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Curriculum Vitae

Professional Summary

Instructional designer and curriculum specialist with 18+ years of experience in higher education, leading the design, development, and evaluation of hybrid and online learning environments. Proven ability to collaborate with faculty to integrate educational technologies, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, and evidence-based pedagogies into course design. Experienced in multimedia content creation, LMS integration (Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard), and project coordination in multicultural and interdisciplinary settings. Passionate about supporting inclusive, innovative, and accessible learning experiences across diverse student populations.

Core Competencies

  • Instructional Design & Public Pedagogy

  • Hybrid and Online Curriculum Development

  • Faculty Collaboration & Pedagogical Advising

  • Learning Management Systems (Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard, D2L Brightspace)

  • Universal Design for Learning (UDL) & Accessibility

  • Educational Technologies (H5P, PlayPosit, Vyond, Adobe Creative Suite)

  • Multimodal Literacy & Media Production

  • Research & Innovation in Learning Design

  • Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Education

Experience

2021 - 2024

Evaluation & Curriculum Consultant | LXD 
Learning Design and Digital Innovation, University of British Columbia | Vancouver, Canada

Consulting role focused on curriculum design, evaluation, and program impact for academic and non-academic learning initiatives within the Faculty of Education, with emphasis on evidence-informed decision-making and collaboration with faculty, administrative leaders, and institutional partners.

  • Lead program-level curriculum design, review, and evaluation across certificates, diplomas, graduate programs, and special initiatives, integrating learning design research to inform improvement and redesign.

  • Develop evaluation and impact frameworks aligned with Faculty of Education and UBC priorities.

  • Support TLEF and other grant-funded initiatives across the full project lifecycle, from proposal development to curriculum design, learning experience design, evaluation, and iterative improvement.

  • Apply learning analytics and data-informed approaches to support decision-making and identify cross-project insights.

  • Advise academic leads on program effectiveness, evaluation strategies, and quality assurance.

  • Integrate Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and accessibility standards informed by WCAG into program-level evaluation and learning design.

  • Partner with faculty leads and project teams as a strategic thought partner, aligning program goals, curriculum structures, and learning experience design from visioning through implementation.

  • Co-design reusable frameworks, templates, and shared resources that support consistency, quality, and scalability of blended and digital learning initiatives.

  • Contribute to the dissemination of Faculty-led projects, frameworks, and evaluation outcomes across the Faculty of Education and across faculties, supporting institutional learning and alignment.

  • Served as primary LDDI contact for K–12 teacher education programs, including the Bachelor of Education (BEd), Rural and Remote Education (RRED), West Kootenay Teacher Education Program (WKTP), and the Indigenous Teacher Education Program (NITEP), supporting curriculum review and learning design across programs serving diverse educator populations, including Indigenous communities.

2021 - 2024

Graduate Teaching Assistant 
Vantage College, University of British Columbia | Vancouver, Canada

  • Supported the Academic English instructor with teaching, assessment, feedback, tutoring, and marking.

  • Designed class activities and materials using LMS—Canvas.

  • Provided one-on-one tutoring sessions to assist students with course content and assignments.

  • Conducted regular office hours to offer additional support and feedback to students.

2020 - 2021

Instructor & Curriculum Designer –English for Academic Purposes Universidad de los Andes | Bogotá, Colombia | Online 

  • Designed and facilitated online and blended academic English courses for undergraduate and master’s students using Blackboard, Moodle, SICUA+ (institutional LMS).

  • Developed and implemented synchronous and asynchronous learning modules, including digital writing workshops, speaking labs, and peer feedback sessions.

  • Created interactive learning resources using Genially, Padlet, and PlayPosit to support engagement and scaffold critical reading and academic writing tasks.

  • Produced and delivered video-based feedback on student assignments, modelling genre-specific writing and speaking techniques.Trained students in media production skills (e.g., creating academic presentations and videos), guiding them through scripting, recording, and delivery.

  • Aligned learning outcomes with CEFR standards, focusing on B1-B2+ progression across writing, reading, speaking, and listening.

  • Applied Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) and genre-based methodologies to design learning experiences that integrate research, rhetorical analysis, and digital storytelling.

2018 - 2021

Research Assistant & Instructional Designer – Promoting Digital and Visual Literacy through Multimodal Projects
Faculty of Arts, University of British Columbia | Vancouver, Canada 

  • Collaborated on the “Beyond the Text,” a TLEF-funded initiative to promote digital and visual literacy through multimodal learning experiences for undergraduate students.

  • Designed and co-developed curriculum resources for both in-person and online delivery, including student-facing guides and faculty support materials.

  • Conducted literature reviews on multimodal pedagogy in higher education to inform evidence-based instructional practices.

  • Curated and contributed to an online repository of multimodal teaching and learning resources for faculty and students.

  • Led focus groups with faculty and teaching assistants to assess pedagogical needs and inform curriculum design decisions.

  • Supported the integration of digital literacy into course design to foster career-aligned, experiential learning opportunities across disciplines.

2019

Instructional Support Specialist — Graduate Teaching Assistant
Course: EPSE 310B – Assessment and Learning in the Classroom
University of British Columbia, Faculty of Education | Vancouver, Canada 

  • Co-facilitated an intensive, assessment-focused teacher education course aligned with BC’s redesigned curriculum and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles.

  • Supported students in designing high-quality formative and summative assessments grounded in principles of fairness, validity, reliability, and inclusivity.Led seminar groups and coached pre-service teachers in developing differentiated assessment strategies for diverse classrooms.

  • Guided students through practical applications of key assessment theories (e.g., assessment as/of/for learning, performance assessment, self/peer evaluation) using real-world teaching artifacts.Integrated Canvas LMS for assignment submission and feedback delivery, promoting reflective practice through structured Theory to Practice Applications (TPAs).

  • Facilitated activities to scaffold rubric design, performance task creation, and inclusive assessment practices across content areas.

  • Modelled professional standards in instructional design and feedback by co-evaluating student work, facilitating discussion, and adapting instruction to support learner needs.

2017 - 2018

Learning Experience Designer — Critical Reading Practice Tools
Ministry of National Education | Bogotá, Colombia

  • Designed user-centered learning experiences to enhance critical reading skills for Colombia’s national standardized exams (SABER 11 / SABER PRO).

  • Integrated gamified tasks and formative assessment principles to boost learner motivation and performance.

  • Aligned content with national core standards and cognitive development frameworks.

  • Created interactive practice tools and digital resources for independent learning, focusing on clarity, accessibility, and skill transfer.

  • Contributed to a national strategy to improve equity and academic achievement through evidence-based, scalable learning design.

2015 - 2018

Item Writer for SABER 11 and SABER PRO Tests — Testing Instrument Production Division
ICFES (Colombian Institute for the Promotion of Higher Education) | Bogotá, Colombia

  • Developed and adapted reading comprehension items for the national SABER 11 (high school) and SABER PRO (university level) exams, assessing the English reading proficiency of Colombian students.

  • Collaborated with a team to ensure that test items met rigorous academic and linguistic standards, reflecting both local and international educational benchmarks.

  • Created exam content that effectively measured students' critical reading skills and aligned with the national curriculum and higher education requirements.

  • Applied expertise in language assessment to design items that accurately evaluated students' readiness for higher education, contributing to the advancement of Colombia’s national educational assessment system.

2007 - 2018

Learning Experience Designer | Curriculum Coordinator | EAP Instructor 
Universidad de los Andes | Bogotá, Colombia

Over more than a decade, I held multiple roles at Universidad de los Andes, where I actively contributed to curriculum innovation, blended learning transitions, student support, and the design of multimodal and inclusive learning experiences. My work blended academic rigor, digital pedagogies, and cross-cultural awareness, anticipating many of today’s best practices in Learning Experience Design.

 

Learning Experience Designer & Blended Learning Specialist | 2010–2021

  • Spearheaded the transition of key academic English and reading courses into blended and online formats, well before the pandemic.

  • Designed and implemented synchronous and asynchronous learning experiences using LMS platforms such as Blackboard, Moodle, and Brightspace, as well as interactive tools like Genially, Padlet, and PlayPosit—ensuring alignment with CEFR proficiency standards and learner engagement best practices.

  • Produced interactive audiovisual content, video-based feedback, and task-based assignments rooted in Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

  • Guided students in academic media production, helping them plan, script, and deliver videos and presentations aligned with course objectives.

  • Promoted learner autonomy and engagement through flipped classroom models and digital storytelling strategies.

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Level Coordinator & Curriculum Developer – English 5 | 2017–2018

  • Led the curricular redesign of English 5, a mid-level academic English course, integrating digital pedagogies and cross-instructor coherence

  • .Coordinated a team of instructors to co-create course content and assessments aligned with learning outcomes and student needs.

  • Designed and implemented a course structure within Blackboard, including visual layout, content sequencing, and instructor training.

  • Organized workshops on pedagogical innovation and online learning strategies, contributing to broader departmental reforms.

 

Instructor – Ph.D. English Programs | 2015–2018

  • Delivered advanced English for Academic Purposes (EAP) instruction and advising to Ph.D. students preparing for international conferences, publications, and applications.

  • Developed specialized instructional materials and workshops focused on academic writing, speaking, and cross-cultural communication.

  • Provided individualized support to help students meet university English language requirements and international standards.

 

Instructor – Reading Workshop I & II (Graduate Level) | 2010–2018

  • Taught content-based EAP reading courses for graduate students, emphasizing critical literacy, academic discourse, and genre awareness.

  • Played a key role in transitioning courses from traditional formats to blended learning environments, integrating video-based lessons, asynchronous activities, and flipped-classroom strategies.

  • Implemented flipped classroom models, integrating educational technologies to provide timely and personalized feedback, promoting active learning and greater student autonomy.

  • Created formative assessments and custom rubrics to support reflective, learner-centered development.

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Instructor – English and Culture Courses (Undergraduate) | 2007–2018

  • Taught English and cultural literacy courses across multiple levels, focusing on academic writing, critical thinking, and intercultural understanding.

  • Designed and delivered culturally responsive assessments that aligned with institutional and international standards.

  • Integrated language labs and digital pronunciation tools to support interactive, tech-enhanced language acquisition.

Education

2018 - 2025

University of British Columbia 
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Curriculum and Pedagogy 

Focus: Media, Technology, and Cultural Memory

2012 - 2013

Universidad de los Andes
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Foreign Language Pedagogy

Thesis: Empowerment in the English 3 Classroom at Universidad de los Andes.

2004 - 2007

Universidad de los Andes
Bachelor of Arts in Languages and Sociocultural Studies

Focus: Language Education, Sociocultural Studies.

2001 - 2004

Colombian Polytechnic Jaime Isaza Cadavid
Bachelor of Arts in Television Production

Certifications

2022

Foundations of Pedagogy
Centre for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL)  
UBC​

Awards & Distinctions

  • Four-Year Doctoral Fellowship – University of British Columbia

  • International Student Award – University of British Columbia

  • Innovative Teacher Distinction – Universidad de los Andes

Publications

Benavides, N., Truscott, A., & Soto, C. (2016). Empowerment: A Concept that Strongly Emerges in the Foreign Language Teaching-Learning Process. In B. Peña, N. Bruskewitz, & A. Truscott (Eds.), Empowerment, Autonomy and Critical Thinking in the Foreign Language Classroom: Inquiries in Colombian Higher Education (pp. 35-64). Bogotá: Universidad de los Andes.

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