My name is Grace. I’m a former public-school teacher, now working in higher education and learning design. I can't describe how many times I've considered what it means to make a learning experience memorable. Each time, I think of a particular teacher I had as a high school junior. I specifically remember thinking she was cool because she didn’t take any of our upperclassmen crap.

A lesson of hers in particular sticks with me to this day. Our class had been learning about forms of energy, specifically gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy. We’d learned different formulas, listened to lectures, and even constructed roller coasters out of things like tape and Popsicle sticks in order to test out these formulas. However, it was the last week of the unit I remember the most. This teacher organized a grade level field trip to Six Flags Great America. She created packets with formulas specific to the roller coasters at our location. We were told to spend the day together, safely. She told us to ensure that our packets were completed prior to returning to the bus. 

Learning through Miss Frizz changed everything for me. A subject area that previously caused me stress, was not only manageable now, but fun and exciting. It was the fact that she brought the curriculum to life through more than just lectures. From guided notes, to video clips, laboratory activities, and live roller coaster analysis - she knew how to make learning tangible for each of us. It remains memorable to me because of her ability to reach all learning styles - throughout not just one lesson, but entire units of curriculum. I can only hope that my time in the classroom manifested similarly.

It’s this eagerness and passion that has led me to instructional design. I have a deep joy for design, and I use it often for freelancing. When I discovered instructional design I realized I may have found a match - a field that meshes my strongest desires into one. I began a master of science in Learning Design and Technology at University of Maryland Global Campus shortly thereafter, and have been designing ever since.

I believe that people learn differently, and that the ability to commit things from short term memory to long term memory depends greatly upon learning style and delivery. I want to contribute unequivocally to today’s state of innovation and progression. Education is an ever changing, fluid field, and I am here to make learning visible.