Anna Rood

Background

About Anna Rood

My origin story in higher education instructional design is probably similar to many others. I was a burnt-out special education teacher who was looking for another way to make an impact and use my expertise and experience. My initial transition into higher education began in enrollment management where I learned so much about the non-traditional online learner. Connecting with and removing barriers for students to start or restart their education was exciting. From there, I transitioned into academic advising and began to dabble more in learning management systems and accessibility out of a personal interest and a professional need. It wasn't until I began suggesting alternatives to traditional online course infrastructures that someone realized,"hey, you kind of had a knack for this kind of stuff". This individual introduced me to the world of instructional design. This isn't the type of field that little girls dream of when they imagine themselves as adults, but this field was a comforting amalgamation of my pedagogy background, my teaching expertise, and my lived experiences as a student. This transition felt natural. I'm a millennial who is savvy with computers. I'm a self-starter who will find an answer when it seems like there isn't one. I'm an educator who values learning differences and believes differentiated education is meaningful. I'm an advocate for education as a tool to impact and change lives. I'm at heart, a learning designer and creator of magic! And ultimately, I want people to be as excited about the impact of higher education as I am.