Introducing

Hello, my name is Jason Sohvi Noska and my pronouns are they, them, theirs. I am a nonbinary learning experience designer who embodies a critical pedagogy...

You can find me here and on LinkedIn.

# Experience

I have a long professional work history in education, beginning in TRIO Programs: (1) supporting many first-generation high school graduates with High School Upward Bound, and (2) supporting first-generation college students with Student Support Services and Veterans Upward Bound. I worked in K12 – Middle & High Schools – and as Special Education Instructor in a youth facility for runaway, abused, and justice-involved youth. In 2010, I found myself in the niche arena of Adult Basic Education & Family Literacy – instructing, designing curriculum, and managing programs. This was through the Community College of Denver and community partner organizations: (1) Mi Casa Resource Center, (2) The Gathering Place, (3) Denver Indian Center, and (4) Denver Housing Authority.

One of my final projects while at the Community College of Denver was designing and developing a distance learning program meeting Colorado Department of Education requirements, a state partner. This program was rapidly expanded in 2020 when all programming went online, and I became the lead trainer to bring seven instructors and 200+ students into it. It was successful and shared the model out to other programs during the transition.

Currently, I’m presiding over Colorado’s Adult Basic Education support, resource, and advocacy group, CAEPA, a volunteer run nonprofit.

# Education

As my last program's grant funding came to an end, I redirected my attention to my personal development through the Learning Design and Technology program at University of Colorado – Denver. During Fall 2020 I developed an online professional development program and an onboarding training to support the Colorado Adult Education Professional Association – utilizing ADDIE + Human Centered Design processes. I dedicated Spring 2021 to exploring and developing skills in media production, and Summer 2021 to critical media literacy and media design. In my final semester, I conducted research in critical leadership & critical instructional design.

In August 2020 I began the Learning Design & Technology program when funding cuts left me unemployed; in December 2021 I am graduating with M.A in Learning Design & Technology with certificates in (1) Learning Experience Design, and (2) Digital Pedagogy & New Literacies.

With graduation, I’m searching to get back to mission driven employment.

# Accomplishments

Through my roles at the Foundational Skills Institute at Community College of Denver:

• I developed many systems and processes that stabilized incoming enrollment, increased first 4-week retention to 90%, and fostered an increase in term-to-term student retention by 25%.
• Through collaboration with the core instructional team, I led and contributed to the rolling evolution of standards-based curriculum, and generated differentiation models to support instructors use of standards, objectives, and course development.
• I led the creation of a learning lab, online professional learning, and implemented distance learning meeting state partner guidelines.

# Technology

I am a self taught coder versed in HTML, CSS, and JS; I have also explored other programming languages. I have a wide range of technical skills, including audio, video and graphic design. I am able to learn and explain new web technologies with ease.

Additionally, I have worked with several learning management systems, including Canvas, D2L, Moodle, and others. I have interned as a Canvas LMS administrator for the University of Colorado, School of Education and Human Development and am developing a Moodle LMS instance for the Colorado Adult Education Professional Association.

# Skills and Knowledge

• A passionate educator experienced in facilitating success for vulnerable and marginalized populations
• Adept at direct classroom, distance, and hybrid instruction
• Skilled in learner centered design and curriculum development for active learning
• Intentional regarding accessibility and universal design
• Highly values data analysis, and data informed decision making to drive program design, development, and management
• Thrives on a team that includes both collaborative and independent problem-solving
• Self-motivated and detail orientated
• Well versed in web technologies, HTML, CSS, and JS
• Administration and course creation within Canvas, D2L, Moodle, and others