The many voices of this blog include...
Annette McNamara
I enjoy working collaboratively to integrate technology into the design and development of effective, efficient teaching and learning experiences. Through consultation, I am able to help clarify instructional needs; design and develop technology-enhanced solutions; evaluate instructional effectiveness, and develop continuous improvement plans.
My professional interests include learning that is authentic and related to real-life; the narrative arc of learning design; and using technology for increased efficiency in teaching and learning.
Jennifer Englund [she/her]
In my instructional designer role, I design and develop online, face-to-face, and blended courses and consult with instructors about a wide range of topics pertaining to teaching and learning with technology. I am also part of University-wide initiatives such as co-chairing the DiaLOG Course Content group and serving as a grader for the Digital Accessibility Badging program.
My professional interests include developing student agency in online courses, designing for participatory and openly networked learning, and understanding the role of instructional designers in the creation of open educational resources.
Connect with me via email, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Khaled Musa
As an Academic Technologist, I consult with faculty and staff about technology tools with a lens on how to create an accessible and inclusive learning environment. My background is in auditing and testing websites, applications, and programs for compliance using a variety of assistive technologies.
I develop courses and presentations that help instructors ensure their courses are accessible to all students. With OIT’s User Experience team, I contributed to the Digital Accessibility Badging Program that helps all members of the University community understand the importance of accessibility.
Lauren Marsh
I am an academic technologist who supports the University’s efforts to create a culture of learning analytics: I co-chair the Learning Analytics DiaLOG group, which guides the operationalization of learning analytics as educational practice at the University of Minnesota and coordinate learning analytics pilot efforts.
I have been active in Unizin since 2015 and am currently co-chairing the Unizin Faculty Development Subcommittee and am leading the “Stepping Stones: Pathways to Learning Analytics” initiative: a learning analytics curriculum for faculty.
Sara Schoen
I try to take an inclusive pedagogical approach to my instructional design role when supporting instructors. I love brainstorming on new ways to engage students with course content (and each other and technology tools).
I often lead our team’s (ATSS) work with the usability lab where we explore Canvas. More recently during the pandemic, we’ve done focus groups with students (2020 Remote Learning Experiences, 2021 - Building Momentum from Remote Teaching) and instructors (Instructor Reflections 2021).
Connect with me via email or Twitter.
Sonja Froyen
I am a business analyst and one of two LMS Administrators for Canvas at the University of Minnesota. I love digging in, learning, and mastering Canvas functions, then translating that knowledge into usable insights for instructors. My world is data and tech but I have a heart for Liberal Arts.
Susan Tade
I am an academic technologist who consults and delivers online and in-person faculty workshops on course media design and integration. I've been involved with media production at the U since 1991 and have been a part of key University-wide media management initiatives since 2015.
I manage the publication of Teaching with Technology News, a monthly subscription newsletter that keeps the University community informed about learning tools and teaching strategies in the digital ecosystem.
Connect with me via email, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Yelena Yan
I work with University faculty and staff to design media-rich learning experiences for students and promote responsible and thoughtful integration of technology into instructional practice. My educational background is in Educational Psychology, Learning, and Cognition/Educational Technology focus. I have more than 18 years of academic technology support and instructional design experience developing academic and non-credit (face-to-face, blended, and online) courses, planning and implementing professional development and lifelong learning opportunities, creating multimedia learning objects, and designing multidisciplinary resources for teaching and learning.