I highly recommend MOST coaching! The coaches are fun and knowledgeable, and I received invaluable tools in a low-pressure environment that was individualized for my teaching approach. I walked away from the 20-minute coaching session with amazing tips, strategies, and practices that I implemented right away into my Canvas shells. - Prof. Marie Alfonsi (ENGL)
Coaching Options
🤩Drop-in Coaching w/ Cara on Fridays @ 9:30a - 10:30a
Meet Cara and get your questions answered. No need to schedule this in advance. Cara's MOST Coaching Zoom
✨New! Pre-scheduled Coaching w/ MOST
Use our new MOST Bookings Calendar to book an appointment with a MOST coach. We'd
love to meet you and share teaching ideas with you! Book an appointment with a MOST Coach.
💡Also New! 3-IDeas Asynchronous Coaching w/ MOST
MOST understands that finding time to meet synchronously poses challenges, so we've
created 3-IDeas, an opportunity to get instructional design (ID) ideas asynchronously
from our MOST coaches. Learn more and sign-up for 3-IDeas.
All MOST Coaches: All of our team members are available to meet with Mesa colleagues individually by appointment to share ideas and provide online teaching support. You can find our team members in the Outlook directory to schedule individual appointments via email or book an appointment using the Booking link above.
If you aren't sure who to contact, but you know you need a helping hand:
- Email MOST @ mesamost@sdccd.edu
- Contact the 24/7 Canvas Helpdesk (via phone or chat). 844-612-7422
TEAM MEMBERS
Christina Crosby
Hi there! I’m officially housed in Mesa’s Psychology Department and teach courses
that range from General Psychology to Research Methods to Statistics. Every single
course is unique, whether it is in the same or different discipline; thus, each presents
its own opportunities and challenges – which just means that all can amazing in their
own way! Before returning to school for psychological science, I initially studied
graphic design and advertising, which are skills I now like to draw upon to design
approachable and accessible course materials and online course layouts. I always enjoy
thinking about and trying out new ideas to make things better ...and so look forward
to working with you as you seek to do the same!
Coaching hours: Thursdays @ 2:30p - 3:30p. Use the MOST Bookings Calendar to book.
Tasha frankie
Hi! I teach Computer & Information Sciences - I can help you debug the HTML behind
the Canvas Rich Text Editor. I'm a fan of improving courses based on research related
to teaching and learning. When you look at my courses, you'll find me using Canvas
features in ways they weren't designed, so that I can provide a better learning experience
to students. A few years ago, I introduced new authentic assessments to my classes,
and realized that I no longer needed tests because the authentic assessments gave
me better insight into what students understood. Students love not having tests, and
I find they also work harder and learn more when engaging with authentic assessments.
Plus, with authentic assessments in online classes, I don't need to worry about proctoring
tests! Recently, I converted my courses to standards-based grading, to change the
emphasis from earning points to learning course concepts.
Coaching hours: Tuesdays 10a - 12p use the Bookings calendar to book.
mariam kushkaki
Hello! I’m Mariam Kushkaki, an English instructor at San Diego Mesa College. I’m fortunate
to be part of an incredible team of colleagues at Mesa who have helped shape how I’ve
re-designed my classes for asynchronous and remote settings, and I’m happy to share
those practices with you. I’m a big fan of simple, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing
Canvas shells, so if that’s something you’re interested in--or if you need support
with presenting content, creating design elements, or streamlining the Canvas experience
for students--let me know!
Coaching hours: Tuesdays 3p - 4p use the MOST Bookings calendar to book.
kim lacher
👋 Hi! I have been teaching in the English Department here at Mesa for 11 years (online
for 6). I believe that with equitable and inclusive online instruction, we have the
opportunity to give all students access to spaces where they can be engaged, challenged,
and successful. I'm passionate about humanizing my online courses and removing barriers
that keep students from thriving. I love learning from my colleagues about the best
ways to do this, and I am thrilled to be a part of MOST so that I can share this knowledge
with you.
Coaching hours: Thursdays 9a - 10a & 11a - 12p. Use the MOST Bookings Calendar to book.
katie palacios
Greetings! I am fortunate to be the instructional designer in the Mesa LOFT, where
I support our professional learning offerings across the campus. I've taught online
Computer Business Technology and Web Design classes, and I occasionally facilitate
courses for @ONE. There is no "easy button" for teaching online successfully. I think
it's a magical combination of inclusive course design, relationship-building with
our students, an acceptance that we'll never get it exactly right, and a willingness
to keep learning and trying again. But I believe that open, humanized online education
has the power to transform the lives of our students, and that is why I engage in
this difficult work. How awesome to be part of team at Mesa engaged in this difficult
work together!
Coaching hours: Mondays 11a - 12p and Wednesdays 10a - 11a. Use the MOST Bookings calendar to book.
Alex Sadovnikova
Hello! I am Alex, a Project Assistant in the Mesa LOFT. I have been at Mesa since 2019 and have worked as a Russian/English/ELAC and Graduate Tutor. I have learned a lot of helpful online resources during graduate school and working as a tutor, which has opened a new perspective on promoting active learning in remote classrooms. I have practiced with my students some technology tools, Jamboard, Perusall, FlipGrid, and Zoom Whiteboard. With my guidance and all the technology, students pay attention to details, keep trying, face challenges, and overcome them. I am passionate about helping others. I have always been someone who has looked after others and wanted to help people rather than help myself. I am fortunate to be a part of such a fantastic team of educators and leaders who cares about others and their success.
Kris SECOR
Hi! My name is Kris Secor and I'm your Accessibility Mentor at San Diego Mesa College.
I've been a developer and educator for over 20 years now. Wow time flies. My first
mobile "app" was built in the early 2000's, although it wasn't considered an app back
then. It used XML to email food orders from a stadium seat for a minor league baseball
team's consession services. That's all we had at the time. The ability to email. From
there is it's been a whirlwind of developing web sites, kiosks, mobile apps and other
digital products for companies, consulting firms, friends, even for myself.
So where does accessibility come in? I started doing a lot of eCommerce in the early
2000's. That's a world where you want everyone to have access to your work or you'll
lose money! That's where I developed a "progressive enhancement" mentality where we
target the least functional devices when we build. At the leading college of equity
and excellence, this attitude is also a must! When we think of our students we need
to assume poor internet connectivity and old hand-me-down devices.
Today we've come a long way with WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). We might
be familiar with them, but are they making their way into our online courses? Let
me help you get there!
Coaching hours: Tuesdays 3pm - 5pm use the MOST Bookings calendar to book.
cara smulevitz
Hi there 👋 I'm Cara (pronounced like this: 🚗+ ah). I've been at Mesa since 2016,
but I've been an Art History Professor for almost two decades. I specialize in Modern
and Contemporary Art. I've also served as Mesa's Online Faculty mentor since 2019. I
enjoy working with seasoned online faculty as well as new-to-online folks. I love
helping my colleagues find ways to prioritize student success and engagement in their online
courses, and I'm really excited to be part of Mesa's Online Success Team!
Coaching hours: Friday drop-ins welcome from 9:30a - 10:30a in Cara's MOST Coaching Zoom.
kelly spoon
I am a math faculty member who is passionate about professional learning and online teaching. I teach fully online, hybrid, and fully on-campus classes and enjoy leveraging technology to engage and connect with my students in all modalities. Currently I'm redesigning my online precalculus class to use standards-based grading, open educational resources, and universal design for learning. Coaching hours: Thursdays 12p - 2p and Fridays 12:30 - 1:30p. Use the MOST Bookings calendar to book.