Education

PhD. in Instructional Technology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (2008)
My research interests include the educational applications of digital, mobile and pervasive games, and the potential use of virtual learning environments for beginning readers.

BA in English, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA (1991)
Minor in Religious Studies. Graduated magna cum laude

Employment History

Instructional Technology Specialist (2005-present)
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center

  • Project Manager for the PlugGED In initiative, a proposed contextualized GED/technology curriculum to transition high school drop outs into technology sector jobs.Spearheaded statewide project, in coordination with the Office of the Secretary of Technology of Virginia and local cable companies, to provide powerful GED-related broadcast content to digital cable subscribers across the state of Virginia.
  • Manage budgetary, personnel, instructional, and administrative aspects of eLearn Virginia, a statewide distance education program that provides web-based GED and workplace instruction to adult Virginians.
  • Research, identify and recommend emergent technologies to use to expand and improve educational services to eLEARN Va students.
  • Provide technology leadership and guidance to professional staff and faculty of the Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center and to the adult education field at large.
  • Initiated partnerships with statewide Virginia Employment Commission offices and social service agencies to offer on-site computer-based assessments and education to Food Stamp Employment and Training (FSET) clients.
  • Directed partnership with Institute for Connecting Science Research to the Classroom (ICSRC) and NASA Center for Distance Learning (CDL) to develop online curriculum for low-level adult readers.

Educational Technology Office Graduate Assistant, 2003-2005
Educational Technology Office, Ruffner Hall, Curry School of Education, Charlottesville, VA

  • Trained School of Education faculty and students in various software and hardware applications.
  • Assisted with migration of Curry Admissions Office to electronic application system.
  • Identified effective ways for faculty to incorporate instructional technologies into existing curricula.
  • Built and maintained faculty web sites and database applications.
  • Researched new technologies to determine their applicability to faculty and staff projects.

Instructor, 2001-2003
Henrico County Jail East Educational Services, Barhamsville, VA

  • Instructed Pre-GED, literacy and ESOL classes to inmates
  • Administered and evaluated the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE)
  • Designed and implemented an improved curriculum in response to students educational needs
  • Oversaw implementation of technology into ABE and GED curriculum

Instructor, 2002-2003
Henrico County Adult Education Center, Highland Springs, VA

  • Taught evening Accelerated GED classes to adults
  • Instructed semester-long computer classes in Excel, Word, FrontPage and other software applications
  • Coordinated with the Department of Social Services to instruct the Learning, Employment & Training (LEAP), an employment and education class for low-income mothers on public assistance
  • Responsible for gathering and inputting class and student data for federal NRS funding report

Workplace Instructor, 1998-2002
Philip Morris Employee Development Center (EDC), Richmond, VA

  • Created, updated and revised training manuals and course curricula
  • Taught Math & Measurement training courses for hourly employees in Fixer program
  • Trained new staff members and students on educational software and supervised a small staff of professional teachers
  • Coordinated teacher schedules and quarterly class offerings
  • Maintained computer lab, updated lab software and set-up presentation equipment for workshops and classroom demonstrations

Teaching Experienc

EDLF 345: Teaching with Technology-Special Education
Curry School of Education, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

This course provides an introduction of effective, standards-based ways of integrating technology into classrooms, focusing the Special Education content area. Students learn how to evaluate and use basic hardware and software applications, identify best practices, and effectively apply these tools into lesson plans. Students also develop an electronic portfolio of their class work.

EDLF 546: Software Applications
http://richardsebastian.com/546
Curry School of Education, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Software Applications in Education (EDLF 546) is a graduate-level course that introduces students to various software applications and their educational uses; fosters discussion on best uses and practices of technology in education; and allows students to produce an electronic portfolio demonstrating his/her technical competencies to current or future employers.

EDLF 707: Digital Media Development
http://richardsebastian.com/707
Curry School of Education, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

This class provides undergraduate and graduate students a hands-on introduction to current methods of producing various forms of digital multimedia, including digital photo editing, digital video production, podcasting, and web design. Each class includes introductory lectures, hands-on assignments, reading discussions and, time permitting, supervised lab time.

EDLF 703: Educational Game Design (co-instructor )
http://richardsebastian.com/703
Curry School of Education, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Building on instructional design, video production, and computer-based development skills, this course explores various aspects of educational game design, including fundamentals of game design and game evaluation, as well as the opportunity for students to use these concepts to design their own educational game.

Presentations, Workshops, & Awards

*peer reviewed

Presentations

  • *Sebastian, R. (2007). eLEARN Virginia: A new e-learning program for adult Virginians in need of GED and Workplace Education. Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Ed-Media 2007 World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia, & Telecommunications, Vancouver, British Columbia.
  • *Sebastian, Richard (2006). Development of Social Problem-solving Networks in the Interactive Web-based Game The Beast. Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Proceedings, E-Learn 2006 World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, & Higher Education, Honolulu, Hawaii.
  • Sebastian, Richard (2005). Development of Social Problem-solving Networks in the Interactive Web-based Game The Beast (Proposed Research). Fifth Educational Multimedia Congress, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Workshops

  • Sebastian, Richard (2007). Distance Learning in Adult Education. Regional Commission of Adult Basic Education, Williamsburg, VA.
  • Sebastian, Richard and Jason Guard (2007). Blogs, Wikis, & Podcasts. 2007 Literacy Fair, Southside Virginia Community College, Keysville, Virginia.
  • Sebastian, R. (2004). Digital Storytelling in the Classroom. International Leadership for Educational Technology (ILET) Visiting Scholor Program. Grupo de Investigación Enseñanza y Aprendizaje Multimedia (GREAM), Universidad de Barcelona.
  • Fanning, E., Sebastian, R., & Warren, K. (2003). Digital Storytelling Workshop. Center for Multicultural & Human Services (CMHS), Falls Church, VA.

Awards

  • Visiting Scholar (2004). International Leadership for Educational Technology (ILET), Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Finalist (2004), Adrenaline Film Project, Virginia Film Festival, Charlottesville, VA.
  • Film selection (2004), Vinegar Hill Film Festival, Charlottesville, VA

Publications

*peer reviewed

  • *Sebastian, R. (2007). eLEARN Virginia: A new e-learning program for adult Virginians in need of GED and Workplace Education. Proceedings. Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Ed-Media 2007 World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia, & Telecommunications, Vancouver, British Columbia.
  • *Sebastian, R. & Kinzie, M. (2006). Development of Social Problem-solving Networks in the Interactive Web-based Game The Beast. Proceedings. Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). E-Learn 2006 World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, & Higher Education, Honolulu, Hawaii.
  • Sebastian, R., video for “The Airplane” by One Ring Zero (2005). Addendum DVD. B&W, 16 mm film & digital video. 2 min.
  • Hammond, T. & Sebastian, R. (2005). Digital Image and Video Editing Software. Teaching with digital images: Acquire, analyze, create, communicate. Editors: Bull, G.L., & Bell, L. Published by the International Society for Technology in Education

Technology Skills

Learning/content management system experience

  • Blackboard support and use
  • Moodle
  • Joomla & Drupal

Web design (including HTML hand coding and CSS)

  • Macromedia DreamWeaver
  • HomeSite, FTP, SSH
  • experience withh CSS & JavaScript

Graphic design

  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Macromedia Fireworks
  • Macromedia Flash

Digital video production and editing

  • Super 8, 16mm film, VHS, digital video
  • FinalDraft
  • FinalCut Pro
  • iMovie
  • Adobe Premiere

Digital audio production and editing

  • digital recording
  • Amadeus
  • Audacity
  • podcasting

Video streaming compression and delivery

  • QuickTime real streaming server experience
  • MakeRefMovie
  • QuickTime Pro

Programming & database

  • Flash/Action Script familiarity
  • PHP/MySQL web database experience
  • Access/SQL