Alumni Spotlight: Teacher Turned Trainer

Laura Hunter-Jones’ Journey from K-12 Educator to Instructional Design Leader

Why did you choose UCI Division of Continuing Education’s E-Learning Instructional Design certificate?

As a K-12 teacher trying to explore other career options, I was interested in finding a way to learn more about eLearning and instructional design. There are so many options out there! I did a few google searches, read through social media groups, and stumbled upon a comment that said the UCI DCE program was highly recommended for having both theory and technical skills. That stuck out to me!

When I looked further into the certificate program, I loved that there was a mix of instructor-led content and self-paced work, and the listed courses covered topics beyond the basics: things like project management, eLearning software, and evaluation. The practicum at the end sealed the deal! I felt like there was real intention to give people a bridge into a successful career through a program faster and less expensive than getting an additional degree.

What did you enjoy most about your experience in the program?

It’s so difficult to choose! I think overall I just loved the structure of the courses and the level of thought put into designing the program. Each course has a similar structure, so once I took the first introductory course there were no surprises about needing to do weekly posts or assignments. That helped a lot when the content got more complicated. However, even though the structure was similar, each instructor put their own spin on content: some used more videos, some had great written resources, others had synchronous meetings. That kept things interesting!

What was your favorite course in the program, and why?

My favorite course has to be the practicum. Dr. Jean Marrapodi was a FANTASTIC instructor. It can be difficult to get to know a virtual instructor, but Dr. Jean’s approach felt like we were all in a classroom together. As we created our final projects together, she was so encouraging and really helped it feel like we were in a community of learners. We even had a group Zoom call at the end of our class to celebrate completing the program!

What impact has earning your E-Learning Instructional Design certificate had on your career?

Incredible impact! During my practicum, I had an opportunity to apply for my first eLearning job and Dr. Jean graciously offered advice and support. Without UCI DCE, I would have been on my own, but this program helped me feel confident and supported, like I was already part of the professional instructional design community. And – I got the job!

There are a lot of people who start out in instructional design with a background in teaching but not much else. UCI DCE helped me stand out as a beginner, and once I got into the field, I had the skills to be a strong contributor to my teams. Several years in now, I’m currently the Senior Training and Development Manager of a team of about 30 instructional design and development professionals, and still think back to the things I learned from the program on a daily basis!

Learn more about the E-Learning Instructional Design Certificate Program.