As you navigate my website, you will see a collection of assignments I have completed during my time in the Master's Program at the University of South Florida. These assignments will align with the AECT standards - Association for Educational Communication & Technology. 

Educational Background and Work Experience:

I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. I am married and have a 12-year-old daughter. In our spare time, we love going to the beach and traveling. We also have a dog named Dallas who loves long walks. 

I enrolled in at the University of South Florida and earned my bachelor's degree in Elementary Education in 2012. Over the course of the next decade, I was lucky enough to find a home teaching 2nd grade at the same school. During that time, I took on several roles within the school community, including Math and Science contacts. During my time as science contact, I developed a love of STEM education and incorporate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) into my classrooms in various ways to provide students with interdisciplinary learning experiences. As a math contact for my school, I was able to collaborate with teachers to develop and enhance their curriculum based on trainings I attended. In addition to my role as subject contacts, I accepted the role of team leader. I served as a mentor and advocate for other educators in that role for 2 years. Through professional development, I shared my knowledge of science and math content to my fellow coworkers to enhance learning and engagement. 

In 2022, I decided to further my education of educational theory and practice by pursing a master's degree in Learning Design and Technology at my alma mater, the University of South Florida.  With a new focus of design and technology to enhance teaching and learning, I took courses that taught me innovative pedagogical approaches and instructional design principles. I will graduate from the program in May of 2024 and plan on incorporating all my new knowledge of pedagogy and learning design into my new career of instructional design. 

Professional Goals:

1. Develop Engaging and Effective Educational Content: Create interactive and multimedia-rich educational materials that facilitate meaningful learning experiences.
2. Integrate Technology into the Curriculum: Enhance digital literacy skills and proficiency by effectively integrating technology platforms and tools into instructional practices, promoting active learning and student engagement.
3. Implement Pedagogical Best Practices: Apply research-based pedagogical approaches and instructional strategies to design and deliver content that aligns with curriculum standards and meets the diverse needs of learners.
4. Promote Collaborative Learning Environments: Foster collaboration and communication by designing collaborative learning activities and projects that encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
5. Assess Learning Outcomes Effectively: Develop and implement assessment strategies to measure learning outcomes and progress, using formative and summative assessments to inform instructional decisions and support growth.
6. Support Differentiated Instruction: Design instructional materials and activities that accommodate diverse learning styles, abilities, and backgrounds, providing personalized learning experiences for all learners.  
7. Enhance Professional Development: Engage in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current of emerging trends, research findings, and best practices in education and instructional design, continuously improving professional knowledge and skills.
8. Contribute to Educational Research and Innovation: Contribute to educational research and innovation by conducting action research, piloting new instructional approaches, and sharing insights and findings with the broader educational community to drive positive change and improvement.