I am Belinda (WanQi) Jin, the author of this website. My academic journey began in Communication Media studies at Simon Fraser University (SFU), where I later specialized in Educational Technology and Learning Design, earning a Master’s degree from SFU’s Education program. Currently, I am a doctoral student in the Learning Sciences at the University of Calgary, focusing on blended and online learning, instructional design, educational technology, teacher education, computer-supported collaborative learning and learning science.
With over eight years of experience as an educational technologist and instructional designer at institutions such as SFU, Brighton College, CDI College, Vanarts, and Western Maritime Institute. I have developed expertise in designing, implementing, and managing training programs. Additionally, I have over three years of experience managing training programs for new hires, onboarding, and professional development at the government founded non-profit organization, Immigrant Employment Council of BC, with a strong emphasis on promoting equity and inclusion.
I am skilled at leading program revisions and providing timely interventions to enhance student experiences using various learning design principles and models. My work involves building relationships with faculty and subject matter experts to develop teaching and assessment materials for both classroom and online use. I am certified in several learning technology tools, including Canvas and Moodle, and I continuously stay updated with advancements in educational technology. As a certified Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) and Quality Matters (QM) Facilitator, I lead group learning activities and provide individual learner support in both face-to-face and virtual environments.
As a dedicated researcher, I am passionately exploring the intersection of instructional design and educational equity. My primary focus is investigating active learning strategies and techniques tailored for asynchronous online courses to support instructors in designing and delivering courses online. My goal is to uncover how course design, instructional strategies, and assessment methods profoundly impact the interactions between online instructors and students. Ultimately, I seek to leverage these insights to improve learning outcomes, encourage self-directed learning, and enhance overall program/course quality. Drawing from my rich experience as an instructional designer, it has given me practical insights into the challenges and opportunities of online education. Additionally, my commitment to equity and inclusion ensures that my research is grounded in the principles of social justice and addresses educational disparities.
If you want to know more about me and my work, please visit: my personal website https://belindajin.com/ and Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/belinda-jin-86405265/