Dr. Brian Beatty is Associate Professor of Instructional Technologies in the Department of Equity, Leadership Studies and Instructional Technologies at San Francisco State University. Brian’s primary areas of interest and research include social interaction in online learning, flipped classroom implementation and developing instructional design theory for Hybrid-Flexible learning environments. At SF State, Dr. Beatty pioneered the development and evaluation of the HyFlex course design model for blended learning environments, implementing a “student-directed-hybrid” approach to better support student learning.
Previously (2012 – 2020), Brian was Vice President for Academic Affairs Operations at San Francisco State University (SF State), overseeing the Academic Technology unit and coordinating the use of technology in the academic programs across the university. He worked closely with IT professionals and leaders in other units to coordinate overall information technology strategic management at SF State. Prior to 2012, Brian was Associate Professor and Chair of the Instructional Technologies department in the Graduate College of Education at SF State. He received his Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University Bloomington in 2002. Dr. Beatty also holds several CA single-subject teaching credentials, an M.A. in Instructional Technologies from SF State and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Marquette University. Dr. Beatty has more than 25 years’ experience as a classroom teacher, trainer and instructional designer at schools, businesses and the US Navy.
Kyle Creason has worked as a filmmaker, videographer and educational technologist for more than 15 years at such institutions as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Southern California and Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. He holds a B.A. in Cinema and an M.A. in Instructional Technologies from San Francisco State University. His areas of specialty include filmmaking, digital video, editing, digital animation, visual storytelling and multimedia production.
Otaiwan Day, M.S. Ed., is an Instructional Designer for the Instructional Innovation and Digital Learning Team at the Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences. Her focus has been on building and enhancing online curriculum, designing and developing blended interactive learning, employee onboarding, and educational technology. Ms. Day has a BFA in Film & Video from the California College of the Arts and a M.S. Ed. from Purdue University.
Myron Maciejewski, M.A. Ed., has been an instructional designer and writer since the mid-1980s. He has written and produced hundreds of instances of classroom-based courseware, instructional video and eLearning for audiences ranging from kindergarteners to venture capitalists. His content areas have included computer hardware and software, K-12 reading and language arts, natural sciences, industrial safety, biomed and communication skills, to name a few. He adds to his writing experience many voice-over and on-camera appearances.
Zahira Merchant is an Assistant Professor of Instructional Technologies at SF State. Before joining SF State, Merchant was the project manager and postdoctoral research associate of a NSF project studying the use of innovative 3D virtual environment. Merchant served as a HR trainer, teacher educator, curriculum developer, principal and program evaluator for over ten years. Merchant won the Certificate of Merit Award from AECT for a game she designed and developed for nursing education. She is the recipient of the Robert Gagne Award from AECT for outstanding dissertation.
Christopher Salem, D.C., M.Ed., teaches graduate design courses for the Department of Instructional Technologies at San Francisco State University's College of Education and currently holds the position of program coordinator for the College of Professional & Global Education E-Learning Development program. In addition, Dr. Salem is currently the Director for e-learning and distance education programs at the Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences.