Kathy Cannon

eLearning Specialist & Instructional Designer in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Resume

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On this page: educational technology | teaching & web design | specializations | skills | education


Objective

Design and produce creative, digital teaching, learning and research solutions for organizations focused on delivering innovative education and training.

Profile

Experienced classroom educator, online course designer, and eLearning application administrator who readily bridges technical and educational domains to advance project goals.

Educational Technology Experience

eLearning Consultant & Instructional Design Contractor

May 2009 – Present

Self-employed, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Producing online courses with faculty at Bay State College • Converting older, small business sites into the standards-based CSS framework Blueprint • Working with portrait photographer Elsa Dorfman on digital, web-based solutions to manage her large collection of essays and images. • Documented key decision-making roles and recommended business development strategy for a Moodle-based, eLearning start-up.

Academic Technology Project Lead

October 2007 – August 2009

Library and Technology Services, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts

Coordinated three software release cycles per year as part of a small product development and technical support team. Customized and maintained an enterprise-wide installation of Moodle, an open source course management system used as the eLearning platform by on-campus and distance education faculty and students. Collaborated with educators and information specialists to analyze and articulate software requirements for custom tools. Resolved and documented key user support issues. Suggested strategies, best practices, and suitable new technologies.

Research & Instruction Technology Specialist

January 2007 – October 2007

Library and Technology Services, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts

Contributed significantly to the overall success of a very rapid, full-scale transition from WebCT Vista to Moodle. Designed the site-wide configuration settings, the initial course templates, and key demonstration courses. Led needs analysis and offered recommendations to benefit distance learning faculty. Developed requirements for a substantial portion of the instructional components in the university's new eLearning system. Helped the project managers build consensus and remove obstacles to implementation by aligning feature sets in the two systems.

Instructional Designer

July 2005 – June 2006 (contractor to permanent)

Office of Distance Education, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts

Designed and produced media-rich online courses for graduate degree and professional certification programs using the WebCT Vista learning management system. Guided collaborations that leveraged available technologies to create engaging interactive learning experiences. Established schedules on multiple projects and managed instructors’ expectations in order to reach launch deadlines with well-tested, student-centered courses. Provided technical support to colleagues in the use of Dreamweaver and HTML, CSS, javascript coding. Translated conversations with subject matter experts into efficient specifications for graphics and Flash animations.

Instructional Designer / Prototype Manager

September 2004 – May 2005 (part-time)

CAST, Inc., Wakefield, Massachusetts

Coordinated the implementation of animated characters within an instructional software interface that was being designed for a federally funded literacy research project seeking to improve outcomes for struggling readers in grades 4-6. Translated project goals into technical specifications for javascript programmer and animation vendor. Located and adopted tools to enable faster individual scripting and team review of animation sequences.

Educational Technology Grant Consultant

August 2004 – January 2005 (short-term contract)

Professor Mary Mindess, Lesley University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Co-developed and coordinated grant project. Guided video production in a preschool classroom.

Technology Integration Specialist Teacher

September 2003 - July 2004

Amigos School (K-8, Dual-Immersion Spanish-English), Cambridge Public Schools, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Leadership Role - Dramatically boosted the school’s overall capacity for teaching with technology by initiating collaborations, boosting confidence, setting reliable expectations, systematically upgrading available hardware, locating more bilingual software, and demonstrating technology-leveraged lessons. Wrote and administered the school’s grant based on a district-wide Teaching for Understanding program. Conducted needs assessment, delivered targeted workshops, and administered online registrations.

Support Role - Managed the school's new computer lab including server account maintenance. Provided daily assistance to 52 busy educators.

Educational Technology Research Assistant

March - September 2003 (part-time)

CAST, Inc., Wakefield, Massachusetts

Created classroom lessons and trained teachers in strategy-based reading software aimed at young children with significant cognitive disabilities.

Video Specialist

November 2002 - July 2003 (part-time, Graduate Research Assistant)

The Preschool at Boston University, Boston University School of Education, Boston, Massachusetts

Designed database, organized workflow, and trained staff in the use of newly installed video documentation equipment in an early childhood laboratory classroom. Recorded with remote-controlled cameras. Edited popular promotional video for parents.

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Teaching & Web Design Experience

Web Design Contractor

July 2001 - Present (part-time)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Chemistry Department, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Web site design and maintenance for academic research sites on request of individual chemistry faculty members. ( see examples )

Web Design Intern / Computer Software Instructor

July - December 2006 / October 2003 – April 2004 (part-time)

Cambridge Community Access Television, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Used Drupal for web redesign. Designed and taught "Macintosh OS X Basics" class to adults, including many novices.

Title I Teacher & Elementary School Technology Team Liaison

September 1996 - April 2001

Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools, Scotch Plains, New Jersey

Managed a busy, public school classroom that included students with special needs. Led the revision of pre-kindergarten curriculum and screening assessment tools. Produced computer training workshops for colleagues.

Kindergarten Teacher

September 1994 - June 1996

Montclair Public Schools, Montclair, New Jersey

Taught young children in a high-profile program based on Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences.

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Multimedia Specializations

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Technical Skills

Advanced / Intermediate

I use these routinely:

Intermediate Knowledge

I use these frequently:

Basic Knowledge

I use these occasionally:

  • Moodle
  • HTML & CSS hand-coding
  • Adobe Photoshop CS3
  • Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Excel
  • WebCT Vista 3
  • Dreamweaver CS3
  • iMovieHD, iDVD, iTunes
  • Final Cut Pro
  • TechSmith Camtasia
  • Javascript
  • WordPress
  • Drupal
  • Flash CS3
Daily user of both Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh operating systems.

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Education

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts, May 2005

Master of Education, Educational Media and Technology

Lesley University

Cambridge, Massachusetts, December 1993

Master of Education, Early Childhood Education

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 1988

Bachelor of Science in Economics (concentration in Marketing)