SIGMaster: Jessica Caron

Jessica (Jes) Caron is an Instructional Technology Specialist with the Academic Technology Center at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. In this capacity, Jes supports faculty members in the design, development, and delivery of technology-based solutions for the purpose of enhancing teaching and learning. Jes has supported a broad range of technologies in the classroom, laboratory, and distance learning environments at WPI. Outside of the classroom, Jes is the primary front end support person for WPI’s' Blackboard instance. Jes holds a B.S. in Biology from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, an M.S. in Biotechnology from Worcester State College and an M.S. in Educational Technology from Boise State University.
 

Facilitator: Kacie Cleary

Kacie Cleary is the Educational Technologist for Blackboard at Boston University. Her main role at the university is to support faculty members using Blackboard and to demonstrate best practices with course design. Additionally, she is the training lead during the school’s migration to Blackboard Learn and is the main support liaison for the faculty involved in the pilot program for the fall. She holds a Master’s of Arts degree in Adult Education and Communications Technology and has been working in academic technology for 6 years.
 

Facilitator: Jenny Darrow

Jenny Darrow is the Director of Academic Technology in the Center for Engagement, Learning, and Teaching (CELT) at Keene State College in Keene, NH. The primary focus of the Academic Technology team is to work with faculty on the utilization of low cost/ low barrier technologies to empower student learning. Jenny holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a Master of Arts in Teaching with Technology (MAT) from the Graduate Center of Marlboro College. She has presented locally and nationally on e-portfolios, the impact of using low cost/low barrier technology in education, and is the co-author of the KSC Academic Affairs Technology Plan.
 

SIGMaster: Peter Hess

Peter Hess is a Learning Technologies Administrator at Boston College. He has helped to organize a number of NERCOMP SIGs, including two others this academic year, one on Digital Storytelling and one on Migrating Your Learning Management System. He is a founder of, and is on the program committee of, the Education Technology Group, a NERCOMP constituency group, and has been on the program committee of the NERCOMP annual conference.
 

Facilitator: Apostolos Koutropoulos

Apostolos Koutropoulos (“AK”) is the Program Coordinator for the Applied Linguistics Online Program at UMass Boston. He's been an educational technologist, a library IT manager, a training coordinator and an instructional designer prior to taking on the role of Online Coordinator for our Applied Linguistics program. AK holds a B.A. in Computer Science, an M.B.A. with a focus on Human Resources, an M.S. in Information Technology, an M.Ed. in Instructional Design, and an M.A. in Applied Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts Boston. His research interests include: knowledge management, educational technology, linguistics, mLearning, MOOCs and epistemology. AK has published articles in the areas of technology in education, has presented at NERCOMP conferences and has a forthcoming chapter in the Plugged-in Professor. AK is currently also teaching an introductory course on Research Methods for the Instructional Design department at UMass Boston.


SIGMaster: Sarah Almyra Smith

Sarah Smith is an Instructional Technologist with the Faculty Center for Professional Development & Curriculum Innovation at Curry College. She supports the faculty’s academic and curricular use of technology through consulting, training, troubleshooting, developing and disseminating materials and resources, and facilitating technology-related instructional design and implementation with individuals, departments, and other groups. As a part of the Faculty Center, Sarah works in close collaboration with Academic Affairs, the Technology Center, and other offices, to coordinate planning and implementation of software and hardware solutions related to academic objectives. Sarah holds a B.S. in Graphic/Information Design from Central Connecticut State University, an M.S. in Education Technology from Central Connecticut State University, and is currently enrolled in the M.B.A. program at Curry College.