Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Accomplishments
Affiliations
Timeline
Generic

Brad Sims

Little Rock,AR

Summary

Experienced Instructional Designer with a passion for enhancing online learning experiences. Proficient in Blackboard Learn/Blackboard Ultra, Quality Matters coordination, and peer review. Skilled in developing quality assurance processes, creating engaging academic content, and leveraging multimedia tools such as Articulate 360 and Adobe Creative Suite. Adept at project design, technical writing, and managing digital content. Strong background in studio management, lighting, and multimedia design. Committed to fostering effective learning environments through innovative approaches and quality of the student experience.

Overview

23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Online Quality Assurance (QA) Program Manager

UA Little Rock
04.2020 - Current
  • Quality Matters Coordinator (QMC) for UA Little Rock Office of eLearning
  • Quality Matters (QM) Peer Reviewer Certification
  • Co-designed and implemented UA Little Rock Quality Assurance (QA) program of campus-wide internal review standards as response to COVID-19 pandemic
  • Conduct internal reviews of online courses for national QM certification
  • Review online courses under UA Little Rock Bronze, Silver, and Gold QA standards
  • Work closely with instructors to align their courses to standards of QM/QA.

Instructional Designer & Media Manager

UA Little Rock
04.2009 - Current
  • Design and manage courses in Blackboard Learn and Ultra for 44 fully online degree programs
  • Provide training and support for online instructional software including Blackboard, Camtasia, distance learning platforms, and VOIP conferencing systems
  • Record and produce custom HD video lectures using chroma-key, Adobe Creative Suite, and other A/V editing software
  • Maintain multimedia production studio
  • Serve as in-house photographer, videographer, and digital media manager for online instructional content.

Education Technology Specialist

Phillips Community College
10.2005 - 09.2008
  • Researched, purchased, and managed new educational technologies for PCC's Title III “Strengthening Institutions” grant
  • Spearheaded and administered faculty training center
  • Implemented best-practice strategies for developmental math and reading courses
  • Engaged faculty focus groups regarding instructional technology needs of UPCC students
  • Consulted with technology vendors for review and purchase of applicable education technology hardware and software.

Communications Manager

Arkansas Science & Technology Authority
02.2002 - 08.2003
  • Administered all ASTA media and branding including website, press releases, public relations, marketing, and general publicity
  • Managed all marketing campaigns, media relations, and internal communications
  • Worked closely with academic administrators, officials in government, educators, press agencies, and business entrepreneurs to communicate and promote services of ASTA.

Education

Master of Arts - Professional and Technical Writing

UA Little Rock
Little Rock, AR
12.2013

Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Arts

UA Little Rock
Little Rock, AR
08.2000

Skills

  • Instructional Design
  • Blackboard Learn/Blackboard Ultra
  • Quality Matters Coordinator
  • Quality Matters Peer Reviewer
  • Quality Assurance development
  • Generative AI integration
  • Learning systems technologies
  • Articulate 360
  • ADDIE
  • Academic content creation
  • Photography & Videography
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Multimedia management
  • OER content creation
  • Digital content creation
  • Technical writing
  • Graphic design
  • Document Design
  • Web design
  • Web content management
  • Quality Assurance

Certification

  • Quality Matters Peer Reviewer certification, 08/2020
  • QM Accelerated K-12 Reviewer Course for Higher Education certification, 07/2020
  • QM Coordinator certification, 03/2020

Accomplishments

  • Quality Matters Peer Reviewer certification, August 2020
  • QM Accelerated K-12 Reviewer Course for Higher Education certification, July 2020
  • QM Coordinator certification, March 2020
  • Member of the UA Little Rock Graduate Student Council, 2012-2013 academic year
  • Graduate student presenter of “Digital game meets scholarly article: Reflections on building a new kind of mashup.” Computers and Writing Conference. Purdue, IN. May 20, 2010.
  • Member of Alpha Epsilon Lambda, the Academic Excellence and Leadership Honor Society of Graduate and Professional School Students, Zeta Chapter.

Affiliations

  • UA Little Rock Graduate Student Council, 2012-2013 academic year
  • Alpha Epsilon Lambda, Zeta Chapter

Timeline

Online Quality Assurance (QA) Program Manager

UA Little Rock
04.2020 - Current

Instructional Designer & Media Manager

UA Little Rock
04.2009 - Current

Education Technology Specialist

Phillips Community College
10.2005 - 09.2008

Communications Manager

Arkansas Science & Technology Authority
02.2002 - 08.2003

Master of Arts - Professional and Technical Writing

UA Little Rock

Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Arts

UA Little Rock
Brad Sims