Supporting students through innovative program design and intuitive teacher training.

I am a trained instructional designer with expertise in developing program-wide systems for student success, including innovative online and blended courses, learner resources, training for TAs and instructors, and institutional academic support services.

With a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Instructional Psychology and Technology from Brigham Young University, I have over 5 years of experience in instructional design for learners and educators. My work encompasses designing and teaching online and blended mastery-based courses, training teachers to teach online and blended courses effectively, researching and creating resources to support student success, and evaluating and improving educational programs. My mission is to empower students of all backgrounds with the tools they need to thrive and ensure that all who support them are equipped with the proper training to excel in their roles.

I invite you to explore my portfolio and current research!

Hi, I’m Sara.

Past Projects

Click on any of the images below to navigate my portfolio projects

K-12 Teacher Training

K-12 Teacher Training
Online TA & Instructor Training

Online TA & Instructor Training
Student Support Resources

Student Support Resources
Canvas LMS + Cidi Labs Training

Canvas LMS + Cidi Labs Training
Canvas LMS Online Course Design

Canvas LMS Online Course Design
Articulate Storyline & HTML 5 Online Course Design

Articulate Storyline & HTML 5 Online Course Design

Current Research

  • Understanding the Role of Institutional Support for Student Engagement in Higher Education Online and Blended Learning Settings Through the Lens of the ACE Framework

    This multiple-article dissertation explores institutional support for student academic engagement through the lens of the Academic Communities of Engagement (ACE) framework.

    View Here

  • Providing Institutional Support for Academic Engagement in Online and Blended Learning Programs

    This paper examines how universities can evaluate the support they provide to help their students with engagement in their online and blended learning experiences and identifies what types of supports help students engage academically and what barriers hinder their engagement.

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  • Institutional Support for Academic Engagement in Online and Blended Learning Environments

    The study examines how well a university supported student engagement across affective, behavioral, and cognitive dimensions in online and blended learning. It offers recommendations for improving student engagement and institutional support in digital learning environments.

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  • Exploring the impact of online and in-person support communities on the academic engagement of online learners

    This study investigates how an institution supports adult learners facing barriers by blending online and in-person learning, examining the influence of both modalities on student engagement and support from peers, teachers, and family networks.

    View Here

  • Understanding the Role of Online Teaching Assistants in Student Engagement

    This paper investigates the interactions between online teaching assistants and students, focusing on the affective, behavioral, and cognitive support provided, and examines how OLTA training influences these interactions.

    View Here
View My Google Scholar Profile for More

Current Interests

  • I am highly invested in understanding how support from educators, families, and mentors can help students reach their full potential and succeed academically.

  • I am dedicated to equipping teachers with the training and resources necessary for success in blended and online learning environments. My goal is to empower educators with effective tools that facilitate mastery-based learning, ensuring that all students can achieve their full potential.

  • I strongly advocate for personalized and competency-based learning approaches that empower students to succeed academically and engage in meaningful experiences that help them achieve their goals and aspirations.

  • I stay updated on the latest educational technology trends and assess how these tools can either enhance or impede effective learning.

  • I strive to stay informed and current in my instructional design practices to ensure that students receive the highest quality education.

  • I enjoy exploring and incorporating open educational resources whenever possible, as they significantly enhance access to quality education for more individuals.

  • I am also passionate about adult learning and dedicated to finding ways to provide non-traditional learners with quality education to enhance their lives.

Skills & Expertise

  • Instructional Design

    DESIGN THINKING

    BACKWARD DESIGN

    AGILE DESIGN

    PROJECT MANAGEMENT

    BLENDED LEARNING

    COMPETENCY & MASTERY-BASED

    INSTRUCTOR TRAINING

    CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

    TEST CREATION

  • Technology

    INSTRUCTURE CANVAS

    CIDI LABS DESIGN TOOLS FOR CANVAS

    ARTICULATE STORYLINE/360

    WORDPRESS

    LEARNDASH LMS

    MOODLE

    THINKIFIC

    HTML & CSS

    ADOBE SUITE

    MICROSOFT OFFICE SUITE

    GRAPHIC DESIGN

    CANVA

  • Education Research

    ONLINE & BLENDED LEARNING

    ACADEMIC COMMUNITIES OF ENGAGEMENT

    K-12 TECHNOLOGY FRAMEWORKS

    OPEN EDUCATION

    PEER MENTORSHIP

    INSTRUCTOR & TA TRAINING

    INSTITUTIONAL STUDENT SUPPORT

  • Student Support

    K-12 INSTRUCTOR TRAINING

    UNIVERSITY INSTRUCTOR TRAINING

    TEACHING ASSISTANT/PEER MENTOR TRAINING

    INSTITUTIONAL STUDENT SUPPORT RESOURCES

Contact me.

If you want to work or collaborate with me, I would love to hear from you! Please send me a message through this form or connect with me on social media!