Instructional Technology

Craig D. Howard joined the University of Tennessee and the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling as an assistant professor for Instructional Technology in August of 2015. We asked him to reflect on his first semester here. Read his responses below.

What sold you on UT?
I was already familiar with a number of EPC faculty members’ research from reading, and I already knew about the synchronous online approach— so I jumped on the chance to apply. I was excited when my value system revolving around online learning matched so well with faculty here. I was sold before I got to the airport to head home.

What do you think was most rewarding or challenging about being a new faculty member?
Every new place takes a while to learn. I kind of expected that, but what I did not expect was such a warm welcome from students and colleagues. I have made an effort to be on campus as much as possible this past year and I think that has paid off in a good rapport with the people I have met so far.

What has been your most memorable experience this semester?
The sense of community in the online classes among students would be the most memorable set of events, for sure.

Name one fact about yourself that most people don’t know.
I have an uncanny ability to get myself food poisoned. I have lost count on how many times so far; my strategy of selecting the most unusual item on the menu has proven adventurous but also sometimes debilitating.

Instructional Technology

Duren is currently seeking her MS in Education with a concentration in Instructional Technology and completing a graduate certificate in Online Teaching and Learning. Originally from Chaplin, Connecticut, she received her BS in Business Administration and an MS in Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and joined EPC in 2012. We asked her to reflect on some of her past and current experiences. Read her responses below.

Accomplishments

Publications

• Yamagata-Lynch, L. C., Do, J., Skutnik, A. L., Thompson, D. J., Stephens, A. F., & Tays, C. A. (2015). Design lessons about participatory self-directed online learning in a graduate level instructional technology course. Open Learning. 30(2) 178-189. doi:10.1080/02680513.2015.1071244

Presentations

• Feb. 2016 Conference Keynote Presentation: ” Educators Taking the Lead: Professional Development that Empowers YOU to Reach Your Goals” invited speaker with honorarium, Roane State Symposium on Powerful Teaching, Feb. 27, 2016 https://www.roanestate.edu/?5915-Symposium-on-Powerful-Teaching
• Feb. 2016 “Evaluating the Flipped Approach: How can it work for your learners?” & “Avoid the Talking Head: Creating Effective Educational Video;” invited speaker with honorarium, Liberty Technology Magnet High School, Jackson, TN (4 hour interactive workshop combining both sessions).
• July 2015 “Evaluating the Flipped Learning Approach: Can it work for my adult learners?” invited speaker, Academy for Instructional Excellence, Nashville, TN (core/required session).
• July 2015 “Avoiding the Talking Head: Creating Effective Educational Video” and “Learning Through Doing: Models for Flipped PD,” accepted speaker, FlipCon 2015, East Lansing, MI.
• April 2015 “Evaluating the Flipped Learning Approach: Can it work for my adult learners?” accepted speaker, Commission on Adult Basic Education Annual Conference, TX.
• Oct. 2014 “Evaluating the Flipped Learning Approach: Can it work for my ESL & EL/Civics learners?” invited speaker with honorarium, GA ESL & EL/Civics Summit, Forsyth, GA (blended, extended professional development).
• May 2014 “Evaluating the Flipped Learning Approach: Can it work for my adult learners?” LINCS RPDC Region II online event (pilot of blended, extended online professional development for US DOE agency).
• April 2014 “Avoid the Talking Head: Creating Engaging Online Instructional Video” (with Bill McNutt); accepted speakers, Technology and Learning Conference, Myrtle Beach, NC.
• July 2013 “Social Media: Planned AE Program Marketing”; invited speaker Academy for Instructional Excellence, Nashville, TN.
• Oct. 2012 “Learning Disabilities: Quick and Dirty Tips for Busy Adult Educators”;
  accepted speaker with honorarium, Georgia Adult Education Conference, Atlanta, GA.

• Refer to Resume for more details

Current Occupation

Program Coordinator for Professional Development
Center for Literacy, Education & Employment, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

As CLEE is wholly contract and grant-funded, work responsibilities have varied widely due to assignments across dozens of education-related projects for adult literacy and K-12 professionals both statewide and nationally. Professional focus over the past 15 years includes effective internet-based instructional methods for professional development, design and implementation of effective educational accountability and evaluation tools and effective support for adults with learning disabilities.
Originally focused solely on technology-associated projects for the Division of Adult Education with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, my valued experience and expertise is now spread across multiple state and federally focused projects. Current responsibilities focus on leading collaborative projects in design, implementation, and evaluation of online, blended and face-to-face professional development via a variety of learning management and software tools. Asked to regularly serve as content expert and trainer at both state and national levels on a wide variety of topics, both face-to-face and via interactive webinars. Additional duties include assistance in grant writing, integration of social media tools into program management and instruction, graphic design/layout and basic web page design.

Personal Interests

UT Staff Advisor for the Thor’s Mountain Medieval and Renaissance Society student group on UT campus, as well as administrative and educational leader in the local and regional chapters of the Society for Creative Anachronism – a world-wide organization dedicated to the hands-on study and exploration of medieval life, culture and martial activities. Particular focus on Norse culture and textile arts (hand spinning, weaving, and natural dyeing).
Mother of eight-year-old daughter, Solvi, who is mastering 3rd grade in Knox County with only minor traumas.
Fan of fantasy and sci-fi books, games and films, currently fighting a Netflix addiction.

Future/Vocational Goals

At this time, I am happy in my current position at the UT Center for Literacy, Education, and Employment and hope that the skills and expertise gained via this program will assist the center in obtaining funding for applications of online learning and technologies for our target populations.
Through and beyond my work at the center, I wish to further establish myself as a leader, researcher and facilitative collaborator in the field of instructional technology and design for education professionals. In particular, I wish to a) continue my work in creating effective professional development learning environments, systems and activities for busy education professionals and b) conduct research and facilitate training that contributes to the effective transference of theory into everyday practice.

What would you tell an incoming student who joins the program/department?

As this program of study is delivered (almost) entirely online, each course provides you with not only the knowledge and skills listed on the syllabus, but also a model of how to structure and deliver instruction in online environments. Do not ‘fight’ the online nature of the program – consider it a valuable part of the learning process. Take the time to step back and evaluate each professor’s approach to the course, determine what is effective (and not), what feels comfortable to you (and isn’t) in order to build or enhance your own ‘toolbox’ of preferred approaches to online (and blended) learning.

What do you think has been the most rewarding/challenging about this program?

The structure of this program affords participants with the opportunity to learn from peers with a wide range of education and training perspectives. I am honored to have participated over a dozen rewarding course partnerships resulting in excellent instructional technology products. I greatly value the friendships I have gained through this process, with both peers and faculty and hope to continue building these friendships once I graduate.

Staff members Synthia Clark and Christine Tidwell attended the Employee and Organizational Development (EOD) Certificate Celebration on Monday, February 1st. Clark received certificates in Communication and Customer Service. Tidwell received a certificate in Customer Satisfaction.

“I love learning and I’m so thankful to be working in a department that values and supports employees who want to improve themselves.”

Clark has been employed at UT since 2013 and has worked with EPC since 2014. She serves as program secretary for six programs –  Adult Education, Applied Educational Psychology, Adult Learning, Evaluation, Statistics, and Measurement, and School Psychology. She also works in the main office, has taken over as webmaster for the departmental website, runs the EPC Facebook page, and does some photography and marketing for the department.

“I’m just glad to work for a department and college whose leaders believe in continuing education opportunities.”

Tidwell has been employed at UT since 2003 and worked with EPC since 2007. During this time she has also earned certificates in Communication and UT Leaders: Lighting the Way – Part 1 Supervisory Certification.  Tidwell serves as departmental support for three programs – Cultural Studies of Educational Foundation, Instructional Technology, and Learning Environments and Educational Studies. She also serves as the department’s textbook and timetable coordinator and provides support for the curriculum review council coordinator.

The Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling wants to congratulate the graduates from eleven of our programs who earned their degrees during the summer and fall semesters of 2015.

To see photos of our recent graduates, please go to the “EPC Graduates” album on our EPC Facebook page.

Carrie Ann Bailey
PhD in Educational Psychology and Research – Adult Learning

Nicholaus TJ Barajas
MS in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Tiffany Paige Brooks
PhD in Counselor Education

Allison Enders Hunt Buck
PhD in School Psychology

Lauren Elizabeth Bussey
PhD in Counselor Education

Brittany Ann Carstens
PhD in School Psychology

Carly Ann Chwat
MS in Educational Psychology – Applied Educational Psychology

Corey Alan DeHart
MS in Education – Instructional Technology

Kevin Lee Fowler
MS in Education – Instructional Technology

Linda K. Gehron
MS in Educational Psychology – Adult Education

Melanie Carol Hamilton
MS in Counseling – Rehabilitation Counseling

Martha Lynn Henry
MS in Educational Psychology – Applied Educational Psychology

Amy Carol Howell
MS in Counseling – Rehabilitation Counseling

Caroline Marie Jacquett
MS in Educational Psychology – Applied Educational Psychology

Chandra Ann Johnson
MS in Educational Psychology – Adult Education

Kayla Chelsea Knoll
MS in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Debra Suzette Lee
MS in Education – Instructional Technology

Susan Lynn Long
MS in Educational Psychology – Adult Education

Stephanie Leanne Moskal
MS in Education – Instructional Technology

Judith S. Norton
MS in Educational Psychology – Adult Education

Niranji Anuradha Pathirage Dopa Pathirage
PhD in Educational Psychology and Research – Evaluation, Statistics & Measurement

Cynthia Noblin Perry
MS in Educational Psychology – Applied Educational Psychology

Brittany Lynn Pollard
PhD in Counselor Education

Colin Christopher Quillivan
MS in Educational Psychology – Applied Educational Psychology

Alessandra Joy Rhinehart
PhD in Counselor Education

Stracee Evette Robinson
MS in Educational Psychology – Applied Educational Psychology

Hailey Keegan Sands
MS in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Jessica Schilling
MS in Counseling – Rehabilitation Counseling

Janel Marie Seeley
PhD in Educational Psychology and Research – Adult Learning

Sultana Aaliuah Shabazz
PhD in Education – Learning Environments & Educational Studies

Tiffany Leigh Shaw
MS in Educational Psychology – Applied Educational Psychology

Lisa A. Shipley
MS in Education – Instructional Technology

Heather Anne Stewart
PhD in Educational Psychology and Research – Collaborative Learning

Kelly Michelle Strickland (posthumous)
MS in Education – Cultural Studies of Educational Foundations

Mary Elizabeth Swiatek
MS in Educational Psychology – Applied Educational Psychology

Kellee Renee Vess
PhD in Educational Psychology and Research – Adult Learning

Lauren Ashley Wade Walsh
MS in Education – Instructional Technology

*If you are one of the graduates listed above and would like to have your photo added to our EPC Graduates Facebook album, then please email your picture to Synthia Clark sclark41@utk.edu.

**If you were an Educational Psychology and Counseling student who graduated during this time frame, yet have unintentionally been omitted from this list, please send your name, degree, and major/concentration to Synthia Clark sclark41@utk.edu. We will add you to the list after receiving this information from you and confirming your graduation status.

The Ethical Needs for Collecting Citizen Input for Future Planning in Cleveland, TN report has been published.

In the summer of 2014, nine students enrolled in Lisa Yamagata-Lynch’s Professional Ethics in Instructional Technology course joined the inaugural Smart Communities Initiative (SCI). The students had diverse backgrounds and represented the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling. During the semester, they worked in small groups, had classroom discussions, and collaborated with the Cleveland city planners to conduct an ethical needs analysis for collecting citizen input.

In April of 2015, Yamagata-Lynch, associate professor, and Erin Garty, master’s student presented the findings from the course were presented at the SCI End of Year Showcase. Yamagata-Lynch and Garty explained that the fundamental ethical concerns included equitable access, anonymity and online community behaviors, ownership and copyright, and policy-related issues such as privacy and security. The report holds many recommendations, resources, and options all tailored to the needs of Cleveland. Garty was charged with creating the actual report, and said her greatest challenge was pulling together contributions from multiple voices and turning it into a cohesive report with a single voice.

“Writing this report provided me the experience of working with multiple stakeholders that added to what I believe I gained the most – practical real-world experience.” – Erin Garty

For additional information please see previous post – Instructional Technology partners with the City of Cleveland.