Student Profile Archives

Holly Armstrong
"From Delivery to Design…"

Holly Armstrong is an instructional designer for the New Media Learning and Development office at UMBC and a master’s student in the ISD-Training and Development program. Armstrong entered the program after she began working as a computer trainer at the Washington and Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) in Greenbelt, MD. She realized that with formal training she could better serve the adults that she was training.

Armstrong also teaches a computer literacy class at Anne Arundel Community College. “My ISD skills have given me a foundation for developing courses that meet the needs and learning objectives of adult learners, many of whom are first time computer users,” she explains.

She earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Geography and Environmental Systems from UMBC in 2001. When looking for a graduate program, UMBC seemed like the best choice. “I greatly enjoyed my experience and education at UMBC as an undergraduate [student] and it was natural for me to apply here,” says Armstrong.

“My overall goal with this program is to be able to do more than stand-up training [traditional classroom training]. Though I love training, I do not want to do it five days a week. When you are involved in that much training, you don’t have time to re-design and evaluate your programs. My current position at UMBC is allowing me to expand my horizons and utilize the numerous ISD skills I have acquired from the program.”

Armstrong feels that the program’s network is very powerful. “It was through an e-mail sent out [via the program’s direct e-mail list] that connected me with the opportunity at New Media. I know of [students} who have also found jobs from other students they’ve met or through connections with the faculty,” she explains.

“UMBC has been wonderful to me. I earned two degrees, found a career, and even met my husband here. I feel that I owe a lot to this campus. As for the ISD program itself, it has given me the education I need to do what I love. I truly enjoy training and designing training programs. Without the education and experience from this program, I would not have been able to successfully pursue my professional goals.”