Who am I?
My name is William Illingworth, and I work at Penn State University’s Harrisburg campus supporting our faculty in undergraduate and graduate studies as an Instructional Designer. Frankly, when I talk with someone outside of Education, I tell them that I teach teachers how to teach with tech. Though, that is not the full scope of what I do in my daily responsibilities. I spend a majority of my time working with faculty members to improve their physical and virtual classroom experiences. As an institution, we provide face-to-face, blended, and fully online educational experiences, in which I support our faculty in delivering effective pedagogical practices and content.
For the sake of the internet, I have been using it since I was seven years old. By 13 I had started working with some friends on a fandom website, experiencing Dreamweaver and .php for the first time. After the 4th grade, I participated in cyber charter schools for the remainder of my K-12 education. So, in that capacity, the internet and technology have been integral to my daily life since my youth. I use it in my work life, and I use it just as much once I get home every night. This background informs my areas of interest in both my personal and professional pursuits.
Research and Professional Interests
- effective discussions
- improving online learning experiences
- cultivating presence and community in education
- implementing technology for pedagogical purposes
- understanding Cognitive Apprenticeship
- utilizing Universal Design for Learning in my designs
- spreading the word of Digital Storytelling
- investigating the Community of Inquiry framework
- and more
Professional Associations
Lancaster Learns Committee Member, 2016 – Present
Mission: “To promote quality teaching and learning by building capacity for evidence-based pedagogy and learner-centered instruction through collaboration across the institutions of higher education within Lancaster county.”
NAMLE Member, 2019 – Present
Mission: “The NAMLE vision is to see media literacy be highly valued by all and widely practiced as an essential life skill for the 21st Century.”
Pedago.me Member, 2017 – Present
Mission: “To be a digital campfire for learning experience designers to gather around. We connect, brainstorm ideas, cheer each other on, and most importantly, have fun.”
TESOL International Association Member, 2012 & 2015
Mission: “TESOL International Association advances the expertise of professionals who teach English to speakers of other languages in multilingual contexts worldwide. We accomplish this through professional learning, research, standards, & advocacy.”