As society becomes more global, fluency in more than one language is increasingly important. And, as online learning continues to grow, so does the demand for online language courses. The presenters will cover language learning pedagogical developments, unique challenges for the adult online language learner, and Penn State's rich multimedia, scenario-based approach to its online Italian courses.

Andrea Gregg has worked in Higher Education for over ten years and has been involved in the specific area of online learning and distance education at Penn State for the past eight years. Andrea has worked with a variety of technologies, including various learning management systems and other technologies related to web design for learning environments. She currently works as a Manager of Instructional Design with the Penn State World Campus where she leads and supervises a 9-person team of Instructional Designers and Instructional Production Specialists to design, develop, maintain and support over 125 online undergraduate and graduate courses. Andrea is part of the unit management team and is involved closely with strategic initiatives related to content repositories, reusable learning objects, enhanced media in course design, design flexibility, quality, and scalability.

 

Cecelia Merkel is an Information Specialist at Penn State University. She coordinates the Media and Learning Design Initiative, a partnership between Penn State World Campus and Penn State Public Broadcasting. The group is charged with finding ways to strategically enrich programs, courses, and student services through the infusion of rich media.

 

Penny is currently an instructional designer for the Penn State World Campus and telecommutes from her home in Menomonie, WI. She works with faculty to design and develop online programs for the General Undergraduate Portfolio (GUP) and Labor and Employment Relations (LER). She also works on special projects related to quality standards, process improvements and faculty development. Her research interests include student perspectives of quality and how this impacts the design practice; and the use of games and simulations in online instruction. Penny has designed online courses since 1997. Previously a senior instructional designer for University of Wisconsin-Extension, she promoted best practices in instructional design within the organization as well as with faculty from UW Extensions’ partner institutions. satellite teleconferencing, CD-ROM production, Web site production, and production of Web-based courses.

 

Chris Divyak is a Multimedia Designer with Penn State Public Broadcasting. Chris has designed websites since 1999 and has a keen interest in responsive web design and user experience. He received an IT degree from Central Washington University and worked for the University's Custom Publishing and Publicity Center as a graphic and web designer. He also has experience in the private sector working for an internet marketing firm and as a web consultant for small businesses. In his spare time he likes to play the drums, cook up delicious cuisine, travel near and far, and code.