Student Profile Archives

Bridget Hanlon
"Graphic Design meets Instructional Design"

Bridget Hanlon is a freelance Web developer pursuing her M.A. in ISD-Training and Development. Hanlon began the program while finishing her M.F.A. at UMBC. To achieve her career goal of creating computer-based instruction and training, she decided it would be advantageous to supplement her technical knowledge in graphic design with some coursework in education and instructional design.

When deciding upon a master’s program, Hanlon looked at both the UMBC Teacher Certification program and the ISD-Training and Development program. While the Teacher Certification Program would have allowed her to teach in high schools, she would have been limited to that area of education.

“My interest in education and training is much broader though, and I eventually choose the ISD-TD program because their methodology offers a whole-system approach and it is much more analytical in nature…,” explains Hanlon.

Her main goal in completing the ISD-TD program is to combine the theories and principles that she is learning with her extensive digital imaging knowledge and Web design experience, and apply that knowledge to the field of distance education and training, specifically, education for the general public.

As a Web developer, Hanlon applies the theories and principles presented in her ISD coursework to her projects. For example, when working on sites that are geared toward training and education, she now focuses more on learning objectives and outcomes. She still wants her color palettes and fonts to be aesthetically pleasing, but is more conscious of how interface design can enhance or detract from a site’s learning objectives.

She summarizes her experience in the ISD-TD program by saying that “The ISD-TD program has allowed me to produce work that calls upon many of my creative and intellectual interests and abilities…as a result, I am more focused and critical in my approach to my work…I would, without a doubt, recommend this program to others interested in instructional systems development, especially if they are looking for a flexible yet challenging academic experience.”