Research & Innovation

My work as an instructional designer and educator extends beyond the classroom into applied research and innovation. I study how learning science, metacognition, and emerging AI tools can strengthen writing outcomes, empower faculty, and prepare learners for the future of communication and work.

This page highlights projects that bridge theory and practice — including AI ethics, metacognition, and mindset training — to build research-driven frameworks that translate directly into clear, purposeful, and human-centered learning design.

Instructional Design Framework

This independent research project applies the ADDIE instructional design model, enhanced with Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction, to develop a professional development program for English faculty. During Fall 2025, I am conducting a literature and policy review, designing and prototyping modules, and piloting AI-integrated assignments in my own Composition I courses. Findings will inform the proposed testing of a department-wide training program in Winter 2026, equipping faculty with ethical frameworks, adaptable assignments, and policy language for AI use in the composition classroom.

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Active Learning Modules (Currently in Use)

METACOGNITION / MINDSET MODULE (ELEARNING MODULE)

Designed in Winter 2025, newly implemented in Fall 2025. An interactive framework that introduces mindset, metacognition, and Bloom’s taxonomy to strengthen student learning strategies.

METACOGNITION / MINDSET MODULE (ELEARNING MODULE)

Designed in Winter 2025, newly implemented in Fall 2025. An interactive framework that introduces mindset, metacognition, and Bloom’s taxonomy to strengthen student learning strategies.

Professional Inquiry Project | Launched fall 2025

Integrating Bloom's Taxonomy and Metacognition into EN1520

Audience: Second-year OCC students enrolled in Composition II (ENG 1520)

Responsibilities: Instructional design, eLearning development, Subject matter expert, Course redesign Tools Used: Articulate Rise, Canva, Figma, D2L Brightspace, Excel, Word

Problem | Students entering Composition II demonstrate various levels of prior writing experience. Many have yet to write a 10–12-page research paper, and as such, are daunted by this assignment early in the semester. Although my current course breaks the final essay down into manageable, targeted research and writing assignments, students are often beleaguered at various stages of the process by what they perceive to be limitations to their own critical reading, writing, and thinking skills. Introducing students to Metacognitive strategies in week 1 would give students strategies to succeed at every stage of the writing and research process.

In addition, many students exhibit signs of with low self-confidence, self-doubt, and preconceived notions about their own abilities as writers. While individual feedback sessions (currently presented in weeks 5 and 10) allow me to help students work through these challenges, teaching students about Mindset in week 1 might further support student success by introducing them to their own limitless potential.

Solution | Guided by Dawn Young (Faculty of Accounting and Teaching Excellence Fellow, OCC OR) and her Professional Inquiry Project on Teach Students How to Learn by Dr. Saundra McGuire, I redesigned the ENG 1520 course to embed metacognitive learning strategies for the Fall 2025 semester. The new course model introduces students to:

Carol Dwek's Mindset and how leaning into a Growth Mindset creates ideological space for students to embrace Metacognition as their own "secret Superpower."
Dr. Saundra McGuire's work on Metacognition and how "thinking about thinking" can boost student engagement and empowerment on their path to success
Bloom’s Taxonomy as a way to explain the various stages of the writing process and the types of student engagement required throughout the semester.

This redesign is grounded in Dr. Saundra McGuire’s work on metacognition and learning strategies, as well as on techniques I’ve personally implemented and found effective in both my in-person and online classes.

Course Design Matrix

Proposed revisions to EN1520 (15-week Session)

Improvements include:

Introducing an eLearning module on Mindset, Metacognition, and Bloom's Taxonomy (in week 1)
2 additional self-reflection exercises during the semester (for a total of 3 student self-reflections in week 3, 5, and 8)
Re-introducing my "Planner vs. Explorer" lecture in both online and in-person cohorts to support Metacognitive strategy development and implementation in the research and writing process (in week 1)
1 additional planning / outlining protocol (using spider maps / mind maps in Figma, tables in Word or Excel, or tactile strategies like using paper and pencil to sketch or map outlines, or Post-It notes and deconstructed (literally cut-up!) essays to sort and group ideas into cohesive sections). (Presented in week 4).

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Process | To identify student pain points, I analyzed writing reflections, end-of-semester surveys, student emails and messages, and informal interviews. These findings were mapped against course outcomes and instructional touchpoints. Some core strategies already piloted and retained for future terms based on student feedback and improved assignment performance include:

Student Self-Reflection Surveys (presented in Week 1)
Compulsory "Peer Review" session with an ASC Tutor, along with a post-visit 300-word Student Self-Reflection. This is currently presented in week 11, with the potential to add another in week 3 or 4 so that students can experience this value this support delivers earlier in the semester.
1-on-1 Student Feedback Sessions in which individual needs were analyzed and assessed to support student engagement and success (in weeks 5 and 10).

I then developed a curricular framework that introduces metacognitive tools in stages, creating the Course Design Matrix in Excel, course mapping in Figma, and building the Introductory eLearning module in Articulate Rise.

Research & Innovation

Moments in Time: A Collection of Captivating Photographs by melissademski.com

Instructional Design Framework

AI-Supported Writing Tools & Templates

Active Learning Modules (Currently in Use)

METACOGNITION / MINDSET MODULE (ELEARNING MODULE)

METACOGNITION / MINDSET MODULE (ELEARNING MODULE)

METACOGNITION / MINDSET MODULE (ELEARNING MODULE)

METACOGNITION / MINDSET MODULE (ELEARNING MODULE)

METACOGNITION / MINDSET MODULE (ELEARNING MODULE)

METACOGNITION / MINDSET MODULE (ELEARNING MODULE)

Professional Inquiry Project | Launched fall 2025

Integrating Bloom's Taxonomy and Metacognition into EN1520

Course Design Matrix

eLearning Solution

Think Smarter: Metacognition and Writing Success

Research & Innovation

Moments in Time: A Collection of Captivating Photographs by melissademski.com

Instructional Design Framework

AI-Supported Writing Tools & Templates

Active Learning Modules (Currently in Use)

METACOGNITION / MINDSET MODULE (ELEARNING MODULE)

METACOGNITION / MINDSET MODULE (ELEARNING MODULE)

METACOGNITION / MINDSET MODULE (ELEARNING MODULE)

METACOGNITION / MINDSET MODULE (ELEARNING MODULE)

METACOGNITION / MINDSET MODULE (ELEARNING MODULE)

METACOGNITION / MINDSET MODULE (ELEARNING MODULE)

Professional Inquiry Project | Launched fall 2025

Integrating Bloom's Taxonomy and Metacognition into EN1520

Course Design Matrix

eLearning Solution

Think Smarter: Metacognition and Writing Success

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