Inspire Blog

Backwards Brand Design: How to SIFT through your work experience and craft a brand identity as an Instructional Designer

This article has its roots in a discussion I had with an Ecampus intern about going on the job market. This intern is working in an academic technologies role at a higher ed institution already, but also getting the Instructional Design certificate here at OSU. It was my first time thinking about what the growth of instructional design certificate and degree credentials means for all instructional designers. Very few of the instructional designers I’ve met and worked with here or at my previous institutions actually have degrees in instructional design, including myself. The field of instructional design emerged out of a specific institutional and educational need in higher education and corporate education, which makes for an ever-growing, ever-changing, but always … Backwards Brand Design: How to SIFT through your work experience and craft a brand identity as an Instructional Designer
by · February 5, 2024

Behind the Buzzword: Creating Belonging for Online Students (part 2 of 2)

What can we do to help? Oregon State University has prioritized diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and it is up to us as educators and those who support teaching and learning to actively co-create a culture that promotes tolerance and inclusion, for our students, our staff, and our community. To do this, we must challenge exclusion and commit to inclusive practices that promote real equity and extend opportunity to all students. University staff and instructors may be intentionally or unintentionally signaling their institution’s, their department’s, or their own levels of inclusion by the policies, rules, statements, systems, symbols, and representations they choose and use, so it is important to reassess what messages we are sending to students. While students may … Behind the Buzzword: Creating Belonging for Online Students (part 2 of 2)
by · January 22, 2024

Behind the Buzzword: Creating Belonging for Online Students (part 1 of 2)

“Belonging is a universal human need that is fundamentally linked to learning and well-being. It describes an individual’s experience of feeling that they are, or are likely to be, accepted and respected as a valued contributor in a specific environment.”            Structures for Belonging: A Synthesis of Research on Belonging-Supportive Learning Environments Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a helpful framework when discussing belonging, which falls in the middle, at level three, just above the basics for survival (level one: air, water, food, shelter) and safety (level 2: health, employment, family, security).  Image from Wikimedia Commons Have you heard the word belonging recently in reference to students and employees? At OSU, it seems to be popping up … Behind the Buzzword: Creating Belonging for Online Students (part 1 of 2)
by · January 8, 2024

5 Aspects of a Great Welcome Message

Wooden sign with the word welcome on it.

As Winter Break has begun it’s rapid decent into the start of a new term, it’s time to take a look at how we will welcome our students back to school in the new year. Winter term brings new beginnings for students as their papers now contain the date 2024. Maybe they’ve made resolutions to do homework on time, or read every last page you request, or just be more present, whatever it is, that first message or impression from you in the new term sets the tone for the class. I’m sure that everyone wants to start a class off on a positive note, so let’s look at 5 ways you can create an informational, welcoming, and inclusive message … 5 Aspects of a Great Welcome Message
by · January 2, 2024

The CAQDAS Quandary Part 2: How a low-cost solution could help with your qualitative analysis

By Greta Underhill In my last post, I outlined my search for a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) program that would fit our Research Unit’s needs. We needed a program that would enable our team to collaborate across operating systems, easily adding in new team members as needed, while providing a user-friendly experience without a high learning curve. We also needed something that would adhere to our institution’s IRB requirements for data security and preferred a program that didn’t require a subscription. However, the programs I examined were either subscription-based, too cumbersome, or did not meet our institution’s IRB requirements for data security. It seemed that there just wasn’t a program out there to suit our team’s needs. However, … The CAQDAS Quandary Part 2: How a low-cost solution could help with your qualitative analysis
by · December 26, 2023