Jennifer Franklin
Instructional Designer
& e-Learning Developer
Who Am I?
I am an excellent communicator and collaborator. I find these are the essential skills that produce quality instructional design. Yes, having some solid writing and tech skills to back it up is important, but understanding the learner comes first. In order to have quality, effective adult learning, there needs to be a clear "why," and a clear end goal. I want to understand the needs of the client, and what is expected of the learners so that the instruction is tailor made to help everyone reach their goals.
My interest in instructional design was sparked when I took a position at a museum as an museum educator. It was a way for me to incorporate my teaching skills in a different, more complex direction. I created trainings for museum employees and volunteers. I also developed the curriculum used for outreach programs, field trip groups, and community events. Then, I created the training and trained the instructors who would be teaching those programs.
Another passion of mine is creating eLearning experiences that are relevant and engaging. I am comfortable using Storyline and Rise.
What Are My Tech Skills
I believe solid tech skills are important, and I am constantly growing my skills to evolve with a dynamic and changing world that becomes more interconnected all of the time. These are some of the skills that I have experience with:
Articulate 360 (Storyline and Rise)
Microsoft Office 365
Google Suite
Canva
Affinity Designer
What Else Do I Do?
One can not live on instructional design alone, so when I am not on my computer creating adult learning, I love spending time with my sons (when I get to see them). My oldest is in the US Navy, and my youngest attends the University of South Florida (my alma mater). I enjoy any opportunity I can get to travel with my husband, and these two in the photo above (Willy and Stormy). It is fun to go on adventures to explore new places and learn new things. I enjoy going to live concerts, theater, and sporting events-especially hockey. I love learning, and I always want to learn more about the world around me.
I am especially fascinated with meteorology, and I participated in NOAA's Teacher in the Air program. Through which I had the opportunity to go on a flight into the eye of a hurricane with Hurricane Hunters. We flew off of the southeast coast of Florida, and over the Bahamas to track and gather data from Hurricane Humberto.
Another passion of mine is volunteering, whether it is at my local church, or supporting youth in running programs to help them develop social skills and improved health.