MSIDT program sets the standard at DevLearn Expo

In 20 years of DemoFest competition at DevLearn, the largest technologies event in the country, there’s been one constant — Commonwealth University bringing home an academic award.

It’s happened 10 times in the span, including eight years straight.

“DevLearn is the premier conference in the instructional design and technology field,” said Jessica Briskin, graduate coordinator of CU's Master's in Instructional Design and Technology program. “It brings together the latest innovations, research, and best practices in learning and development. It serves as a hub for professionals, educators, and researchers to explore cutting-edge technologies, instructional strategies, and real-world applications that shape the future of learning.”

DevLearn is a can’t-miss trip for the online graduate program.

“We participate in DevLearn each year because it provides students with an invaluable experiential learning opportunity,” Briskin said. “Students gain insights that extend beyond the classroom through presentations and sessions, networking with industry leaders, and exposure to emerging trends.”

This year’s CU winner, Annie Schmitt, developed a story- and simulation-based course that prepares learners to use breadboards for prototyping circuits. In HackYard: A Circuit Building Quest, learners build circuits to help a family on their quest to build projects to “hack” their backyard.

“When my name was announced for the award, I was totally surprised,” Schmitt said. “I didn't expect to win! I had been grinding away at HackYard for months in my own little corner, so I didn't really know what others would think of it.”

The concept and need for HackYard came to Schmitt during her instructional designer internship.

“I was training teachers over Zoom to build circuits,” Schmitt said. “Even though we physically had the circuits in front of us, there were some parts that were difficult to explain, or too small to see. I decided to make HackYard to help support beginners learning circuit building.”

Schmitt drew from a few different aspects of her instructional design courses, including a heavy dose of storytelling to draw in learners.

“They move through a story of a mother and her son who want to ‘hack’ their backyard by building a temperature monitor, a wildlife camera, etc.,” Schmitt said. “So, each build ties in with the story, using a real-life example.”

She added, “Second, I incorporated animated video production to create short, one to two-minute explainer videos for each electronic component as it’s introduced. I also created a simulator, so learners immediately build a circuit after watching one of the videos.”

HackYard ended up being Schmitt’s most complicated storyline project she’s done.

“It was a fun challenge!” said Schmitt, adding that the regular hands-on experience she and fellow classmates get from CU’s instructional design and technology program truly translates into results.

“We learn instructional design theory, but we also get to work with clients, build projects in industry-standard software, and work as instructional design teams to present solutions,” Schmitt said. “I have something from every class I can use in my professional portfolio. I feel like I gained foundational knowledge in each course but also got to bring myself and my interests to the projects.”

Schmitt credits the MSIDT faculty’s commitment to ensuring the curriculum is consistently relevant to the ever-changing industry for the long-term success at DemoFest.

“They’re paying attention to trends and what's coming up to make sure we’ll be able to meet tomorrow's challenges,” Schmitt said. “Many people don't even know they’re student projects. They assume they’re working professional projects because that's the level of execution the program has consistently.”

She added, “We learn advanced development techniques in the software as well, where we could talk with almost anyone at DevLearn and be on the same level of understanding. People were coming up to (us) to ask, ‘How did you do that?’”

The networking opportunities and face-to-face engagement with tech leaders are a lasting benefit for students — professionally and personally, according to Briskin.

“DemoFest offers them a unique platform to showcase their work alongside professionals, receiving real-time feedback and recognition from industry experts,” Briskin said. “Their success reflects their strong instructional design skills, creativity using development and authoring tools, and innovative ability to apply learning theories.”

Schmitt agreed.

“The biggest highlight of DemoFest was getting feedback from industry professionals — designers at Amazon, people with electrical engineering backgrounds,” Schmitt said. “They were interested in my project and had great questions and positive feedback. I think putting myself into a project and sharing it in a professional community was invaluable. It's like a pebble in a pond, where you don't know where it’ll reach others or lead to other opportunities.”

Some opportunities come sooner than later — some even within 24 hours.

“As a winner, I presented at a webinar after DevLearn, and that same day I had two contacts in my LinkedIn inbox who reached out about contract work,” Schmitt said. “Someone from DemoFest also reached out a few weeks later. I’m working with two new clients as an instructional design freelancer. It's incredible how the timing worked out!”