Learning Design as Science and Craft for an Engaging World.
Learning Designer & Manager with deep experience in designing, teaching and evaluating diverse learning courses, programs and competencies that engage learners, win accreditation, and increase learning quality
Designed and managed 100+ learning projects with clients including SAIT, MRU, BVC and The City of Calgary
Researched and designed 30+ occupation profiles for the Petroleum Services Association of Canada
Organized (with two Irish colleagues) the first international conference on learning management systems — held at the University of Limerick, Ireland
Learning Design
Designing a Course to Pass on Senior Smarts to Developing Workers in a Multi-Billion Dollar Water Utility
The City of Calgary | Water Resources
WATS 400 “An Introduction to the Design and Operation of Calgary’s Water Distribution System”
Accreditation by Alberta Environment (required for licensing)
Highest rating (to that time) on Water Resources’ Program Evaluation System
Occupation Standards/Competency Design
National Occupation Standards for Petroleum Services
Petroleum Services Association of Canada (now Enserva) &
The Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada
Over 30 National Occupational Standards
Designed the Standards working with Supervisors and Field Operators from Wireline, Coiled Tubing, Snubbing, Oilfield Transportation, and Pumping Services.
Some of the Standards are now recognized as “Designated Occupations” by the Province of Alberta.
“Instrumental in aiding our industry develop occupational standards [over 30 occupations].
Their knowledge of competencies and ability to work with all levels of industry representatives led to an effective, efficient, and successful process.”
Roger Soucy, President, Petroleum Services Association of Canada
Program Evaluation: Entrepreneurship Program “From Concept to Capital”
Sharpening a Program for Entrepreneurial Success
Calgary Technologies Inc.
Program Evaluation for a new flagship entrepreneurial program for start-up companies - moving startups (with help from coaches and business advisors) from concept, to business case, to actual investment
Five Workshops with different Stakeholder Groups: 1) Course Participants, 2) Coaches, 3) Business Evaluators, 4) Course Team, 5) Investors
Final Evaluation Report provided deep insight about client needs and a clear path forward for program improvements
Alan “provided us with a highly effective and efficient process for gathering valuable information from five different stakeholder groups. We were able to gain a much clearer view of what our clients really wanted which translated into immediate and substantial program improvements.”
Rob Beamish, Director, Concept to Capital Program (An Entrepreneurship Program)
Teaching
Diverse Teaching Experience Informs Learning Design
Like any learning design project, teaching is part of the mix. My hands-on experience helps inform my learning design projects.
I enjoy teaching (and am still learning about it) and have been lucky to teach diverse adult learners in diverse subject matter.
As examples, I have taught:
Courses (in New York, Washington DC, Palo Alto, Toronto and Banff) on an innovative organizational learning process to learners from Fortune 500 companies and organizations like the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program.
During my PhD, a foundation University education course (co-teaching) multiple times to first-year student teachers (over 1600+ students) on the leading historical and current metaphors, practices and research of education [I was twice nominated for a University teaching award]. I also helped teach the online course “E-Learning in Canada.”
Faculty (and mentored) on topics ranging from technical ‘how-to’ topics (like setting up your course in a learning management system) to learning-teaching theory and processes. I have also mentored technical subject matter experts like water distribution experts to build curriculum and course materials.
Technical training with Water Production and Distribution experts to managers, supervisors and operators in a multi-billion dollar utility - on the design and operation of Calgary's Water Distribution system.
Program Design
A Water Pipe Laying Program for Clean Water and Long Asset Use
The City of Calgary | Water Services
A bubble of senior workers about to retire
Water Services wanted to restructure their Pipe Laying Training to give a comprehensive ability to developing pipe workers as well as get in positions as soon as possible
Working with the senior pipe worker, I mapped both competencies required and the performance criteria
The program designed was also designed to grow knowledge across the workers’ career