of technologies, learners and environments. -KMN
Instructional Design Skills
I am confident that my skills, experiences, and online knowledge will enable me to fulfill the demanding role of various instructional design and modern education positions.
CreativeAs a designer and teacher, I developed inventive education resources using the most creative methods and tools.
ExplorerResearched traditional adult learning theories (ADDIE, SAM, SAMR, Kemp) and successfully implemented them into the design process.
GuideEffectively guided a number of diverse subject matter experts to condense and organize their technical knowledge into learning platforms.
CommunicatorProfessional communicator, established by over ten years of teaching experience, along with several years of higher education involvement.
BuilderDeveloped over 25 comprehensive courses, often with limited resources and timelines. Contributed to development of hundreds of courses and training resources.
AdministratorAdministered several educational learning and assessment systems and often managed all technical support.
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Technical Skills
Learning Management Systems:
ANGEL Blackboard Learn Schoology Plato Canvas (limited) Learning Analytics Systems: Renaissance Learning STAR Math STAR Reading Assessment Management Systems: Tk20 (now watermark) |
Microsoft:
Office 365 Adobe: Creative Suite eLearning: iSpring Articulate Captivate *SCORM proficient |
Online Assessment Support:
American Institutes for Research (AIR) Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College & Careers (PARCC) Ohio Graduation Test (OGT) Instructional Design Models: ADDIE SAM SAMR Kemp Assessment Maker Tools: Respondus |
Learning & Design
Theories
My online design process is influenced by numerous models specifically ADDIE and Kemp. The SAM model is also often needed to satisfy the rapid development of content. With my experience as a K-12 educator, I also consider the SAMR model to ensure the flexibility of content being implemented in a traditional classroom environment.
Regardless of the model I use to design content, I view the evaluation step to be the most significant. An insightful evaluation determines if goals have been met, and what revisions are needed to improve the content. My content is designed with the humility that it will always need insightful revision.
Regardless of the model I use to design content, I view the evaluation step to be the most significant. An insightful evaluation determines if goals have been met, and what revisions are needed to improve the content. My content is designed with the humility that it will always need insightful revision.
Learning Theories:
As a modern educator, my learning theory influences are diverse. My K-12 influences include Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. Yet, I would propose both of these theorists present useful insight towards successful design and adult education
Jean Piaget
Piaget’s theories are crucial in comprehending human development. His concept of metacognition also has tremendous value in adult learning. According to Piaget, metacognition is the final stage of human development, where higher-order thinking skills are developed. Regarding adult learning, I suggest professional skills also follow a similar development pattern and many inexperienced workers may lack the professional metacognitive stage. An effective designer identifies the need to develop higher-order professional skills and develops the content to advance these skills
Lev Vygotsky
Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development (ZDP) is also useful for adult learner design. The concept of ZDP attempts to identify the skills a learner can perform on their own, and what they can accomplish with the support of someone more knowledgeable about the activity. For adult training, this ZDP concept is critical in establishing content and individual goals, as well as establishing successful mentoring programs. An effective designer develops content to identify established skills and how to advancing individual learning through well developed content, mentoring programs, and/or effective structural knowledge management principles.
Design Theories:
My design principles are greatly influenced by Malcolm Knowles and Richard Mayer.
Malcolm KnowlesMalcolm Knowles’s Humanist theories on adult education are the most impactful on my design. He suggested four principles that should be applied to adult learning:
By designing content influenced by these four principles, the modern educational experience can become proficient and efficient.
For additional information on educational and design theories, please review my 'Instructional Design' page: |
Richard MayerRichard Mayer’s 12 Principles of Multimedia Learning are the prevailing design resource.
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Instructional Design Process
(Blooms', A.D.D.I.E. & SAMR)
Although there are several instructional design theories (ADDIE, SAM, SAMR, Kemp, Dick & Carey, Kirkpatrick) I am most experienced and influenced by the ADDIE and SAMR. And, all successful design processes begin with appropriate objectives guided by Bloom's Taxonomy.
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Instructional Design Experience
PRESENTATION DESIGNER...
‘PowerPoint Refurbisher’

PowerPoint
•Designed several PowerPoint presentations
•Designed several PowerPoint presentations
Graduate Student: ‘PowerPoint Refurbisher’

I discovered that PowerPoint allowed for rapid development of several significant design resources including icons, simple graphics, page layouts, and even comprehensive packets. I developed great skill with PowerPoint and view these skills as tremendous assets to any design project. Although there are more modern graphic platforms like Canva, I still believe PowerPoint plays a significant role in many design processes and/or presentations. I however fully embrace platforms like Canva as the collaborative feature is an amazing resource for the modern design process.
Presentation Designer: ‘PowerPoint Refurbisher’
TMW Systems (now: Trimble)
- Designed the TMW Systems TransForum2009 PowerPoint Presentation
2009 TransForum conference was my first professional design experience. It was tossed to me by a Graphic Designer, unable to fulfill the request. Within a limited time frame, I successfully created a 111 slide presentation that ran continuously at the conference on several projection screens.
2009 TransForum presentation (selected slides):
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As a project, I was provided with a 111 slide PowerPoint presentation with text, but without a theme and very few images. The only requirements were to maintain text, incorporate the corporate logos (TRANSFORUM2009), animate transitions as much as possible (without becoming ‘too juvenile’), and automated the presentation so that it would run continuously. With pragmatic instructional design choices, I do believe addressed the product, the audience, and the medium's restrictions. *Please Note: this was in 2009 and my skills have greatly advanced since then. However, this was deemed an impressive presentation at the time.
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GRADUATE ASSISTANT

College of Education, James Madison University - Harrisonburg, Virginia
Assisted with the implementation of the TK20 assessment and accreditation software for James Madison’s College of Education Student Teaching program.
Assisted with the implementation of the TK20 assessment and accreditation software for James Madison’s College of Education Student Teaching program.
- TK20 Assessment and Accreditation Software Administrator role - tk20.jmu.edu
- Assisted with the development of TK20 support and training resources for the College of Education Student Teaching Program - Tk20 (now watermark)
- Created TK20 software assessment rubrics for the Student Teaching evaluations
- Maintained TK20 technology support of University Supervisors, Cooperating Teachers, and Student Teachers
Tk20 Support Resources:
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As a graduate assistant, I began to develop my design style. I was tasked with identifying consistent technology issues within Student Teaching Program. All formatting, colors, and content were suggested, reviewed, revised, and approved by the Implementation Committee. Although a decade later, log-in issues are not near an issue as they once were, these images represents my initial development, but also the lessons of collaboration, consistency in design, and communication needed to fully maximize technology and the design process.
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INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER

Stark State College - North Canton, Ohio
Assisted with the development of the online education department (eStarkState).
Assisted with the development of the online education department (eStarkState).
- Assisted with the administration of the ANGEL Learning Management System for the entire college
- Led ANGEL Learning Management System training for students and faculty - online and classroom
- Created resources (synchronous/asynchronous) for instructors and student orientations
- Developed and administered training courses on several online teaching principles:
ANGEL Learning Management System,
ANGEL Training, Start-up Week ‘Boot Camp’,
Online Assessments,
Online Gradebook,
Online Student Expectations,
Online Student Engagement
Rich Media
ANGEL Training, Start-up Week ‘Boot Camp’,
Online Assessments,
Online Gradebook,
Online Student Expectations,
Online Student Engagement
Rich Media
- Provided ANGEL Learning Management System technical support (24/7)
- Utilized customer service software and support ticketing system Zendesk
- Collaborated with subject matter experts in the development of numerous online and blended courses
- Conducted analysis of training and online courses to ensure authentic learning and assessment
- Created resources (synchronous/asynchronous) for instructors and student orientation
- Collaborated with subject matter experts with the development of numerous courses
- Wimba Collaborative Learning Software Administrator and Trainer
- Respondus Assessment Tools Administrator and Trainer
- Attended Quality Matters Professional Development Workshop, Applying the QM Rubric (APPQMR)
- Attended the 2011 Distance Teaching and Learning Conference – Madison, Wisconsin
Start-up Week Resource:
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It was in my role as an Instructional Designer at Stark State that began to develop not only a comfort with advanced technology, but also my own aesthetic. Resources created for marketing and/or training were designed to clean, concise and most importantly they were accessible. I attempt to create all instructional materials with simple graphics and concise language.
Example Resource:
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Kind words towards efforts as an Instructional Designer
at Stark State College:
Gradebook Resource:
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A personal passion is authentic assessment and ensuring authenticity begins with an accurate gradebook. This is part of the asynchronous resource I developed for Stark State instructors to assist with gradebook setup. Although the gradebook set-up was only 4 steps, there was a great need for gradebook setup and an explanation on the differences between a percentage and a points based gradebook.
Example Resource:
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EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY DESIGNER

College of Public Health, Kent State University - Kent, Ohio
Assisted with the administration of the Blackboard Learn Learning Management System and online education principles for the recently established Kent State University College of Public Health- learn.kent.edu.
Assisted with the administration of the Blackboard Learn Learning Management System and online education principles for the recently established Kent State University College of Public Health- learn.kent.edu.
- Work in partnership (team of three) to meet the educational technology needs of the college’s administration, faculty and staff
- Assisted with the orientation and training of online instructors
- Developed orientation packet for online instructors
- Collaborated with subject matter experts with the development of online courses:
Environmental Health Sciences (PH30006),
Epidemiology (PH20001),
Communicable Diseases (PH30012),
Public Health Policy and Decision Making (PH30033)
Epidemiology (PH20001),
Communicable Diseases (PH30012),
Public Health Policy and Decision Making (PH30033)
- Provided online course support for:
Environmental Health Sciences (PH30006),
Epidemiology (PH20001),
Communicable Diseases (PH30012),
Public Health Policy and Decision Making (PH30033)
Epidemiology (PH20001),
Communicable Diseases (PH30012),
Public Health Policy and Decision Making (PH30033)
- Utilized iSpring E-Learning Software to create engaging online content
- Contributed to the identification and development of multimedia resources
- Contributed to the identification of online accommodations strategies (ADA)
- Attended Quality Matters Professional Development Workshop, Designing Your Online Course (DYOC)
New Instructor Orientation:
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With the College of Public Health being a new college the demand for training of faculty was immense. To add to the available training resources, I developed an orientation packet for online instructors. The packet was designed to introduce online teaching, ensure college consistency, provide a JIT resource, and document an primary contact for support.
Example Resource:
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HIGH SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY TEACHER

Sandy Valley High School - Sandy Valley Local Schools - Magnolia, Ohio
Incorporated technology into the classroom through training and collaboration and teaching three technology courses.
Incorporated technology into the classroom through training and collaboration and teaching three technology courses.
- Instructed Digital Technologies course: Google Educational Applications
- Instructed 21st Century Skills course: Multimedia Applications
- Instructed Introduction to Computer Programming course: Code.org and Codecademy
- Utilized Schoology Learning Management System to create a blended/flipped learning environment
Technology Teacher and Integration Specialist Resources:
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As a Technology Teacher, I developed many of the skills that will assist me in any technology role. I create three fully immersed Schoology supported technology classes
I also administered another learning management system (Plato) as an alternative mathematics class monitor. |
TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION SPECIALIST
![]() Sandy Valley Local Schools - Magnolia, Ohio
Identified, trained and integrated technology into all district environments (K-12, operational & administrative).
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As a district Technology Integration Specialist, I also administered the adaptive and analytics software Renaissance Learning. I organizing district testing and gathering the systems' data through various reports:
I learned a great deal by administering this system including the impact of valuable data. However, the greatest experience I gained in this position was the exposure to the entire K-12 perspective and the challenges at each level.
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EDUCATION COORDINATOR
PBS Western Reserve - Kent, Ohio
Responsible for developing and delivering professional development and resources for educators, students, and general community members.
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August 5-6, 2019
September 15, 2019
September 27, 2019
September 21, 2019
September 30, 2019
October 15, 2019
October 16, 2019
October 23, 2019
October 28, 2019
October 29, 2019
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November 5, 2019
November 18, 2019
November 21, 2019
December 13, 2019
January 14, 2020
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January 15, 2020
February 11-14, 2020
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February 27, 2020
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March 4, 2020
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