Resume

Resume of Barbara Opyt

Summary of Qualifications

  • Independent designer and developer of e-learning, instructors-led, and blended training programs.
  • Training professional with a graduate degree in Adult and Organizational Learning and 15+ years experience in technical and corporate training programs.
  • Experienced in developing consensus on course goals and objectives through focus group research, needs and task analysis, writing clear learning objectives, and design storyboards.
  • Strategic development of training capabilities spanning from customer/end-user information sharing systems to partner technical certification programs.
  • An effective team leader with a player-coach style of management.

Professional Accomplishments

Current Independent Design and Development Projects

I am currently enjoying my first year of independent work and getting back to my roots of instructional design. Here is a sampling of projects completed this year:

  • Storyboards for e-learning titles at University of Texas Petroleum Extension Service (PETEX)
  • Instructor manual development and consulting for International School of Professional Driving (IAPD)
  • Course manuals and book writing projects with Keller Williams KWU and KW Commercial
  • I am in the process of becoming a certified yoga instructor, with hopes of working in yoga curriculum development and teacher training.

Training Design and Development

  • Implemented an innovative blended online/classroom training program for partners of Troux Technologies, which reduced consultant downtime by 60%.
  • Lead projects and contributed to a wide variety of e-learning projects including a CD-based interactive tutorial for oil exploration hardware and software for Schlumberger, Inc., interactive media scripts for a World Cultures CBT targeted for middle-school students for Ignite Learning, and multiple SCORM-compliant technical and sales training modules for Dell, Inc.
  • Added additional value to customer training programs by researching and incorporating staff consultant’s best practice methods at Troux Technologies.

Training Delivery

  • Consistent “excellent” reviews from students in virtual and classroom training events by focusing on teaching to objectives and delivering courses with a highly interactive style.
  • Received CEO’s award for delivering values-based new hire training programs during a period of rapid hiring at Ventix Systems.
  • Higher Education experience teaching degree program courses at Virginia College, managing IT career education programs at UT Austin, and coordinator of certification training for Austin Community College, High-Tech Institute.

Training Program Management

  • Built training organizations from scratch for Troux Technologies, Ventix Systems, Question Technologies, and Austin Data Systems.
  • Developed talented teams of course developers, trainers, and technical writers with effective use of contract resources and outsourcing.
  • Member of new product launch teams, contributing strategies for end-user acceptance and customer adoption.
  • Member of the Troux professional services management team that has been profitable for twenty+ quarters. Coordinated technical knowledge-sharing between development, support, and services organizations.
  • Implemented methodologies for the rapid development of training programs and materials at Troux Technologies and implemented a single-source content strategy to support a new software release at Question Technologies.

Work History

  • Independent instructional design and development       2001-2003,  2009-present
  • Part-time Faculty, Virginia College    2002 – 2003, 2009-present
  • Director, IT Education and Development, University of Texas at Austin    2008 – 2009
  • Director, Training Services, Troux Technologies    2003 – 2008
  • Coordinator, High Tech Institute, Austin Community College    2002
  • Course Developer / Instructor / Tech Writer, Ventix Systems / Question Technologies    1998 – 2001
  • Course Development Team Lead, ETI, Inc.    1997 – 1998
  • Manager, Education Services, Austin Data Systems    1988 – 1996

Education and Certification

  • M.Ed, Curriculum and Instruction: Adult and Organizational Learning, University of Texas, Austin.
  • B.S., Mankato State University, Mankato, Minnesota.
  • ITIL Foundations Certified, Microsoft Certified Trainer, Windows NT Product Specialist, Novell Certified NetWare Engineer, Enterprise CNE, Master CNE, Certified NetWare Instructor

Technical Skills

  • Applications: MS Office, Project. Visio, FrameMaker, HTML, XML, CSS, Metis Modeling, WordPress
  • Computer OS and Hardware: Windows 2000, NT, XP, Mac OS, UNIX (end-user), PC and Networking hardware and communication protocols
  • Development tools: SVN, CVS, VSS, Bugzilla, JavaDocs, Robohelp
  • Databases: Oracle, SQL Server (admin, basic SQL)
  • Multimedia development: Captivate, Camtasia, Dreamweaver, Flash (basic editing)
  • Web conferencing: Live Meeting, WebEx, NetMeeting, Adobe Connect
  • Learning Content Management Systems: KEES, EEDO

Publications and Presentations

  • “Instructional Strategies for E-Learning” delivered to ASTD ID SIG, May, 2003
  • “Switch-Hitting in Electronic Publishing”, Internet & Java Advisor, February 1997.
  • “Make the Internet Your Notes Network”, Lotus Notes Advisor, December 1996.
  • “Collaborate to Develop Your Web Content”, Internet & Java Advisor, November 1996.
  • Lotus Notes for Web Workgroups, Robert Dale and Barbara Opyt, Onword Press, 1996.