Judith Slapak-Barski, Ed.D.

Dr. Judith Slapak-Barski is the Instructional Technology & Design professional at the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences of Nova Southeastern University. Judith holds a doctorate degree in Education with focus on Instructional Design and Technology from Nova Southeastern University, and an Experiential Education certification from the National Society of Experiential Education's Academy. Her doctoral dissertation titled "Faculty and Student Perceptions of Teaching Presence in Distance Education Courses: A Mixed Methods Examination" was awarded the Dr. Charles L. Faires Dissertation of Distinction Award (2017). In 2018, Judith graduated from the SEE's (formerly known as National Society for Experiential Education) EEA (Experiential Learning Academy), and became a curriculum committee member, course designer and instructor for the EEA. Dr. Slapak-Barski has also delivered numerous faculty development workshops on instructional technology, course design, Experiential Education principles, and best practices in teaching. Judith supports faculty through professional learning opportunities that focus on cultural change to promote institutional adoption of Experiential Learning practices combined with instructional technology applications.

At NSU, Judith lives and breathes the many sides of online education as an instructor, faculty development professional, mentor, researcher, and/or facilitator of sessions on best practices in Online Teaching and Learning. Judith works with subject matter experts and administrators to improve the teaching and learning process through student-centered instruction, problem-based learning, and improvement of instruction in all its forms, whether in face-to-face, fully online, or blended environments. Judith specializes in Faculty Development, Online Learning Management Systems, Instructional Technology, and Teacher Education, among others.

Judith collaborates with NSU's Learning and Educational Center (LEC) as a member of the LEC Advisory Council, which is made up of approximately 30-35 faculty, faculty development professionals, educational technologists, instructional designers, and affiliate members in support service areas. The purpose of the Learning and Educational Center's Advisory Council is to create a sense of ownership among faculty and staff while serving in an advisory capacity to support the LEC with strategic planning in various ways. Through the work of the Advisory Council, its members have been able to support academic units in their goals toward pre-eminence; ensure representation and collaboration with all NSU colleges and programs; offer perspective and insight into the development needs of NSU faculty; serve as a communication bridge (two-way communication in/out of LEC); and support LEC as a model that is inclusive, collaborative, and proactive in meeting NSU's teaching and learning needs.  Judith has also collaborated with the Experiential Education and Learning (EXEL) team for several years, an initiative presented to the class of 2020 and all undergraduate classes moving forward. This initiative was strengthened by the added focus of adapting experiential learning strategies to online course delivery.

On any typical day Judith's activities may include any, or all, of the following: working on instructional design projects, facilitating a workshop for faculty, helping a professor plan instruction for a course, producing, filming and/or editing instructional videos, conducting program evaluations, organizing faculty meetings, presenting at national and international conferences, collaborating with administration in program development and implementation, and publishing in a variety of media. Those are the main ones, but there are many more! All of them feature an intentional shift to strengthen experiential education to provide students with the opportunity of gaining diverse, meaningful experiences, through learning activities designed to enhance the student experience, ultimately benefiting students both personally and professionally, by providing them with real world, hands on educational opportunities.