About
Leader at the Forefront of Learning Innovation
Hi, thank you for visiting my portfolio!
I am passionate about enhancing student learning experiences through strategic integration of learning technology, innovative learning design, rigorous educational research, and the transformative power of artificial intelligence in education. With demonstrated track record in program management, project management, and product management, I am dedicated to leveraging my profound expertise to drive learning innovation.
I am currently the Managing Director at the National Artificial Intelligence Research Institute for Adult Learning and Online Education (AI-ALOE), which is funded by the National Science Foundation and headquartered at Georgia Tech. In this role, I manage the day-to-day operations of a large cross-functional team and coordinate a portfolio of multiple research projects.
Previously, I was the Assistant Director for Learning and Technology Initiatives in the Center for Teaching and Learning at Georgia Tech.
Work
What’s New?
My book, Designing Socially Dynamic Digital Learning: Technologies and Strategies for Student Engagement, was published by Routledge in August 2024.
This book is a practical guide to the creation of online and blended coursework and learning environments that foster social interaction and engagement among students. Regardless of format, learners in higher education need active, collaborative, and social experiences to thrive, though new guidance is needed to help faculty and administrators integrate digital tools and develop courses toward this goal. This book introduces state-of-the-art learning technologies and evidence-based pedagogical strategies that can be seamlessly adopted and adapted across disciplines. Instructors, learning designers, consultants, and educational technology trainers, developers, and directors will find a wealth of fresh insights and best practices as they select, apply, and incentivize digital technologies for social-forward yet outcomes-driven learning experiences.
I had the honor of serving as a guest editor with Professor Ashok Goel for this special issue of AI Magazine featuring research of 18 AI institutes at the forefront of making AI beneficial for all. The articles in the issue highlight the potential of AI when directed towards solving real-world problems and enhancing human well-being. I am grateful for the opportunity to join the conversation with many brilliant minds from the featured institutes. I invite you to read and get inspired by the innovation in beneficial AI at these institutes.
Can we make project-based learning (PjBL) successful, scalable, and sustainable in large online classes? Along with my co-author, David Joyner, we explored this question through a longitudinal study, Seven Years of Online Project-Based Learning. This study is grounded in a model that integrates four core components: project-phase curriculum, online self-directed learning, online communities of inquiry, and online feedback at scale, reinforced by three instructional strategies: scaffolding, modeling, and mentoring. Read the full paper for detailed implementation of the model, student survey findings and their implications for workforce development, online education, and STEM education, as well as student perspectives on succeeding in online PjBL.
Experience
Do Betting Things, and Do Things Better
Managing Director, 11/2022 – Present
Project Manager, 09/2021 – 10/2022
I joined the National AI Institute for Adult Learning and Online Education (AI-ALOE) funded by the National Science Foundation as the project manager before it was officially launched. AI-ALOE is focused on research and educational programs that leverage AI technologies to transform online education in effectiveness, efficiency, access, scale, and personalization.
Being its first full-time employee, I worked tirelessly to help establish it from the ground up. As part of the institute management team, I actively participate in strategic planning, developing and implementing program policies, optimizing and improving processes, and monitoring progress towards institute goals. Working closely with the Institute Executive Director and the rest of the leadership team, I manage the day-to-day operations of its research administration to ensure the effective functioning of the 11 partner institutions and organizations across the United States. I also coordinate the efforts of the large cross-functional team working on simultaneous research projects by acting as their centralized support.
Assistant Director of Learning & Technology Initiatives, 07/2016 – 08/2021
I provided leadership in developing, implementing, and evaluating the following programs and initiatives to support the innovative use of technologies in online, hybrid, and in-person learning environments:
1. Teaching with Technology Partnerships: an initiative that aims to support and promote technology integration into the curriculum through collaboration on curriculum design or redesign between campus project sponsors and the Center for Teaching and Learning.
2. Teaching with Technology Spotlight: an initiative that highlights a specific instructional technique, best practices, or innovation related to using technology to enhance teaching and learning at Georgia Tech.
3. Teaching with Technology Summer Institute: an intensive multiple-day program that gathers instructors at Georgia tech to work with the Center for Teaching and learning every summer, exploring how to integrate technology into course design or redesign.
4. Blended and Online Learning Design (BOLD) Graduate Fellowship: an open education initiative through which graduate students work with program advisors and their peers to become knowledge producers, designing, developing, and contributing open educational resources for blended and online learning.
In addition to managing these programs, I have managed or contributed to a total of eight research grants that involved classroom technology, blended learning, online learning, and open educational resources.
Educational Technology Specialist, 07/2008 – 06/2016
Working in this role has enabled me to gain the most profound and invaluable knowledge and skills in using learning technologies for educational innovation. I wore many hats at the same time over the years, such as:
1. technology support – providing campus-wide support on using various enterprise learning technologies.
2. technology trainer – conducting workshops for faculty, staff, and students on using learning technologies for effective teaching and learning.
3. learning designer – designing, developing, and delivering online and hybrid courses, documentation, tutorials, and other resources that advance understanding and application of technologies in teaching and learning.
4. technology consultant – consulting with faculty and teaching assistants on technology solutions and pedagogical best practices tailored to their instructional needs.
5. technical product manager: serving as the liaison between the end-users and software developers, technical support, and third-party vendors in developing and customizing technologies to address identified needs in teaching and learning.
6. technology evaluator: collaborating with other campus units to evaluate, select, and implement emerging technologies to support educational innovation.
Projects
Design Learning with Art and Science
To many students, reading a textbook is often an unmotivated chore. How could we turn it into a more meaningful learning activity? In this project, I led a team of designers and student assistants to redesign an open textbook on macroeconomics by transforming it with more visuals, more interactivity, and more practices with feedback. It turns out to be “one of the best textbooks” a student has ever had.
How can we create engaging learning experiences in an online or hybrid environment? In this project, I designed and developed six learning modules to help educators learn how to leverage various technologies and strategies to facilitate engaging learning activities inside and outside of classes.
How can we master the art and the science of assessing student learning without being overwhelmed by the workload? In this project, I developed three modules to help instructors learn how to leverage various technologies and strategies to assess student learning effectively and efficiently.
The Blended and Online Learning Design (BOLD) Graduate Fellowship Program is part of the Open Education Initiative I started at Georgia Tech. The program aims at enabling and empowering graduate students to become knowledge producers through designing, developing, and contributing to open educational resources for blended and online learning.
I have designed and developed many websites to promote programs and projects. This website was developed upon the request of the Provost’s Office at Georgia Tech as an online resource for faculty to learn how to create a positive learning environment. I was given a research report on the topic as the content for the site, and I believe my creativity has made it more interesting than reading a report.
Thousands of educational institutions had to end in-person classes and move all instructions to virtual settings in a very compressed time frame when the pandemic started. How could we help students adjust and adapt to learning remotely? In this project, I developed a remote learning student guide that prepares them with strategies, tools, and resources. It was included in all freshman courses as well as courses for all transfer students. It has become one of the most downloaded course resources at Georgia Tech.
Research
Turn Ideas into Innovations
Below is a list of research grants I have been awarded since 2016 as the principal investigator (PI), co-PI, or senior personnel.
You may click on its title to open for more details about the project.
Agency: National Science Foundation
Total Funds: $19,999,047
Role: Senior Personnel – Learning Assessment
Period of Contract: 11/2021 – 10/2026
Funding Agency: Microsoft
Total Funds: $15,000
Role: co-PI
Period of Contract: 01/2022 – 12/2022
Funding Agency: Georgia Tech Provost’s Fund for Excellence in Graduate Studies
Total Funds: $15,000 (2021); $20,000 (2022)
Role: PI
Period of Contract: 1/1/2021 – 6/30/2021; 1/1/2022- 6/30/2022
Funding Agency: Affordable Learning Georgia
Total Funds: $30,000
Role: co-PI
Period of Contract: 07/2021 – 07/2022
Funding Agency: Georgia Tech Provost’s Fund for Excellence in Graduate Studies
Total Funds: $20,000
Role: PI
Period of Contract: 10/22/2019 – 6/30/2020
Funding Agency: Affordable Learning Georgia
Total Funds: $30,000
Role: co-PI
Period of Contract: 7/1/2019 – 6/30/2020
Funding Agency: Georgia Tech Provost’s Fund for Excellence in Graduate Studies
Total Funds: $15,000
Role: co-PI
Period of Contract: 12/1/2018 – 6/30/2019
Funding Agency: Georgia Tech Fund for Innovation in Research and Education (GT-FIRE)
Total Funds: $30,000
Role: PI
Period of Contract: 7/1/2016 – 6/30/2017