Risa Blair

Experience

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  Champlain College

  Aug 1993 - Jul 2002

  Assistant Professor

  • Taught Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, Diversity Awareness, Freshman Experience, Presentation Graphics, skills-based Computer Applications and Web Development. • Selected textbooks and related materials to guide curriculum and used these in creative ways to achieve learning goals through lecture, small group instruction, class projects, case studies and practical application. • Arranged career-based internships and student interviews. • Taught courses of 40-45 students each in Israel for a semester for ESL students, with Hebrew or Arabic as a first language. Utilized Hebrew version of Microsoft Office to teach students Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.• Incorporated innovative means to reach the students, including technology, movies, analogies, group work, cases and occasional translation assistance to deliver educational content. • Collaborated with administration to address concerns and to resolve academic and technology issues.• Created courses, developed on-line content and facilitated courses in Internet Research, Web Design, Presentation Graphics, Cultural Diversity, Web Storyboarding, Dreamweaver and Enhanced Web Development. Show less

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  Pine Crest School

  Aug 2003 - Apr 2006

  Teacher/Asst. Debate Coach

  • Developed curriculum and taught Photography, Digital Photography, Advanced Photography, and English. • Utilized technology to facilitate learning, including Blackboard, software image editing, and video editing programs.• Traveled extensively throughout the U.S. with the debate team. • Integral in managing and administering $50,000+ budget for the debate team. • Systematized organization, logistics, travel planning, and parent communications for active 100-member debate team. • Assisted in the planning and implementation of annual 3-day debate tournament serving 2500 participants. Show less

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  Purdue University Global (formerly Kaplan University)

  Jan 2005 - now

  Adjunct Professor

  • Facilitate online course in software applications, including monitoring classroom message board, counseling and motivating students, and teaching weekly synchronous “hands-on” sessions to a very broad-based student population. • Participate in online professional development and conference calls, both in an effort to improve individual teaching strategies and student success.

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  Kaplan University

  Apr 2006 - Aug 2007

  Assistant Dean

  • Managed the development, revision, quality, and accuracy of courses in graduate education program.• Developed procedures to improve course accuracy by 80%.• Interviewed, selected, negotiated contracts, and collaborated with course developers to both create and update courses. • Developed and managed the implementation of a new course design throughout the curriculum to streamline courses, to provide greater ease-of-use of the online platform for our adult students and instructors, and to promote retention in our programs, currently at 85%. • Evaluated metrics and created reports for the purpose of implementing documented quality improvements based on instructor and student feedback. • Achieved metric guidelines for courses (4.3/5.0) as established in the strategic plan. • Forecasted and managed a $100K budget for curriculum development and technology. • Prepared agenda and facilitated monthly online meetings for the Assistant Deans of Curriculum monthly meetings. Show less

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  Miami Dade College

  Jan 2007 - Jan 2010

  Senior Instructional Designer

  • Managed and created the design, development, delivery, and new technology implementation for several online courses. Developed and modified course HTML content.• Created and used multimedia and movies to promote student and faculty learning. • Supervised over 50 adjunct instructors. Responsible for all aspects of their efforts, from the delivery of online courses, to handling technical issues and student problems.• Trained faculty to use ANGEL Learning Management Software. Develop training modules for common tasks.• Developed student training modules using Captivate and Camtasia to promote student success.• Quality Matters trained and certified. Show less

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  University of Arkansas Grantham

  Jan 2009 - now

  • Manage and maintain relationships with all third-party vendors of educational resources.• Provide leadership to subject matter experts (SMEs), faculty, and peers on course design and engagement to translate learning objectives into high-impact learning designs across multiple modalities integrating the appropriate Bloom's taxonomy as well as industry standards and best practices.• Ensure the instructional quality of courses, including assessment mapping, credit hour integrity, and overall alignment between course activities and objectives.• Lead Instructional Design team to gain recommendations on innovative approaches, strategies, and technologies to solve instructional problems.• Provide insight and expertise from educational theory and design practices in preparing faculty and subject matter experts (SMEs) for successful online course design.• Develop, monitor and facilitate the entire course development process.• Organize maintenance of course design and technology for active courses.• Adjust and enhance course design and content in response to student feedback collected from a variety of inputs (ex. Tutor.com, e-books analytics, etc.).• Collaborate with Academic Deans by participation in assessment planning, mapping, rubric development, evaluation, and execution of assessment within the curriculum.• Maintain assessment mapping integrity during course revisions and ensure the academic governance process is upheld.• Keep accurate all course curriculum electronic records.• Serve as representative on university committees as appropriate.• Excellent rapport and communications process, both internally and externally, to the Academics department.• Partner with compliance department on legal requirements regarding curriculum and instructional areas.• Maintain a visible shared course development records process with tracking and accuracy. Show less

  • Academic Manager Instructional Design

    Jun 2021 - now

  • Adjunct Professor

    Jan 2009 - May 2021
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  Instructional Associates

  Jan 2010 - now

  President

  • Managing, designing and developing academic curricula for online programs. • Consulting with management and leadership in the following areas: recruitment and hiring, learning and performance and human capital management/HR consulting. Managing client relations oversight, quality assurance, risk mitigation, staff performance, productivity, and the design, implementation, and management of related systems, policies, processes, procedures, and best practices.• Serving as a catalyst for team effectiveness. Building and fostering an environment of operational excellence, high performance, and productivity, teamwork, customer service, creativity, and innovation – ultimately striving to ensure organization exceeded customers’ expectations.• Developing and implementing best practices and procedures for online course development, which includes technical specifications and principles. Have served on Learning Management System search committees.• Identifying program needs, analyzing and logically organizing information, and transforming information into professionally designed, engaging and effective online/face-to-face programs.• Managing multimedia the instructional design team, and the recruiting team. Show less

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  FedEx

  Nov 2010 - Apr 2013

  Training Advisor

  • Utilized experience in classroom instruction and instructional design experience to develop engaging and timely corporate training• Promoted strong human relations through the use of effective verbal and written communications • Coordinated and facilitated broad range of skills/systems based educational programs • Administered testing and assessment for FedEx as mandated by applicable corporate or federal requirements• Analyze content and implement novel and/or unique approaches to solve complex training problems• Consult with management to determine training needs and subject matter experts to develop client-focused training• Customize and maintain training materials and documentation to meet specific and user/client needs• Maintain awareness of current educational/training methodologies and ensure quality control for assigned programs• Utilize appropriate tools to provide clear measurement of educational activities, expenses, and productivity• Provide project leadership in support of various corporate and departmental projects/programs with responsibility to plan and coordinate resources to achieve projects goals• Analyze performance based and operational training problems and implement appropriate solutions • Provide input and feedback to instructional design group on training material and instructional effectiveness and participate as subject matter expert on development design task forces as required Show less

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  Blackboard

  Apr 2013 - Sept 2013

  Implementation Consultant, Blackboard Inc.

  • Developed client-specific implementation project plans and timelines.• Developed and presented at meetings with prospects, which included executive-level academic and business teams.• Collaborated with customer sponsors and Collaborate senior leadership.• Identified customer risks, implemented risk mitigation plans, and communicated withsenior leadership.• Monitor, track and report project status and performance• Conduct meetings with client sponsors and stakeholders• Create and deliver implementation reports Show less

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  ComplexCare Solutions, Inc.

  Oct 2014 - Apr 2015

  ELearning Instructional Designer

  • Collaborated with a variety of CCS Departments/Programs from key business lines on how to best develop and implement E-Learning at CCS. • Used instructional systems design principles and adult learning theory to analyze, design, develop and implement E-Learning solutions that support the business/ performance goals of CCS. • Evaluated, measured, and tracked the effectiveness of E-Learning courses. Worked under general direction.

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  Post University

  Jul 2019 - now

  Associate Faculty

  • Teach College Success Seminar and Professional Success Seminar• Deliver exceptional, personalized learning experiences to students through active engagement and the creative use of technology• Provide motivational feedback to encourage students and promote critical thinking skills• Coach students to achieve their career goals and explain the application of what they learn in class to their future careers• Make the learning experience personal for each student and meet them where they are to drive progress• Serve as a role model communicator and encourage students in developing their written and oral communication skills• Foster a learning experience for students in College Success Seminar to encourage them to move forward with their degree plans by helping to build their confidence and promoting the resources Post University has available• Acknowledge the achievements of students enrolled in the Professional Success Seminar and provide guidance to help them create a polished final project portfolio, solid elevator pitch, and a suitable social media presence Show less