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Developing a Needs Assessment

For my LDT 513 course , I was tasked with developing a solution for a hypothetical workplace scenario at Bitloom Technologies, a company struggling with customer complaints about slow service and poor communication. On the surface, it looked like a classic “soft skills” issue begging for a communication training program. But after digging deeper, it became clear that the real problem wasn’t what employees were saying, it was what they were working with. In this post, I’ll break down how a needs assessment revealed system failures, staffing shortages, and workflow breakdowns as the true culprits, why a training-only fix would have missed the mark, and how I’d design a smarter, systems-level solution that actually improves performance. When Training Isn’t the Hero: Unpacking the Real Problem at Bitloom Technologies When Bitloom Technologies first called me in, the problem seemed simple: customer complaints, slow response times, frustrated clients. As the Lead Learning Designer, I was ...
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Beyond the Beaker: My Learning Design Vision

Sparking Change Through Learning Design If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be geeking out over instructional design frameworks and AI-powered learning tools, I probably would’ve laughed. Yet here I am, deep in the world of learning design and loving every second of it. For me, this field isn’t just about creating courses or designing modules. For me, it’s about solving real problems, sparking curiosity, and making learning meaningful for everyone, no matter where they start. So, what drew me here? It was the power of design to transform learning experiences. I’ve seen firsthand how bad design can frustrate learners, and I’ve also experienced those rare moments when everything clicks and suddenly learning feels effortless. That’s why I want to create learning experiences that feel intuitive, engaging, and empowering. What Makes Me Different? I bring a combination of empathy, creativity, and tech curiosity to the table. Before diving into learning design, I spent years in roles ...
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Blueprints for Better Learning: How Theory Shapes My Design

  Introduction When designing learning experiences, theory isn’t just an academic checklist — it’s the blueprint for creating materials that work. Without a strong theoretical foundation, even the most visually appealing or technologically advanced asset risks falling flat. Learning theories help us answer critical questions: How will learners stay engaged? How will they process the content? What motivates them to apply what they’ve learned?  Over the past five modules, I’ve applied various theories and frameworks from behaviorism and gamification to Self-Determination Theory and the Community of Inquiry (CoI) model to create learning experiences that are engaging, structured, and grounded in research. This post walks through each of those applications, highlighting how theory guided my design choices.
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FROM LEADING TO LISTENING: GROWING AS A COMMUNICATOR

"The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said" -- Peter Drucker Background When I was asked to step into the department chair role, my first thought wasn’t excitement, it was, “Am I even qualified for this?” . I wasn’t the loudest voice in the room or the most seasoned teacher on the team. But what I did have was the ability to listen, to connect with people, and to navigate tough conversations with empathy. That skill set became my anchor. It’s what helped me support two international teachers adjusting to a new educational system, mediate disagreements between colleagues, and advocate for resources our science department desperately needed. Whether I was sitting in on a lesson to offer constructive feedback or rewriting a poorly designed curriculum guide, communication, especially listening with empathy, kept me moving forward. In this post, I'll share my communication strengths, confess my growth areas, outline my action plan, and exp...
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TEACHING TEACHERS: A NEW KIND OF CLASSROOM

Hi! I’m a middle school science teacher, mom of two, and lifelong learner currently working in South Carolina. I teach 8th grade science and serve as the 6–8 Science Department Chair at my school. After moving here from Texas, I quickly realized just how different educational systems and their designs can be. So why the heck am I here? My Experience: I'm glad you asked. Over my 8 years of teaching, I’ve discovered that I don’t just love teaching students; I love teaching teachers . Whether it's adapting curriculum, leading content planning, or supporting new educators, I find energy and purpose in helping others grow professionally.  During COVID, I became the virtual science teacher for 5th and 6th grade in Texas, and had to completely redesign state-tested curriculum for online learning. This is an example of how I have already used an iterative process. T eaching during COVID was a crash course in rapid design, reflection, and revision. I was tasked with adapting an entire ...
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