About Me
My name is Breawna Psihogios and I live in Des Moines, IA with my husband and our cat Piper.
I am extremely curious by nature and I am always looking for new challenges. This has led me to become what I believe is best described as a “hobby collector”. I have tried everything from furniture restoration to pottery, but the hobbies that sustain most of my time (and money) are gardening and reading. I can be easily convinced to try almost anything at least once- except underwater cave diving. Just the thought of that is a workout for my adrenal glands!
When I am not cycling through my ever growing list of hobbies and interests, you might find me exercising my repository of random facts at trivia night, or finding new ways to humble myself at CrossFit.
My Journey to Instructional Design
My journey to becoming an instructional designer started in the classroom as an 8th grade English teacher. My first year teaching took an unexpected turn when it was interrupted by COVID-19 and the subsequent closure of schools. Although online learning initially proved challenging, I quickly learned how to harness the digital tools and platforms available to transform my virtual classroom.
Recognizing the transformative potential of technology, I took it upon myself to become a resource for my colleagues, guiding them on how to effectively leverage digital tools to create engaging and impactful learning experiences as well.
Leadership in Action: Empowering Educators Through LMS Integration
My commitment to continuous improvement earned me the title of Model Teacher after only my third year of teaching. During my time in this leadership position I developed and led a semester-long professional development course for teachers focused on effectively integrating the district’s Learning Management System, Canvas, into course curriculum to increase student achievement.
A Learner-Centric Approach to Instructional Design
My goal in developing this training was to steer clear of the dreaded "information dump", which is all too common in employee workplace training and oftentimes fails to induce tangible changes in employee behavior. Instead, I aimed to design activities that were actually going to help teachers do their job with less frustration and more confidence.
A Natural Transition
The success of this endeavor, coupled with my passion for creating engaging learning experiences, naturally paved the way for my transition into the field of instructional design. As an instructional designer, I love being able to combine my passion for learning, innate problem-solving abilities, strong writing skills and creativity to design engaging learning experiences.
My Life Through Photos
