The Learning Design Team
We empower educators with evidence-based strategies and innovative technologies to advance teaching and transform student learning experiences.
Our Impact
Our team of instructional designers offers programs and consultative services to support the analysis of learning needs and fulfillment of teaching goals. We are proud to present our team’s 2022-2023 Annual Report that reflects our reach and impact on Penn State’s faculty and staff. As we have the opportunity and privilege of collaborating across colleges and campuses, below are some of the statistics that highlight our influence in the 2022-2023 academic year.
unique programs offered
total engagements
professionals served
registrations
consultations conducted
campuses engaged
Categories of Offerings
The LD team champions the application of digital technology, research-based teaching, and innovative learning environments. We also partner with cross-institutional units and administrative departments to lead and facilitate large-scale faculty engagement.
Communities
With faculty and staff, we create and facilitate Learning Design Communities that focus on unique and timely topics in teaching with technology, as well as share ideas, resources, and experiences.
Events and Workshops
Our team hosts many Learning Design Events and Workshops around technology-enhanced and research-informed teaching practices. Faculty and staff are welcome to attend and be a part of the conversation.
Transformative Program
We offer a range of Cohort Programs that foster faculty engagement experiences and provide opportunities to explore effective teaching strategies, data-informed pedagogy, and educational research.
LD Consultations
Schedule a Consultation to meet with an instructional designer to discuss your instructional and technological needs. Our team offers individual and group-based consultations.
Asynchronous Resources
Explore our assortment of Asynchronous Resources developed by the Learning Design team and faculty across Penn State campuses who have engaged in our programs throughout the years.
Meet the Team
You can connect with us at TLTLearningDesign@psu.edu.
As a manager of Learning Design, Angela Dick leads a team of instructional designers who focus on collaborating with faculty and staff, as well as developing strategies for implementing instructional technology across a broad range of academic programs and initiatives. She also provides innovation faculty development opportunities and contributes leadership to university-wide projects. Angie has experience in both corporate and higher education in instructional design, course development, training, program planning, and teaching. Angie also serves as a thought leader within Penn State and across higher education through serving in leadership roles within consortiums and cross institutional groups.
Sara received her M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. She is a learning designer collaborating with partners across the university to implement a broad range of faculty engagement programs focused on emerging technologies and institutional initiatives, such as OER and data-informed pedagogy.
Prior to her career at Penn State, she was a middle school science teacher in Maryland. Sara also enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling.
Selected projects that Sara is working on:
- OER Programming, Consulting, and Coordination
- Open Education Engagement Series
- Teaching with Technology Series
- Data-Informed Pedagogy
Jessie has worked in Instructional Design units at Penn State since 2012 and received her Masters of Education in Learning Design and Technology in 2016. As an Instructional Designer, Jessie applies creativity to personalize teaching experiences for instructors in their contexts. She networks with her TLT colleagues, university-wide partners, and national committees to develop resources that support effective teaching with technology. She delivers presentations throughout the year.
Selected projects that Jessie is working on:
- Faculty Tech Academy
- Student Tech Academy
- Data-Informed Pedagogy (DIP) Community
- Review Amend Apply Review (RAAR) Cohort
Marilyn received an M.S. in Adolescent Literacy and Instructional Technology from Walden University. She is on hiatus from her Ed. D at Nova Southeastern in Reading and Instructional Design & Distance Education to take care of family.
She enjoys working with instructors, learning about their disciplines and passions, and watching their confidence grow with technology. Marilyn incorporates Quality Matters standards to support course consultations as a PSU level course evaluator. Prior to Penn State, she was a consultant and teacher in K-12.
Selected projects that Marilyn is working on:
- Faculty Tech Academy
- BlendLT
- Digital Education Exchange Retreat (DEER)
- Top Hat Implementation
Helen has a background in educational psychology. She aspires to empower learners across contexts to become digitally fluent, self-regulated, strategic, and responsible consumers and creators of information. Helen loves working with faculty and helping them apply research-informed instructional practices and innovative technology to design transformational experiences for their students! She also loves to play video games, lift weights, boxing, and swim!
Selected projects that Helen is working on:
- Digitally Fluent Educator Delphi Research Study
- Digital Fluency Community of Practice (DFCoP)
- Exploring 3-D Virtual Spaces Faculty Fellows Project: Engaging Student Communities Through Feedback and Exhibitions
Amy holds a Master of Science in Instructional Technology from Bloomsburg University, specializing in innovative technology integration to overcome academic challenges and increase student engagement. Her expertise lies in faculty engagement, blended/online course design, Quality Matters, strategic initiatives, and immersive experiences like virtual reality. She has been a Quality Matters Peer Reviewer and has taught academic courses in both in-person and online settings for over 17 years.
Selected projects that Amy is working on:
- Faculty Fellows & Faculty Fellows Community
- Faculty Engagement Awards
- Teaching and Learning Technologies Faculty Advisory Committee
- Immersive Experiences (XR)
- Big Ten Academic Alliance
- Commonwealth Campus Connection
Tim received his M.Ed in Instructional Systems from Penn State’s College of Education.
He serves as Learning Spaces Coordinator within Penn State’s Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT), supporting all of Penn State’s colleges and campuses.
With years of experience in higher education, Tim is passionate about working with faculty and students to support instruction, learning, and transformational design. Previously, he worked in K-12 information technology and staff development, as well as in instructional design at Penn State’s College of Nursing. He enjoys fly fishing, gardening, home winemaking, and working outdoors.
Selected projects that Tim is working on:
- Learning Spaces Xchange
- Faculty Support in Flexible Learning Spaces
- RFP Coordinator for LSLC Campus proposals
- Learning Space redesign consultations
- Design Thinking for Learning Spaces
- Team Lead – CCEDIR Faculty fellows project
Julie received her M.S. in Instructional Technologies from Bloomsburg University. She is a TLT Instructional Designer located at the Penn State Schuylkill Campus. At Schuylkill, Julie works with faculty on many projects, from course design, Canvas, Zoom, Sites, faculty professional development, as well as the campus New Faculty Orientation, Media Commons Liaison, and more. She represents the campus for eEducation council, Commonwealth Campus Instructional Design group, and the Campus Liaisons. She works with the student TLT Coach Program to support faculty, staff, and students at the Schuylkill Campus. Julie also works with Open Education Resource Projects, including the Global Open Holocaust Textbook.
Selected projects that Julie is working on:
- Open Educational Resources (OER)
- TLT Coach Program
As the faculty engagement specialist, Sherry develops and executes meaningful faculty professional development opportunities surrounding the innovative use of technology to increase student learning and engagement. She has expertise in program creation, delivery, and assessment, as well as event planning.
Sherry holds an M.Ed. in Counselor Education from Lehigh University and started her career as a school counselor and higher education career services professional.
Selected projects that Sherry is working on:
- TLT Symposium (Chair)
- Teaching with Technology Series: General Technology and Prep & Practice
- Learning Design Liaisons
- New Faculty Engagement
- Dreamery Speaker Series
- CATWAT Faculty Fellows project (Team Lead)
- Top Hat Support
Wade is an Instructional Production Specialist and works with Penn State faculty to create Open Educational Resources (OER) textbooks in Pressbooks that are free for their students. He also implemented the update of Penn State’s OER website in WordPress/Sites. Wade has a background in graphic arts and 3D data visualization. He ran Information Sciences and Technology’s Extreme Events Lab Immersive Display CAVE installation and was a graphic artist for AccuWeather. Wade has played guitar for over 50 years and performs live to this day.
Pauline is in her 3rd year of PhD in the Learning, Design and Technology program. She is primarily interested in design and architecture education at the undergraduate level. Her past research has involved understanding how collaborative learning is influenced by the design of the physical classroom space and she is currently working on how collaborative discussion-based learning in a design studio can be supported through the medium of play.
Na Li is a third-year PhD student in Informatics, specializing in qualitative UX research. With over three years of experience, her research interests span across computer-supported collaborative work, community informatics, learning science, and technologies. Proficient in both qualitative and quantitative methods, she has conducted 200+ interviews employing diverse techniques (e.g., interviews, ethnography, contextual inquiry) to comprehend user needs. Her current research focuses on social media interaction, content moderation, higher education learning platform design, online tools for enhancing co-parenting skills, and supporting women on a female-dominant platform.