Dawn Reynolds, M.Ed., Ph.D.
One cold autumn in 1998, training stole my heart. It all started as a 1-day temping gig for a pharmaceutical training company in Boston. That turned into a 5-year career as a medical writer and editor of training curricula.
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Since then, my career has not strayed from its emphasis on education, though my net has been cast wide. I have taught incoming freshmen at the university level, federal employees seeking to advance their careers, and adult learners of other languages wanting to improve their employment or educational opportunities.
My doctoral program at the University of Maryland instilled in me the desire to dedicate my life to learning and helping adult learners succeed, whether they already have the foundation of a strong work history or are just beginning their journey to self-improvement.
Since it's never too late to go back to school, my work in the GMU elearning Master's program - which I enjoy alongside a cohort of work colleagues - has only further bolstered my enthusiasm for lifelong learning.
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Throughout my education, I have continued to work as an Instructional Designer. My approach to designing training is simple and can be captured in one word: motivation.
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Motivational instructional design holds that people learn best when they are motivated to learn. It's simple, but much of the training available fails to factor in the power of motivation.
I have spent the last 15 years designing training for federal government clients. My projects have spanned a wide array of areas, including: EEO law; opioid education; government acquisition and contracting; cybersecurity; leadership and management; and many others.
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While I find these topics inherently interesting (nothing is too technical to scare me away), I know not all learners do. And that's where I come in - to make sure the "what's in it for me" is crystal clear. Training should grab learners by the collar and make them sit up, because they know what's at stake.
When I am not thinking about training design, I can be found struggling through a CrossFit class, tending our half acre organic garden, or volunteering at the animal shelter with Loudoun County Animal Services.
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Feel free to stay a while and explore my portfolio of work.
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