• Creativity,  Educational Technology,  Instructional Design,  Learning

    Project XR: 2022 Sanditon Escape Room

    It has taken me quite a while to build this 2022 digital escape room because of the 3D planning and programming. Those of you who are aware of the 2021 Sanditon Escape room may have read this explanation of how to plan for and design a digital escape room (DER). In this 3D 360 VR DER, there are several scenes. Once again, the scenario for the DER is provided in the initial scenes: Joy Jambalaya (JJ) is a top sleuth who had been captured because she found out who the…

  • Art(s),  Creativity,  Life

    Where Your Deep Gladness and the World’s Deep Hunger Meet

    This was made with love in Procreate, January—March 2021. [Note: You can now paint 3D models in Procreate 5.2!] The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet. – Frederick Buechner. Walter Brueggemann had this to say about Buechner: “Buechner uses words with such transformative power that any comment on them is like the moon palely reflecting the sun.” A writer uses words; a painter his strokes and colors. As a designer of learning experiences, I want my design works…

  • Creativity,  Learning

    Drawing of the Day: Character Design Using Illustrator

    3 international pals: white male, asian girl with a backpack, muslim girl

    The internet is full of learning resources. If you are a complete beginner, I highly recommend Gareth David’s free Complete Beginner’ Guide to Adobe Illustrator. With more practice under my belt, I’ve been able to draw these characters faster. Never give up practising and learning. P.S. The concept for this picture came from Nataliya Dolotko — I am merely the student. Please check her out on Envato Tutsplus.

  • Creativity,  Educational Technology,  Instructional Design

    Concept and Technique: How to Build a Digital Escape Room

    a female detective's silhouette with title text beside her, "Get Me Out of Here!"

    Background This is a hot topic among many K12 teachers, and we could definitely use this in higher ed and in industry. Last November, I was inspired by a session at AECT to make a digital escape room. If you have access to this AECT 2020 session, it’s called Escape Rooms: Pedagogy without Borders. The presenters were Tracy Russo, Ferris State University; Kalianne Lund Neumann, Andrea Ramirez Salgado, and Frances M Alvarado-Albertorio, all from Oklahoma State University. Check out their article, Online Approaches for Implementing a Digital Escape Room with…

  • Creativity,  Educational Technology,  Learning

    Media Authoring Skills: How I Made a Lyric Video

     I know the question in your head. Would I need to be able to make lyric videos as an instructional designer? Not usually. But should you have video editing skills? I would say yes. In some organizations, you need to be able to do everything. In the corporate sector, you need to be more of an all-rounder, that is, you need to not just be able to design, but to build out your concept as well. I made a lyric video to polish up my media and video editing…

  • Creativity,  Educational Technology,  Instructional Design

    PD Forever: Always Sharpening the Saw

    Happy 2021! This is my first post for the year! I’ve written in the past (2016) about my super power as an instructional designer (ID) (someone actually asked me this question!). I wrote: What makes me extraordinary or good at what I do? My mind. In order to continue being extraordinarily good at my work, I have to keep sharpening this mind of mine and looking for ways to be creative. During this winter break, I completed a WebAIM document accessibility course that started in October 20 (Finally done! I…

  • Creativity,  Instructional Design,  Learning

    Restorative Times: Drawing & Painting on the iPad with Procreate

    Update, December 26, 2020: It’s been 7 months since I last did anything creative, or made anything. Work took up all my time, with a thousand and one things I personally have to attend to (without some Graduate Assistant help I used to have in my previous job). As I wrap up the few courses on my list, I took time to relearn and learn new design tricks with Procreate, After Effects, Illustrator and Captivate. My favorite way to unwind and relax is to create something with a design software.…

  • Art(s),  Assessment,  Conference,  Creativity,  Instructional Design

    About That Poster Presentation at AECT 2019

    My friend and I

    If you had read my previous post, you’d know I was heading to Las Vegas to meet up with my virtual friend and collaborator at AECT 2019.   And we met! It was unreal and real, to us, and to those who had heard of our story in my previous post. At the poster gallery walk, some folks seemed more incredulous of our partnership across space and time (without having met at all in person) than they were of our poster. Of course, the poster received a lot of traction…

  • Creativity,  Learning

    Reconstruction [Draft]

    Kevin, Terry and Wendy are teaching me how to remix and reconstruct inspiration and ideas we find on the web. I read through their poems and makes tonight. This is my first pass at reconstruction. I’ve translated Terry’s poem, “Let Go. Explore” into Chinese. Since it’s late, I’m going to add more layers tomorrow. Our words Are not lies Any more than a metaphor is NoWe have sailed to And landed onThe shore of An undiscoveredCountry Let GoExplore! 我们的话不是谎言就如隐喻也同样的不是 没有我们已经航行到了已经落地了到达一个未被发现的土地 摊开双手走去探索!

  • Art(s),  Creativity,  Writing

    Anti-Spam Poetry Relay

    The ginger ale teemsFrothing over First the counterThen dinky ash carpet Panic nag ensuesFrom Bob, rainy wet stoopHe stands , soddy hidFrom ha! Heated digs Quick call to Dr. PragueEerie fix-ers of carpet Whisk him forthSings mod roomie Thanks to Charlene Doland for the use of her blog to generate anti-spam phrases for this poem.

  • Creativity,  Instructional Design

    What an Instructional Designer Learned from The Great British Baking Show

    I am late to the party. I just finished one season or the Netflix Collection 5 of The Great British Baking Show (aka The Great British Bakeoff), the one where (spoiler alert!) an army officer won. Have you watched any of the shows? If you plan on watching the series, you can opt to stop reading now. If not, you may proceed! I’ve read many things about the show. Many people find it charming to the point of becoming addicted to it. I binge watch some Netflix or Amazon Prime…