Meet a Keypather: Chris Valadez
As the vice president of instructional design, Chris oversees the global course development team to help Keypath’s academic partners re-envision their programs for online delivery.
Is there a hobby you can’t live without?
I don’t necessarily have a hobby, but I do have an obsession … coffee. Anyone who knows me realizes that I am a fiend for my lattes. One business trip with me is all it takes to associate Chris Valadez with the quest for Starbucks. Some even say I have “Star-dar.”
What excites you about working for Keypath?
I feel very privileged to be a part of the Keypath team — a bold, creative, energetic group that puts our students at the heart of everything we do. From Toronto to Melbourne and Palatine to Coventry, the positive spirit and commitment of Keypathers are second to none. Every time I step foot into the office or join a conference call, I know that I have the opportunity to make a difference, to bring amazing opportunities to our students. What could be more exciting than that?
Where do you see your specialty going in the next five years?
Course development is by its very nature a field ever in flux. As technology changes and students become more savvy online learners, the field pushes instructional designers and web developers to think more creatively, to design more efficiently, and to build with more sophistication. In five years, online courses likely will include more simulation and virtual reality, better ways for students to collaborate, and more effective ways to track student progress and outcomes. Regulations to protect privacy and to improve accessibility also will play a significant role in the future of online learning.
How can you use your skills to change the student experience for the better?
The reason I am in this career is to improve the quality of online learning for students around the globe. Too many online learning experiences are passive, based on the premise that information delivery is the only means to teach students online. I use my creativity and skills to design courses based on the premise that active learning, the application of skills, and authentic experience provide students with more meaningful learning opportunities, regardless of whether students are in brick-and-mortar classrooms or virtual ones. I try to approach each and every day with a renewed commitment to creating online courses that achieve maximal student engagement and foster enduring mastery of skills and concepts that students need to enrich their lives.
What is your favorite personal achievement?
There is no question that the greatest accomplishment of my life is giving this world my two incredible children — Marguerite and Cameron. Both are intelligent, beautiful people of whom I am so proud.