An Instructional Designer is a professional who is trained in instructional design, development, and technology. Penn State Wilkes‑Barre has an instructional designer whose responsibility is to assist campus faculty who are seeking opportunities to make improvements and develop innovations in their courses. Faculty also teach, evaluate student performance, serve on committees, conduct research, give presentations, and publish, among countless other duties. Your instructional designer may be able to help you in these areas as well.

Your instructional design staff can:

  • Provide Canvas support.
  • Collaborate with faculty to design and develop instruction, including syllabi, rubrics, tests, etc.
  • Assist in designing and evaluating online and hybrid courses.
  • Provide feedback on course materials.
  • Work with you in planning and carrying out course improvement or assessment projects.
  • Offer expertise on the use of teaching and learning technologies.
  • Assist with multimedia design and development, including PowerPoints, animations, podcasts, video, etc.
  • Assist with faculty web page design and development.
  • Disseminate information about University teaching and learning resources.
  • Conduct faculty workshops and individual consultations.
  • Promote faculty professional development opportunities across the University.
  • Teach a session for your class on topics such as Canvas, web design, doing research on the Internet, among others. (Sessions can even be customized to correspond with a specific assignment.)
  • Assist in ensuring that online course materials are accessible to those with disabilities.
  • Assist in clarifying copyright issues about potential course materials.
  • Help develop materials for conference presentations.
  • Act as a liaison to other instructional support resources at the university.