Experience & Education
(Full Resume Available Upon Request)
DEC, 2024
AUG, 2016
E.d.D. LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
M.A. EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
2016 - Present
ACADEMIC SPECIALIST - CURRICULUM
ONLINE FOOD SAFETY PROGRAM, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
I wear many hats in the world of online learning! I collaborate with faculty to design and develop high-quality online courses that align perfectly with program-level outcomes. Additionally, I actively teach and facilitate learning experiences for master's program students in VM 810, guiding them through navigating MSU's online environment, writing effectively, and understanding systems thinking. Accessibility and universal design principles are a priority for me, so I ensure they're integrated throughout program content. To further support faculty, I conduct training sessions on effective online pedagogy. My skills extend beyond course development - I also coordinate, develop, and track multiple continuing education courses. My creative side comes into play when I assist with creating marketing materials, like GIFs, banners, and brochures. To stay connected and share knowledge, I actively participate in campus-wide learning communities, including the MSU ID Network team.
2014 - 2016
GRAPHIC DESIGNER/INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER
OFFICE OF K-12 OUTREACH, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
In a previous role, I leveraged my creative skills to compose, review, and produce various learning materials including audio, video, graphics, and printed program materials for distribution to target audiences. Utilizing Adobe Creative Cloud, I ensured all materials adhered to University brand standards and accessibility compliance. Furthermore, I collaborated with content experts to successfully transition multiple face-to-face learning experiences to an engaging online format by applying instructional design theories and methods.
About Me
I am a seasoned online instructor and instructional designer with 9+ years of experience in the field. My passion lies in helping faculty seamlessly transition face-to-face courses into engaging online experiences. My research focuses on improving collaboration between instructional designers and faculty during the online course design process, ensuring a smooth and successful development journey.
In addition to my research, I actively practice what I preach! I moderate and teach in VM 810: Introduction to Food Safety, where I specifically design modules focused on online learning, writing, APA formatting, and Systems Thinking.
My educational background includes a B.A. in Visual Communications from Lake Forest College and an M.A. in Educational Technology from Michigan State University. I'm thrilled to be completing my Ed.D. in Leadership and Innovation at Arizona State University (December 2024).
Beyond my qualifications, I firmly believe in fostering a collaborative and supportive learning environment. I find immense satisfaction in seeing faculty members create impactful online courses for their students. If you're looking for an instructional designer who can guide the online course development process and share your passion for creating engaging online learning experiences, let's connect!
Lastly, I own four huskies and love to travel when I can!
Skills & Proficiencies
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Adobe Creative Suite
Adobe Captivate
PERSONAL SKILLS
Problem-solving
Collaboration
Sample Projects
3 Credit Course Redesign
Led a collaborative redesign effort as the instructional designer and project manager. I spearheaded the redesign of a 15-week module course, working closely with a team of 9 instructors to revamp their individual modules. This project ensured a cohesive learning experience for students while aligning with updated curriculum standards.
Humanized Syllabus
In collaboration with the OFS EdTech Team, I played a key role in developing humanized syllabi for all 13 courses in the OFS program. Following guidelines established by Dr. Michelle Pacansky-Brock, we worked closely with faculty to create engaging and student-centered syllabi that fostered a positive learning environment.
HACCP Non-Credit Course
Leveraging my instructional design expertise, I collaborated with a subject matter expert (SME) to develop a non-credit HACCP course. This SME possessed deep knowledge in the field but lacked prior teaching experience. I guided them through the entire course design process, including content development and ensuring accessibility. This resulted in a high-quality HACCP course aligned with the International HACCP Alliance curriculum, empowering learners with the necessary food safety knowledge.
“Have been pondering objectives and course map after our chat on Monday. Given Megan's suggestions and reflection of "what we want our participants to be doing with this in two years" plan. Our goal is to have our "grads" use their skills/learning from this course to apply as part of their clinical practice on client dairy farms. I have to confess that after emphasizing objectives first (as per Megan) this was a major motivation for me to reflect on changing the format to include on farm application as part of the participants learning.”
Faculty Feedback
"Megan, I wanted to take the time to thank you for all the help, knowledge, and time you gave us this semester. The class was enjoyable, and not only did it help immensely with the current situations I was having at work, but it also taught me so much about what is going on in the food safety world. This course also assured me that the decision I took to continue my education in Food Safety was the correct one. Thank you, and hopefully, I will see you in future courses. "
VM 810 Student Feedback
Teaching Philosophy
I believe some of the most meaningful learning happens when diverse groups of students come together to discuss a topic. Each student brings their own experience and understanding to this course and has the opportunity to share their ideas. In an online course everyone has the chance to share their ideas in various assignments over the course of the semester.
My Teaching Pact Shared With Students
What You Can Expect from Me:
- I will treat you with dignity and respect and be flexible to support your individual needs.
- I will provide you with a clear, organized course that is designed to ensure you meet our course outcomes in a meaningful manner.
- I will provide a supportive and safe environment for you to share and discuss ideas with your peers.
- I will make sure you stay on track in this course when/if extensions are granted.
- I will do my best to respond to your questions in a timely manner. If I do not have the answer, I will connect you to the correct person.
- I will support you with technology as much as I can. D2L is a University wide management system and there are some elements I can not change.
- I won't be perfect. I am human and will make mistakes at times. I view mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow.
