Faculty Resources for Teaching & Learning at Penn State York

Instructional Design /eLearning Support

When I tell people my job title, I often get the question, "What do you do exactly?" Well, an instructional designer (ID) usually works with faculty in a resource capacity:

• providing information and resources on best practices in education
• assisting collaboratively in the course design process
• instructing in the effective use of technology in teaching
   

My time is usually spent in collaborating one-on-one with faculty, developing resources to help faculty inform their teaching practice, conducting workshops, and researching current trends in education.

I often think of IDs as people who carry a tool belt full of ideas and applications for educational endeavors. By talking with faculty about what they would like to do with their classes, IDs can recommend activities and approaches that will help faculty build successful and rewarding courses.

eLearning Support (eLSS) means that I assist faculty with teaching and learning issues in online environments. From web-assisted to blended courses to fully online delivery, I provide resources or contacts to assist faculty as they prepare quality online products to support the teaching and learning process.

Personal History

I am a York native, happily returning home after many years away. I served as an instructional designer at Montgomery College (near Washington, DC) and at Towson University where I helped faculty adapt their F2F courses for online delivery. I love my job because it gives me access to so many different content areas and teaching situations which I enjoy tremendously. I also enjoy cooking, traveling, and am dedicated to adult literacy and ESL issues.

Education

MSEd Language Education (Literacy)
Indiana Univeristy (Bloomington)

MEd Instructional Systems
Pennsylvania State University Great Valley Campus

BA in Geology 
University of Rochester

Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate General Science

PA Program Specialist in English as a Second Language

LANGUAGES: German & English

AS Occupational Science in Culinary Arts
Johnson and Wales University

Publications and Presentations

Sutton, J. & Shaffer, S.; Could Communication Be the Next Outsourced Commodity? Fostering Communicative Competencies in a Global World. Teaching Ideas for the Basic Communication Course, Volume 11. Kendall/Hunt Publishers, Dubuque, IA. Accepted April 2007.

Shaffer, S., Lackey, S. P., & Bolling, G; Blogging as a Venue for Nursing Faculty Development; Nursing Education Perspectives (May/June 2006; 27-3) National League for Nursing. New York.
 
Shaffer, S.; Online Course Accessibility Considerations; Faculty Forum: Focus on Faculty Teaching, Service, and Scholarship at Towson University (February 2006). Erratum: Title printed incorrectly as Going Hybrid- Lessons Learned from Hybrid Courses. 

Shaffer, S., Using On-line Study Groups for Faculty Development; Faculty of the Future Conference; June 3, 2005; Bucks County Community College, PA. Presenter. 

Teaching & Learning at Penn State York Newsletter - http://www.personal.psu.edu/scs15/psuindex.htm

CTL Newlsetter; November 2004 http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/ctl/Resources/news1104.pdf

Knowlton, D., & Shaffer, S., Shifting Toward Constructivist Philosophy for Teaching Bible in K-12 Schools The Christian Education Journal (September 2004 Series 3, Vol. 1, No.3) http://www.biola.edu/cej/issue/?i=62 .

Shaffer, S., Issues in the recruitment, selection, training, and retention of Catholic sisters. Spiritual Transformation Scientific Research Program; Works of Love: Scientific & Religious Perspectives on Altruism; (June 2, 2003, Villanova University, PA). Roundtable discussant.

Santiago-Blay, J. & Shaffer, S. Book Review: The Passionate Observer by Jean Fabre. Entomological News (June 2003; 114-3).

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