Sarina Simon: Influences and Influencers

Bror Saxberg–Medicine’s Loss is Learning’s Gain

16 Sep 2014, Posted by Sarina Simon in Advice for Edtech Aspirants, Distance Learning, Edtech, Expert Interviews, instructional design, Learning Science

Bror Saxberg is the Chief Learning Officer for Kaplan, Inc., a worldwide learning provider of test preparation, higher education, workplace training, and English language learning. Bror has spent almost twenty years working at the intersection of technology, learning science, curriculum, and delivering new learning experiences at scale. Before his role at Kaplan, Inc., he helped found the virtual education company K12, Inc., and has held roles at Knowledge Universe, Dorling Kindersley, and McKinsey. 1. Your educational background is astounding. You have a BS in Electrical Engineering, a BA in Mathematics, an MA in Mathematics, a PhD in Electrical Engineering and…

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MC Desrosiers—Candid Comments From an Inspiring EdTech Innovator

03 Sep 2014, Posted by Sarina Simon in Advice for Aspiring Producers, Distance Learning, Edtech, Expert Interviews, instructional design, kids' media

Meet Mary Catherine Desrosiers (who everyone knows asMC). MC has had an amazing 23+ year career in children’s and educational technology. She has started up and managed all aspects of companies’ core capabilities and has years of experience building teams, processes, and controls to facilitate rapid growth. Having said all that, her true love is innovating with a purpose. That is–customer centered design, development, and delivery of products, technology and instructional services that yield proven results. 1. You came to the Interactive industry with an MBA and started your career as a consultant at Booz Allen. From there, you moved into…

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Julie Hogenboom—From Books to Media to Tech

17 Jun 2014, Posted by Sarina Simon in Advice for Aspiring Producers, Editorial Expertise, Edtech, Expert Interviews, instructional design

Julie Hogenboom Julie Hogenboom is a content and marketing expert who transitioned from print to digital, with an interlude at Harvard on the way. Julie and I met through friends at Disney (one of my former employers) and I knew immediately that she would have valuable insights to share. Julie is currently an editorial director at Yahoo, focused on content marketing programs for global brand advertisers, such as Procter & Gamble. Previously Julie had product and editorial oversight for the Disney Family portfolio of sites where she launched food, travel & parenting sites. She has also worked as a content…

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MEET SHELLEY MILES—A HIGH ENERGY, HIGH INTEGRITY EXECUTIVE

15 May 2014, Posted by Sarina Simon in Animation, Edtech, Expert Interviews, kids' media

Shelley Miles Shelley has spent her 25-year career leading the growth and development of consumer-based entertainment and technology businesses. Shelley began her media career at the Walt Disney Company where she ran the children’s music group and started Disney’s interactive group. Later she worked in a number of startups including US Animation, Mommy & Me, Kidthing and Revizzit. Shelley is one of those rare individuals who came to media very much from the business side (accounting) but embraced and succeeded on the creative side, too. In this interview, she candidly describes lessons she has learned in her career—including both successes…

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Instructional Design Lessons From Lima

21 Apr 2014, Posted by Sarina Simon in Distance Learning, Edtech, instructional design, Online Language Courses

When I first I started doing business in Peru, I enrolled in a Lima-based language school called El Sol. I dutifully attended private classes every afternoon for several weeks and was taught by a wonderful young woman who was able to make the lessons interesting for me. No rote curriculum for her—we talked about the latest government scandals (sometimes racy, but always head-shaking), recipes for divine Peruvian specialties, and my business interests (the internet and digital media, of course). Almost from day one, I learned vocabulary that I could use both at work and with my new Peruvian friends. I…

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Erik Amerikaner , National Board, Teacher Standards Certified Educator, Information and Communication Technology

7 Challenges for Computer-Based Testing

23 Jan 2014, Posted by Sarina Simon in Edtech, Expert Interviews, Standardized Testing

Expert Insights: Erik Amerikaner, Master Teacher This year California school districts will be using computer-based internet delivered standardized exams. On the surface, this makes a lot of sense, and as an edtech advocate, it seems like an idea whose time has more than come. The ability to aggregate, parse and analyze data to learn more about students and teachers to improve learning sounds like a win. However, as a former educator, I know that’s just part of the story. Implementing successful change in schools is not a simple yes-no proposition. I asked Erik Amerikaner , a National Board for…

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