Hello! Thanks for stopping by.

I’m Blake, a current M.Ed. student at the University of South Carolina studying Learning Design and Technologies. This portfolio is a collection of the work I have completed during the last couple of years in this program, and I am excited to show it to you.

My background is originally in geography (geographic information systems, or GIS) and emergency response. In addition to studying geography during my undergraduate years at USC, I collaborated with the University of Manchester to complete psychology research on stress, coping, and resilience, specifically relating to isolation and physical stress. Little did I know how relevant those topics would become to my class during our graduation year of 2020!

I currently work as a GIS Specialist in the water utility industry and am expanding into an additional elearning design role in the same company. My company has an ongoing joke that I am also their unofficial tech support, and although it is not my official role, I have accumulated quite a bit of practice working “on the fly” with different operating systems and technologies during my time here.

At work and school, no two days ever look the same. I have learned to navigate constant change on many levels and enjoy both the challenge and freedom that it can bring. I am enthusiastic about creating elearning that is effective, enjoyable, and encourages students to push their limits and challenge their preconceptions about online instruction. Through I.T. issues, the global jump to elearning during the pandemic, and starting my career via remote work, I feel confident in not just my classroom experience in designing elearning, but also in the real world experience I have been fortunate enough to navigate.