Dr. Sandra Poirier has been employed at Middle Tennessee State University, since 2005 currently as a Professor of Nutrition and Food Science. She received her B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from Florida State University and University of Arizona, respectively. Her doctorate in Adult Education and Human Resources Development was received in 1998 from Florida International University in Miami, Florida with her dissertation in the area of health-related quality of life. She has been a licensed dietitian since 1986. Prior to coming to MTSU, Dr. Poirier taught three years at Zayed University in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Additionally, she has worked at the University of Florida Extension Service, Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University, University of Arizona Extension Service, and Alberta Agriculture, Alberta, Canada.
Dr. Poirier has more than 15 years of international teaching experience working in culturally diverse environments. Her strengths include creating innovative educational programs with a focus on nutrition and food science, food and culture, identifying appropriate outreach efforts to solve community problems, and empowering students for successful careers. She has been recognized for her ability to create and teach online courses, work as an advisor for student organizations, and creating positive educational environments for optimal learning. In February 2020, she was invited to participate in the United Nation’s Commission for Social Development in New York City. She has published over 40 journal articles and been invited to speak in Malaysia, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Austria, Puerto Rico, Iceland, Australia, Greece, and the Andros Islands in the Caribbean.
Dr. Poirier will be co-presenting with Dr. Mary Ann Remsen.
Sustainable Online Instructional Models
An extraordinary global pandemic has affected society in many ways most notably in the transformation of distance learning through online instruction. Most schools and universities were unprepared and ill equipped due to limited use of technology to deliver instruction in a virtual context. A transformational approach to support learning through virtual structures aligned to curriculum requires an examination of best practices to support outcomes for students and faculty. A digital model to deliver a personalized student experience organized in domains to revolutionize learning focusing on the whole learner across the lifecycle through a digital framework with emphasis on demand and discovery, learning design, learner experience, and work and lifelong learning.
Digital learning will also require a reexamination of entire organizations and institutions by identifying barriers and structures that impede learning. The development of virtual structures that can be delivered effectively and consistently to meet the needs of learners will require organizational change by adapting institutional processes and capabilities. In this presentation you will be introduced to digital transformation of online models of education, a higher education digital framework, tools to enhance digital instructional strategies, and digital capabilities affecting the learner.