Selected Teaching Experience
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COMM_ST 101-2-2: Communication in Context: Analysis & Research: Design Research for Communication (Instructor of Record, Winter 2026 & 2025 - Northwestern University)
The second course moves beyond the introduction offered in Communication Studies 101-1 through additional skills training and expanded research and analytic assignments. This section will focus on developing research, analysis, and writing skills through hands-on experience building upon the focus of Professor Long in the area of design research for public science and technology communication. Students will gain hands-on experience with design research methods. They will apply their skills in a project where they iteratively design an intervention to foster broader public understanding of subjects in science and/or technology. No prior knowledge of design or technology is needed to take this course.
COMM_ST 395: Interactive Museum Exhibit Design (Instructor of Record, Fall Quarter 2023 - Northwestern University)
This course is for undergraduate students interested in the design of interactive museum exhibits. Students will engage with readings about the role museums play in public education/communication, how to design museum exhibits, the role technology can play in making museums interactive, and methods for evaluating learning and engagement at museum exhibits. Readings will primarily focus on interactive exhibits for science communication, with secondary opportunities to explore other types of museum exhibits. Individual assignments will include analyzing and presenting on an existing museum exhibit and creating a design concept/plan for a novel museum exhibit. Students will work in groups towards the end of the quarter to develop an in-depth design and evaluation plan for a novel museum exhibit and, as the final project, create a paper prototype of the exhibit. No previous design or technology experience is needed for students to enroll in this course.
MSLCE 529: Managing AI in the Creative Industries (Co-Instructor of Record with Profs. Leslie DeChurch and Ignacio Cruz - Northwestern University)
This professional masters course includes three components each taught by faculty whose research and practice are at the forefront of AI in organizations. We’ll explore the essentials of leveraging AI in the workplace, from developing a digital mindset to understanding AI's role in team dynamics and enhancing AI literacy for individual and workplace advancement. Students will engage in leadership activities, case studies, and interactive discussions to critically apply AI, assess its ethical implications, and harness its potential for creative problem-solving in professional settings. In Professor Long’s component, students will build their AI literacy, learning competencies that enable them to critically evaluate AI technologies; communicate and collaborate effectively with and about AI; and use AI as a tool online, at home, and in the workplace. Building on this foundation, students will learn about AI and creativity, critically examining how AI affects creative workflows and exploring how AI can support their own creative ideation. We will conclude this section by leveraging speculative design to explore future opportunities and challenges with AI in the workplace, building futures thinking skills that are critical for leaders in the AI era. Throughout this section of our course, students will engage in reading discussions, participate in interactive group activities, engage with current AI technologies, and critically examine the effects of current AI technologies on creative work.
MTS 525: Special Topics: Speculative Design for Human-AI Communication (Instructor of Record, Winter Quarter 2025, Fall Quarter 2022 - Northwestern University)
In this graduate seminar, students will explore issues related to human-AI communication and collaboration through weekly readings and design prompts. Students will engage in speculative and critical design activities where they imagine future possibilities and alternate trajectories for human-AI interaction. In-class discussion of readings, design projects and critiques, and interactive lectures form the basis of this course. Students do not need to have any prerequisite technical knowledge or design experience, just an interest in the subject matter.
MTS 525: Qualitative Methods for Technology Use & Design (Instructor of Record, Fall Quarter 2023 - Northwestern University)
This course is for graduate students who will conduct qualitative research on the behavioral and social aspects of technology use and technology design. The objective of this course is to give graduate students practical, hands-on experience with observation, interviewing, and qualitative analysis techniques. The course is run as a working seminar. Students are expected to collect their own qualitative data throughout the term. Students are also responsible for selecting and leading discussion on weekly readings. Assignments throughout the term will allow students to apply the methods discussed in class. In addition to four assignments, students will submit a final course paper in which they are expected to apply the methods learned about in the course.
CMN 101: First-Year Seminar on Creative AI & Performance (Co-Instructor of Record with Dr. Thomas DeFrantz, Spring Quarter 2024 & 2023 - Northwestern University)
In this course, students will explore how to use AI-generated art as inspiration and/or content for performance pieces. Students will first learn about how to create dynamic visual imagery using generative AI technologies, such as DALL-E and Stable Diffusion. They will then creatively explore how to use AI-generated art to inform storytelling through performance. Throughout the course, students will explore questions such as the role generative AI could/should play in performance, how to craft machine learning models and datasets to generate artistic outputs, and how to performatively tell stories using visual imagery. No prior technical knowledge or performance experience is needed for this course, just an interest in and enthusiasm for the content area.
CS 4660: Foundations of Educational Technology (Instructor of Record, Summer 2019 - Georgia Tech)
This is a cross-listed in-person undergraduate/graduate course that introduces students to contemporary educational theories and their implications for the design of educational technology across a variety of scales and settings (e.g., schools, universities, museums, massive open online courses, online communities). Students also explore equitable and expansive learning design practices through a team design project. In-class discussion of readings, design challenges, assignments, and interactive lectures form the basis of this course.
The primary goal of this class is for students to understand the basic assumptions, concepts, and principles of different educational theories, determine the implications of each theory for the design of educational technology, and critically assess and design educational technology in order to compare and contrast theories and their usefulness across different settings. Secondary objectives include improving upon students’ ability to read and write critically, to practice their design skills, and to learn concepts related to equity and education.