Ben Darr

  I like to ask questions that encompass more than most people's curiosity.  I enjoy being interested more than almost any other feeling. You'll notice from my resume that I spent my first two post-college years in a country where most couldn't speak my language. Because of my drive and ability to learn quickly, I was able to create a nationwide health initiative. My intense interest in learning and helping others has brought me into public education.  My enthusiasm for learning and the life sciences spilled over to the students, which is one of the reasons I was awarded "most influential teacher".  

My career is helping people achieve their goals through education. To keep helping people, i've learned to meet them where they are. First of all, I am extremely patient. This is one of the most common things my clients say to me while I teach them a new skill. That is not to say that I cannot be assertive. As a high school teacher I simply wouldn't survive without the ability to speak up when necessary. I am also able to remain respectful and professional even in very stressful situations. Consider the phone calls I've made to the parents of failing students. I have needed to remain focused and respectful so that we can work past the emotions and work toward a solution.    With my friendly disposition and professionalism, I find it easy to work with colleagues, clients and supervisors.   

  As an educator, I have had the opportunity to work through the complexities involved in educational project management from the initial needs assessment on through development and implementation. A great deal of this work has been in the design and maintenance of instructional products for a wide range of backgrounds and skill sets. Examples include manuals, curricula, audiovisuals and online assessments. I have also developed and delivered training focused on improving and maintaining specific skill sets.   Professional development is a standard requirement for an educator. I am therefor constantly researching material and learning new teaching techniques.   

  My first two post-college years were spent in a foreign country. I had to learn both a new culture and a new language quickly. Despite these challenges, I was able to implement a nationwide health training program. At the same time, I wrote and edited a comprehensive curriculum guide for Peace Corps trainers in Armenia. This required me to understand the user's level of proficiency and prepare the documents accordingly.    Nearly every position I have held has involved substantial document creation including articles, reports, course descriptions and study guides. During my work in science education, I've created much of my own learning materials, taking complex concepts and making them both understandable and memorable. I also prepared laboratory instructions and guides which outlined proper procedures and warned students of common errors. I've carried this skill to my current position as a technology trainer. I create hardcopy and online software instructions using screenshots, graphics and text. Recently, I've begun blogging at benjamindarr.blogspot.com. There, I write about instructional technology, offering advice and reflecting on current trends.  

  Over the years, I have developed the organizational and planning skills to design and manage a wide variety of training projects. In my various roles, I have come to understand the complexities involved in project management from the initial assessment through development and implementation. As a teacher, I have also found new ways to utilize the principals of ADDIE. Technical skills have been imperative in these pursuits and I have honed these competencies through troubleshooting and using a variety of software and online tools. My current position requires me to train clients and design instructional products for a wide range of backgrounds and skill sets. I mentor teachers in basic computer skills and help them meet objectives through the appropriate use of technology. Afterwards, I follow up with educators to ensure the training produced the desired results.