Instructional Design Services

Point of Contact: Instructional Design Support

Partner with our expert instructional designers (IDs) to build your course from the ground up. Our personalized, one-on-one consultations will transform your content expertise into an engaging learning experience for students. We’ll handle the technical aspects of course building while you focus on content, allowing for a seamless development process that respects your time and teaching philosophy. 

Build Your Course From Scratch

Our instructional designers partner with you to transform your content expertise into engaging learning experiences, combining your subject knowledge with our expertise in how students learn best online. The result? A course that reflects your teaching style and gets students learning.

Redesign for Better Student Outcomes

Already have a course? Want to make it even better! Our evidence-based redesign process identifies what’s working and what isn’t, then implements targeted improvements that boost engagement and completion rates. Faculty consistently report higher student satisfaction after working with our team.

Get Expert Consultation

Need guidance on a specific challenge? Schedule a consultation to discuss course structure, assessment strategies, student engagement, or any instructional design question. Whether you’re planning something new or troubleshooting an existing course, we’ll help you find solutions that work.

Ready To Get Started?

Email IDSupport@shsu.edu and let us know what you’d like to accomplish. We’ll connect you with the right designer and help get your project started. You can also use the dropdown below to browse our instructional designers and schedule a meeting whenever it’s convenient for you.

Schedule Time With an Instructional Designer

Alfonso Almeida –

Instructional Designer

Combines deep instructional design theory with web development skills (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and PMP-affiliated project management expertise.

Neda Benitez –

Instructional Designer

Specializes in accessible course design and structure with expertise in technology integration and inclusion.

Cailyn Dougherty –

Instructional Designer

Brings K-12 ELAR background to student engagement and online course development, with expertise in Open Educational Resources.

Leslie Hale –

Instructional Designer

Focuses on course structure and navigation, rubric development, and programmatic course design.

Chris Hayden –

Instructional Designer

Specializes in technical writing, screencast video recording, and Blackboard optimization and troubleshooting.

Jenna Hutchison –

Instructional Designer

Mathematics education specialist focusing on course organization, navigation, and aesthetic design.

Sharon Limegrover –

Instructional Designer

Expert in course design and structure, student engagement implementation, and assessment with rubrics and feedback.

Destinee Milton –

Instructional Designer

Visual Arts educator specializing in differentiation, accommodations, and enhancing student course experiences in remote and in-person settings.

Mike Power –

Senior Instructional Designer

Combines best-practice course design and accessibility with extensive Blackboard/third-party tool expertise and diverse professional background in business development and project management.

Rachel Scherer –

Senior Instructional Designer

Specializes in student engagement through gamification and active learning, XR/EdTech tool integration, with expertise in Engineering Technology and STEM content areas.

Jay Wilson –

Senior Instructional Designer

Expert in accessibility compliance, course organization and navigation, with advanced Blackboard optimization skills.

Schedule a Meeting

Meetings are scheduled at least one day in advance.

For immediate assistance, please contact IDSupport@shsu.edu

Exploring New Technologies

Point of Contact: Instructional Design Support

Stay ahead of the curve without getting overwhelmed. We help you choose tools that truly enhance learning outcomes, not just flashy features. From interactive tools to assessment platforms, we’ll help you choose what works for your goals and guide you through implementation step-by-step.

What’s New

Stay up to date with the latest developments at SHSU Online. Check out new tools, updated procedures, feature rollouts, and other important updates to help you make the most of your teaching and learning experience.

Course Accessibility

Make your course welcoming for all students. Our team helps ensure your content meets accessibility standards and follows Universal Design for Learning principles. We’ll review your materials, suggest improvements, and help you create courses that work for students with diverse learning needs and abilities.

Open Educational Resources

Reduce student costs while maintaining quality. We can help you find, evaluate, and integrate free, high-quality educational resources into your courses. SHSU Online designed the Digital Instruction Hub for Texas’s OERTX platform, giving us deep expertise in OER implementation and best practices.

Get Training 

Point of Contact: Faculty Development

SHSU Online’s Faculty Development team offers a variety of training options to help instructors enhance their digital teaching skills. Whether you’re refining course design, exploring new technologies, or adopting innovative strategies, our sessions are built to support your professional growth. 

By-appointment Sessions

For more personalized support, by-appointment sessions offer one-on-one consultations tailored to your specific needs, from tool implementation to course-specific challenges. 

Scheduled Sessions

Scheduled sessions provide structured, interactive training on topics like Blackboard, multimedia tools, and online teaching best practices—ideal for faculty who value collaboration and guided instruction.

Past Scheduled Sessions:

Digital Teaching Certifications

Point of Contact: Instructional Design Support

SHSU Online offers focused certification programs to help faculty enhance their digital teaching skills. Whether you’re designing online courses or exploring AI in the classroom, these programs provide practical, research-based strategies to support innovative and effective instruction.

Digital Educator Certification Program

Designed for instructors teaching in fully online, hybrid/blended, and online-live formats, this comprehensive training program goes beyond the basics—empowering educators to create dynamic, inclusive, and high-impact digital learning experiences.

With practical, research-based strategies tailored to each modality, the certificate helps faculty master the art of online course design and delivery. Whether you’re new to teaching online or looking to sharpen your skills, the Digital Educator Certificate will position you at the forefront of digital education, ready to meet the evolving needs of students and shape the future of learning at SHSU and beyond.

Using Generative AI in Teaching and Learning

Designed for forward-thinking educators, this program empowers instructors to harness the potential of generative AI to transform their teaching. Participants will gain a solid foundation in AI concepts, explore real-world applications in education, and learn how to integrate AI tools into course design and classroom activities thoughtfully.

From enhancing student engagement to supporting personalized learning and critical thinking, the course offers practical, ethical strategies for leveraging AI in meaningful ways. By the end, educators will be fully equipped to create AI-enhanced learning experiences that are innovative, effective, and aligned with the evolving demands of today’s digital classrooms.

Attendee Feedback

Online Support Desk

Point of Contact: Blackboard Support

24/7 Blackboard technical support is available to you and your students whenever you need help the most. As the first point of contact for Blackboard-related questions and general technical troubleshooting, we’re known for our consistent, reliable, and knowledgeable service, with a 95%+ average in customer satisfaction. Whether resolving issues directly or connecting you to the right campus resources, we’re here to support your success.

Faculty Technical Support 

• Adjust course settings, including access dates and availability  
• Assist with editing and moving course content in Blackboard 
• Configure assessments and tests to match your grading and delivery preferences 
• Troubleshoot issues with multimedia content (e.g., videos, embedded files, Kaltura) 
• Enroll additional users in courses (e.g., teaching assistants, co-instructors, supplemental instructors) 
• Support accessibility by coordinating captioning, transcription, and ensuring multimedia content is ADA-compliant 

Student Technical Support 

• Help with login issues, course access, and Blackboard navigation 
• Troubleshooting for assignment and test submission issues  
• Assistance with the Blackboard mobile app and viewing multimedia content  
• Support with academic software installation and troubleshooting  
• Help using assistive technology or accessing alternative content formats  
• Technical guidance for online student onboarding and orientation 

Campus Collaborations

Point of Contact: Madelyn Kilgore

US News and World Report

Each year, U.S. News & World Report releases the Best Online Programs rankings, the most in-depth evaluation of U.S.-based degree-granting programs designed to be administered online. To ensure these offerings are accurately represented, SHSU Online collaborates with campus partners.

Results of this effort help elevate our national profile as we consistently earn top rankings, especially in Criminal Justice, Education, Information Technology, Business, and Veterans programs. The annual survey and its findings reflect the university’s mission to offer an accessible and high-quality higher education.

Digital Education Summit

Point of Contact: Madelyn Kilgore

Hosted by SHSU Online, the Digital Education Summit (DES) is dedicated to advancing excellence in online teaching and learning. Held each summer, DES brings together educators, staff, administrators, and digital education professionals for two full days of insight, innovation, and collaboration.

Whether you’re looking to enhance student engagement, explore new technologies, or stay current with best practices, this free event provides a valuable space for learning and connection. Originating as an in-person conference in 2011, the virtual summit continues to support the growth and success of online education by offering engaging keynotes and breakout sessions that highlight emerging trends, practical tools, and proven strategies for online education.

You’re invited to join us annually to Connect, Learn, and Innovate!

SHSU Online Newsletter

Point of Contact: Madelyn Kilgore

The SHSU Online Newsletter is our way of keeping the university community informed and engaged with what’s happening in the world of online education at SHSU. Each issue is written by our instructional designers and SHSU Online staff, who share their experiences, tips, and perspectives to support teaching, learning, and innovation across campus.

Inside, you’ll find updates on Blackboard and other digital tools, news about emerging technologies, highlights from major SHSU Online projects, and spotlights on the faculty, staff, and students who make this work meaningful. We also share practical guidance and thoughtful insights that can help shape your approach to online instruction and support student success.

Our goal is to provide relevant, useful content each semester, and we welcome contributions from across campus to reflect the full scope of SHSU’s online learning community.

Blackboard Requests

Point of Contact: Blackboard Admin Team

SHSU Online’s team of knowledgeable and responsive Blackboard administrators is here to support your instructional needs. Whether you’re creating collaborative spaces, managing course content, or are interested in using new tools, our team is ready to assist with a wide range of Blackboard-related requests.

Request Access in Blackboard

A Node Admin role allows users to view and manage courses in a particular Node (such as colleges, departments, and subjects) within Blackboard. To request Node Admin permissions, please fill out and submit the request form to blackboard@shsu.edu. (If you cannot access this link, you may contact SHSU Online for a copy of the form.) 

Create a Blackboard Organization

Blackboard Organizations are virtual spaces that enable SHSU colleges, departments, faculty, staff, and students to share content, engage in discussions, and collaborate on activities. To get started with creating a Blackboard Org, complete the Intake Form, and a Blackboard Administrator from SHSU Online will reach out to you.

Restore a Past Course

SHSU Online maintains archives of past courses and can restore course content for reuse in current or future courses. Please see Course Archival Services for details and fill out our Course Restoration Form to let us know if you have a course you’d like restored.

Request a Blackboard Tool Integration 

If you have a request for a publisher or other LTI 1.3 tool that you’d like to be available in Blackboard to use in courses, please let us know by reading the details and completing our Blackboard Integrations Request form.