Making a Difference through Independent Study

Eileen Cushing-Craig Helps International NGOsEileenCushingCraig (2)

Eileen Cushing-Craig has always found opportunities to give back to her community, so when she saw a post on the Graduate Instructional Design Association (GIDA) website asking for instructional designers to assist international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), she immediately signed up, and turned this opportunity into an Independent Study that earned her 3 graduate credits toward her Masters degree.   “I love my job as an instructional designer for a software company, but here was an opportunity to try something different by applying my ID skills in serving organizations working in the fields of international humanitarian relief, community development, conservation, and social justice at the same time.”

Eileen started working with Wendy Gentry who is a project coordinator at LINGOs, Learning in Non-Governmental Organizations, to develop an e-learning course in Articulate that focused on selection interviewing of prospective employees.  “Throughout the Independent Study, I was responsible for every part of the project, determining learning objectives, the project plan, milestones and outcomes.  It was a lot of work, but the support and encouragement of my ID Program advisor, Fran Keefe, kept me going.  I was able to learn a tremendous amount and apply my skills as an IDer in new and innovative ways.”  Eileen’s course is now part of a comprehensive learning library titled Last Mile Learning in which NGO staff around the globe can access courses in people management.  If not for Last Mile Learning, these courses would be beyond the scope of an NGO’s individual program resources and budget.  “It was a great experience” reports Eileen, “while I had a lot of expertise in the instructional design field prior to returning to Graduate School, the Instructional Design Program has provided me with a sense of confidence in applying the foundational principles and theories of instructional design in many professional settings.”

Eileen is a current Instructional Design Master of Education student.  She works in the Educational Services department at Kronos, a software company that specializes in workforce management.  There are four graduates of the Instructional Design Program currently working in her department.

30 Years of Innovation and Learning

In 2014 the Instructional Design Program is celebrating its 30th year anniversary as a graduate program at the University of Massachusetts Boston! This also marks the 50th year since the University’s founding.  For three 30th_anniversary with yearsdecades, the program has won international respect for the way it prepares students as curriculum design specialists, educators, trainers, performance managers, and organizational developers who make a progressive impact in business, industry, education, government, health care, and public service. Our students and alumni create change in their workplaces and communities by crafting innovative learning experiences that seamlessly integrate the latest educational tools and technology. We salute you all.

2014 also marks the 50th year since the University’s founding.

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