About Instructional Design for eLearning
Our Purpose
The IDeL team has one principal goal: to develop confident and competent faculty, prepared to teach in blended and fully online learning environments, who are able to integrate technology in a way that is learner-centered and pedagogically sound.
We believe that when used properly, instructional technology can create an active learning environment in which students are better able to master content, develop valuable skills, and form learning communities.
How will we do this?
The IDeL team supports Grand Valley faculty in the use of information technology to enhance curriculum, support teaching and learning, and promote the exchange of creative ideas, resources, and research using technology. We do so through the following:
- Consulting with individual faculty on pedagogy, course design, and the selection of appropriate instructional technologies.
- Working with departments to offer Teaching Circles and Faculty Learning Communities in the areas of pedagogy, instructional technology, and digital learning.
- Helping faculty transition face-to-face courses into online/hybrid offerings, and supporting them as they create new digital learning experiences.
- Offering workshops on the pedagogical and technical aspects of digital teaching and learning.
- Keeping faculty informed about digital learning through conference announcements, research articles, and new or emerging technologies.
- Promoting best practices in digital learning and the integration of technology by advancing the use of Quality Matters and other recognized standards, such as UDL and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
- Engaging with the scholarship of digital teaching and learning.
- Working closely with the Pew Faculty Teaching & Learning Center and GVSU University Libraries on faculty development initiatives related to digital learning.
Instructional Designers
Glenna Decker
Glenna began working in educational technology in 1997 and as an instructional designer in 1999, joining GVSU in 2001. She has 20 years (as of 2019) of graduate teaching experience in online, hybrid, and traditional in-seat delivery formats. Her numerous course preps at GVSU have ranged from Educational Technology to Early Childhood Administration, and from around 2007, her primary focus is in Adult and Higher Education. She is a Ph.D. candidate at Western Michigan University in Education Leadership (Higher Education) with research interests in faculty development.
Matthew Roberts
Matthew holds a PhD in Political Science and has taught for more than 16 years. He also has extensive experience in programming and web design. These two sides of his experience give him a first-hand understanding of the importance of instructional technology.
Justin Melick
Justin joined the eLearning team in 2014 and holds master’s degrees from Grand Valley State University in both Educational Technology and Adult and Higher Education. Prior to coming on board at GVSU, Justin taught social studies at the k-12 level. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member in Grand Valley’s College of Education since 2018, teaching and developing courses in educational technology.
Vince St. Germain
Vince is an experienced Senior Instructional Designer who has been assisting University faculty, staff and students since joining GVSU in 1997. With an M.Ed in Educational Technology, Vince understands the important role that technology can play in providing both high quality and engaging instruction for all types of learners. His areas of expertise include Blackboard support and design, web conferencing and online learning, and digital media development and production. As a member of the eLearning team Vince is committed to providing the best possible customer service and support for the entire campus community.
Director, eLearning Technologies
Kim Kenward
Kim holds a Masters in Information and Library Studies from the University of Michigan, and joined GVSU in 2000 as an instructional designer. In addition to her instructional designer duties, she is also responsible for facilitating university-wide and department specific faculty development workshops and coordinates the Online & Hybrid Teaching Faculty Learning Communities. She enjoys teaching the Foundations of Online/Hybrid Course Development series, and holding individual consultations with faculty who are developing and teaching online/hybrid courses.