I'm a doctoral candidate in the Learning Technologies program with interests in Learning Experience Design (LXD), User Experience Design (UXD), Video Game Development, Technology Leadership, and Instructional Technology Integration. I believe schools should be places that are supportive and inspirational to teachers and students from all backgrounds and abilities; that goal grounds the work I do as a designer and research assistant for Texas Education START (https://txstart.education.utexas.edu/). Additionally, I have the pleasure of being involved with the Game Development and Design Capstone courses as a TA and associate producer (https://sites.utexas.edu/gaming/). Prior to my doctoral studies, I taught middle and high school science in Houston ISD.
Learning Experience Design (LXD), User Experience Design (UXD), Video Game Development, Human-Centered Design, Technology Leadership, Technology Integration
Melissa Wetzel (Committee Member)Literacy teacher preparation, coaching and mentoring, equity and justice in literacy instruction
Julie Schell (Committee Member)Academic technology, technology-enhanced learning, learning technologies, online education, college teaching and learning, course evaluations, design thinking, design pedagogy, learning experience design, and developing expertise in generative AI tools in higher education.
Beth Maloch (Co-supervisor)Examines literacy teacher preparation, specifically the role of coaching and mentoring that occurs inside programs.
Min Liu (Co-supervisor)Areas of expertise include designing and developing immersive, media-rich environments for learners at all age levels and research the effects of them using mixed-methods; studying the effect of other emerging technologies on learning and motivation; focusing on problem-based learning, project-based learning, and game-based learning pedagogical approaches; learning analytics in serious games and other online environments, and understanding MOOCs as an emerging online learning tool.
Wetzel, M., Maloch, B., Alexander, K., Murdter-Atkinson, J., Ries, E., Wright, A. & McLean, J. (2023). 'Reading' Into Statistics: Systems Analysis and Action in an Early Career Mentor Community. Literacy Research: Theory, Method, and Practice. doi:https://doi-org.ezproxy.lib.utexas.edu/10.1177/23813377231184739.
Murdter-Atkinson, J., Ries, E., Maloch, B., Alexander, K., Wright, A., Hernandez, L. & Wetzel, M. (2023). 'I have been so gifted by the talent by which I am surrounded': Growing a Professional Learning Community for Early Career Teachers. ENTRY INTO A BRAVE NEW WORLD: TEACHER INDUCTION & CARE THROUGH/PAST COVID.
Karoff, R. & Hendrix, D. (2020). Accelerating Momentum - The Report of The University of Texas System Affordable Learning Accelerator Task Force. (
View)
I support this university-district induction partnership through technology design, research, and program management.
I work as a TA and Associate Producer for the Capstone Courses.
Along with Dr. LeAnne Hernandez, I co-developed and co-led the START Mentor Institute, a summer professional development conference provided for mentors of pre-service and early career teachers. Presenters for this 2-day learning experience consisted of UT College of Education faculty, doctoral students, and veteran AISD teachers. I designed an interactive bulletin that includes evergreen links to session resources (linked above).
Coaching for Culturally Sustaining Technology Integration (tinyurl.com/culturally-responsive-tech), Texas Education START, Austin, TX (2023)
'I know youre here to support me': Context Attentive Mentoring for Early Career Teachers, American Educational Research Association (AERA), Chigaco, IL (2023)
Early Career Mentors Practicing Sociocritical Literacies in Response to Professional Inequities, Literacy Research Association (LRA), (2022)
Virtual Instruction: Tips & Tricks (tinyurl.com/virtual-instruction-tips), Texas Education START, Online (2021)
Starting School Virtually, Rice University, Houston, TX: Online (2020)
