It was an early career pivot that led Stephen Kane to the Center for Innovative Education.

As an undergraduate, Cain pursued broadcast journalism, but as he neared graduation, he realized his interests and talents might be directed elsewhere.

“I was still interested in a job in technology and communications, and at that time decided to pursue a teaching license,” says Cain. “When I entered the master’s program, I was actually thinking of becoming a secondary mathematics teacher. I ended up having a conversation with an instructional teacher who was helping out on a course I was taking. He was a designer. I learned a little about this profession.

“I didn’t know this was a profession, so when I found out about it, I was really intrigued because it touches on the vast fields of technology, communications and education.”

Kane, the center’s senior instructional designer, was recognized at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Celebration of Service on September 28. Although he is in his tenth year at the university, he is also an alumnus and holds both bachelor’s degrees. Here he gets his master’s degree.

Kane worked as a lecturer at the University’s College of Journalism and Mass Communication and provided technical support. Pages for Lee Enterprises He also spent time in the newspaper world as a designer. He joined the Center for Transformative Teaching, then known as Online and Distance Education, in 2016 as an Instructional Design Technology Specialist.have become CTT 2019.

“We have made some changes over the last few years to support courses in all modes: online, blended, and face-to-face,” says Cain. “It’s really crossing the gamut right now. Any development that instructors might be trying to do in their guidance, we’re here to help with that.”

Cain spends most of his time in one-on-one consultations with instructors at the College of Business and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, helping them see what is working well in the classroom and what could be improved.

“Having a soundboard for discussing the different strategies available, the strategies you’re using, and how your students are receiving them is extremely valuable,” Kane said.

He has also helped develop various resources and professional development opportunities for instructors across campus.

“Myself and Brian Wilson have facilitated the Reflective Practitioner program over the past year and a half, while Eric French and I have focused on promoting student success in our high-admission Gateway course. I developed the Aspiration Teaching Institute, a program I offered in the spring of 2018. I am currently working with another colleague, Amy Oat, on another institute focused on inclusive education practices. I have,” he said.

as part of CTT Kane helped transition to distance learning when the university closed in-person classes at the start of 2018. COVID-19 Pandemic. For example, before the pandemic, the center offered an online educational institute he had for more than 20 years, and the average number of participants in each course he had was 20-30. In the spring of 2020, Cain and his colleagues offered the program his four times, with a combined enrollment of more than 700 of his instructors.

“It was a completely different landscape,” Cain said. “We all had to venture into a completely different educational environment. We had to think about resource availability, we had to move as quickly as possible.”

Despite the immense challenges and rapid change of the past two years, Cain still enjoys the continued opportunities his career presents him.

“My favorite part is working with instructors on a brand new course,” he said. , can be set up to help think about ensuring that students are given the opportunity to participate in the classroom experience in a meaningful way.

“Being able to have these kinds of discussions with instructors, frame the educational experience as truly stimulating and worthy of cherishing, and strive to create a safe, nurturing and developmental environment, It’s all really fun for me.”