About

Hi, I'm Jackie.

I'm pursuing a Masters in Distance Education with a Teaching and Training specialization at the University of Maryland Univeristy College.  This blog is a requirement of "OMDE603 Technology in Distance Education".

I am a distance education professional and have been working in the field for three years. I coordinate an online graduate certificate program and also manage the design and delivery of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Coursera that is offered annually.

I fell into this career path, but love what I do. I especially love finding ways to increase access to education whether it be for marginalized populations who do not feel comfortable or are not able to attend courses in a traditional brick and mortar setting, or for international communities that do not have access to in-person higher education systems in their area.

I believe education should be authentic. Learners should be able to walk away from an educational experience with a tool or knowledge they can use to further their personal and professional goals.

I hope you enjoy this reflection blog!