Biography

My interests in the fields of education and technology are diverse and varied. Over the last 20 years, I have been able to apply this interest to many exciting experiences... everything from A to Z.

My first “real” job was with San Diego Trust and Savings where I worked as a Bank Proof Machine Operator. If you’re old enough to remember, or are with a bank which still sends back your cancelled checks, you may have noticed additional numbers across the bottom of the cancelled check–numbers the check lacked when it was written. We were the people responsible for balancing all the transactions by encoding dollar amounts on the hundreds of thousands of checks that came through the bank each day. The faster you worked, the more you got paid… and the more the bank got paid, since getting the checks out the door for collection minimized float time and maximized interest earning potential. However, accuracy was critical as you processed deposits, withdrawals, internal bank ledger items, teller cash reconciliation, and resolved addition and subtraction errors courtesy of employees and customers.

What would improve the process? New procedures, new forms, re-prioritization of workflow? How could we train operators to increase output, but reduce errors? I grappled with these questions as I began my first instructional design-related job - with no background other than the ability to operate the proof machine.

Recognizing my desire to work in a setting that people actually looked forward to visiting (seriously, how many of us look forward to visiting a bank?), I took a position at Sea World of California in the Guided Tours Department. We educated visitors about the animals through behind-the-scenes tours and staffing the different animal exhibits. After about a year, I became an Instructor with Sea World’s Education Department where we developed and presented courses and educational shows to students, from Kindergarten to adult, as part of an educational program or teacher training class. 

Enjoying the out-of-doors work environment, I headed over to the Zoological Society of San Diego and took a similar position with their Wild Animal Park. The main difference: The animals there had legs instead of flippers and fins… but the emphasis on environmental education remained. During my time with the Society, we reformatted the monorail tour experience and a training and information support system was developed.

All the while, I was working toward my Masters Degree in Educational Technology which I completed in 1992. I figured it was time to head back indoors and the consulting field interested me. With my recently earned degree, I vied for a position with Andersen Consulting. I became a staff consultant/lead instructional designer and developed a number of technology-based training courses for various clients including Novell, Allstate, and DHL. During my years with Andersen, I had the opportunity to apply needs assessment and instructional design skills, but first and foremost I was able to gain experience in project management and client relations.

An opportunity arose to join a newly formed start-up company. The vision was to create Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics CD-ROM products for K–6 students that taught serious educational objectives using strategies of story, character, and game theory. Even better, the program would be purchased by schools and run on both computers and a low cost game player. This allowed schools to introduce the software in the classroom, and then send it home to play on the family television. I joined the company when there were just twenty-some employees. Today, there are over 250, the company is known as The Lightspan Partnership, and over 2,000 schools are using Lightspan Achieve Now. During my first three years with the company I supervised the development of over 20 individual CD-ROM titles, mainly in the Language Arts content area.

Having developed some great products, my interests turned to that of our users. Did students using Lightspan learn? I encouraged the creation of a Research and Evaluation Director position, and then set out to answer that question. Last year, the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory reviewed research conducted in partnership between Lightspan and schools using the product. Based upon that review, Lightspan Achieve Now was designated a Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration Model, having proven impact on student achievement in demographically diverse settings and effectiveness of professional development activities in classroom reform. This was quite an accomplishment for everyone in the company and I am proud to have played a part in product design and program evaluation.

My life today

Currently, I spend part of my time engaging in instructional design and evaluation consulting, while also teaching Educational Technology graduate courses at San Diego State University. In recent consulting projects I have found myself working with diesel mechanics, art conservators, exemplary classroom teachers and staff developers, cable television executives, and orangutan conservation advocates. The opportunities are diverse and fascinating.

I believe this is a great time to be involved in educational technology… whether you are just beginning studies, or are looking to refocus or redirect your career. Opportunities are plentiful, and think about this: What other career allows you to apply specific instructional design skills to just about any field? In my case, literally everywhere from A to Z… Andersen Consulting to the Zoological Society.