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Case Studies in Teaching and Learning
Problem
Instructors with students at the graduate and postgraduate level find it hard to instruct advanced colleagues in science writing - a skill that can seem basic, but is hard to teach. Since many scientists (and faculty!) haven't had instruction in giving instruction, they end up doing a lot of rewriting themselves. This project helps busy research scientists coach advanced students.
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Solution
This Articulate Rise course hones in on four simple strategies that supervisors can use right away: examples and non-examples; writing as problem-solving; coaching unconscious skills; and basic adult learning principles.
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Across Disciplines in Higher Ed
Having worked in six departments across three divisions, I'm lucky to have collaborated with leading climate scientists, artist-academics, social science humanitarians, and so many more inspiring contributors. Collaborating with subject matter experts on workflow efficiency and teaching solutions is another worthy contribution.
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Teaching Science Writing: Four Hacks (UC Santa Cruz)
Teaching Rocket Scientists to Write
Keeping the Navy at Sea
Advanced Training for AEGIS Technicians (U.S. Navy)
Problem
Due to reliance on civilian, land-bound contractors, U.S. Navy vessels can be limited in time at sea. The Navy is planning a Master Technician Continuum program to build Sailors’ technical skills to maintain systems at sea, but it will take several years to ramp up.
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Solution
An instructional package was created to guide participants through on-the-job training that makes the most of every minute of Sailors' limited time on land with high-level technicians. The package includes separate administrative, instructor, and learner guides with accompanying worksheets, assessment rubrics, and a complete timeline to reinforce learning and promote transfer. Due to high Navy interest, a brochure was added to attract more learners.
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Cross-Format Instructional Fixes
This product currently in use by the U.S. Navy was created by a team of myself four others, where I served as project manager. This project highlights the importance of cross-format solutions and required careful collaboration with subject-matter experts in a technical, information-sensitive environment.
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The Crime-Fighting Band of Seniors Built on 2.0 Integrations
Stop the Scammers | Join the Community
Problem
Seniors lose millions a year to online scams. Victims suffer humiliation, loss of dignity, and lose trust among family. Institutional scam alerts often come in the form of static announcements with few engagement factors, not real learning solutions.
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Solution
The publicly-available website www.stopthescammers.net leverages seniors’ thirst for community to help others avoid scams – and in the meantime, help themselves. Using online collaborative learning and real-life case studies, seniors become part of a dynamic learning modality of their own making. Along with engaging online environment, the self-updating nature of the web 2.0-heavy, collaborative site is a key factor in staying a step ahead of the ever-changing tactics of online criminals.
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Turning Vulnerabilities to Strengths
This website produced a statistically significant increase in seniors' ability to identify scams. My strategy was to turn vulnerabilities into strengths: seniors' isolation became a willingness to collaborate. Seniors' tendency to suffer from effects of overconfidence was turned into engagement in helping others, creating unconscious learning in the process. The project has deep roots in andragogy, data security, online collaborative learning theory, and integrations.
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