I believe that the role of educators is to cultivate inclusive learning experiences where students can engage in thoughtful observation, critical thinking, and meaningful engagement with materials and technologies.
I work with students to develop their abilities to investigate sociotechnical issues, consider multiple perspectives, and address exclusionary practices across domains.
I draw on Studio-based Instruction, Universal Design for Learning, and Project-based Learning during instruction. Each of these approaches encourages students to draw from their interests, connect ideas to real-world issues or contexts, and consider concepts through different epistemologies.
Courses Taught
“Crafting Accessible Experiences” (CAE)
- During the Spring, 2019 semester I will co-taught (with Arielle Hein) an undergraduate/graduate level studio class focused on engaging students in the creation of installations that engage the senses through strategic storytelling, immersive environments, and evocative content.
Proposed Courses
Disability Studies and Information Technology:
- This course focuses on developing students’ abilities to assess the accessibility of existing user interfaces and technologies and engagement in ability-based and participatory design projects.
Accessible Media in Public Places:
- This course focuses on developing students’ abilities to critically examine the accessibility of cultural institutions, accessibility-oriented curatorial and architectural policies, and arts education policy.
Accessible Maker Technologies, and Creativity Support Tools:
- This course focuses on developing students’ abilities to use a variety of maker technologies, analyze the arenas in which they have developed, and develop solutions to make them more accessible.
Critical Perspectives in Media and Information Literacy:
- This course focuses on developing students’ abilities to critically reflect about their own Media and Information Literacies and how other people are positioned to access and create media.
Do It Yourself-Assistive Technology Design:
- This course focuses on supporting students in leading technology design efforts with local organizations that serve people with disabilities in art, media production, and access/assistive technology design projects.
Guest Lecturer
Throughout my Ph.D., I oversaw multiple undergraduate and graduate level independent studies. I have also given lectures in a range of different classes:
Introduction to Information Science: CU Boulder: Info. Science 7000, Dr. Leysia Palen
Designing for Creativity and Learning: CU Boulder: Info. 5505, Dr. Ricarose Roque
Inclusive Design and Assistive Technology: CU Boulder: Computer Science 7000, Dr. Shaun Kane
User-Centered Design and Development: CU Boulder: Computer Science 5839, Dr. Tom Yeh
Children’s Literature: CU Boulder: Education, 4161, Dr. Bridget Dalton
Inclusive Making: Northwestern: Learning Science 451, Dr. Marcelo Worsley
Informal Learning Design and Implementation
I have designed and implemented many courses in informal learning environments as part of the Build a Better Book Project. These experiences have enabled me to be an educator who is flexible and responsive in different learning environments and social configurations.
Boulder Public Library Building 61: Wonders of Wetlands. July 2017./ Accessible Game Design. July 2017-2018.
- A weeklong design internship for 12 high school students focused on the design of accessible scientific data representations/ accessible board games; in partnership with a local library makerspace.
Museum of Boulder: Seeing through Touch Design Experience. 2017-2018.
- A five-month design course that met bi-weekly, for 12 middle school students focused on the design of accessible museum exhibits; in partnership with a local museum.
National Federation of the Blind, Youth Slam: Wonders of Wetlands. July 2017.
- A weeklong art course for 5 blind high school students focused on the design of accessible scientific data representations; in partnership with the National Federation of the Blind.
Colorado Center for the Blind: Art Classroom: Multimodal Composition. April-July 2016.
- A four-month art class that met once a week, for 5 blind adults focused on the creation of a multimodal representation of a narrative; in partnership with the Colorado Center for the Blind.
National Science Foundation (NSF) Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation Research, Research and Mentoring Program. 2016.
- A three-month design internship for 4 high school students focused on the design of accessible scientific data representations.