Design with purpose. Develop for application. Lead for impact.

This portfolio showcases my development as an instructional design and learning and development professional through academic and professional projects that demonstrate my application of learning theory, instructional design principles, educational technology, and project management practices. My work emphasizes identifying learning needs, designing purposeful instruction, and developing engaging learning experiences that support practical application.

Key Areas of Strength

I consider needs analysis, curriculum and learning experience design, and experiential and simulation-based learning among my strongest competencies. Through my graduate studies and professional experience, I have developed and applied these competencies, along with stakeholder collaboration and project coordination, to create learner-centered instructional solutions.

• Needs analysisIdentifying performance gaps, learner characteristics, and instructional contexts to establish the foundation for instructional solutions.
• Curriculum and learning experience designTranslating identified needs into structured, purposeful learning experiences.
• Experiential and simulation-based learningDesigning realistic opportunities for learners to practice decision-making, communication, problem-solving, and policy application before encountering similar situations on the job.
• Stakeholder collaboration and project coordinationLeading initiatives that require communication, planning, and collaboration across multiple departments, and working with subject-matter experts to translate specialized knowledge into effective instruction.
• Assessment and evaluationUsing assessment data and stakeholder feedback to continuously improve learning experiences.

I am continuing to build my proficiency in accessibility and universal design, eLearning development, and generative AI and AI-assisted coding to create inclusive, engaging, and interactive digital learning experiences.

How the Portfolio Is Organized

The portfolio presents projects and supporting artifacts in three areas. Related artifacts are presented together within individual projects, illustrating the progression from needs analysis through instructional design and development.

Collectively, these projects reflect my commitment to purposeful design, meaningful collaboration, and practical application, guided by a central question: What will learners need to do with what they have learned?

Nick Dalton is an instructional design and higher education professional who believes learning is most valuable when people can apply it. His approach centers on a simple question: What will learners need to do with what they have learned? From there, he creates purposeful, application-based learning experiences that help learners understand not only what they need to know, but why it matters.

As the Assistant Director of Residential Education for Housing and Residence Life at the University of Tampa, Nick leads training and professional development for approximately 250 student staff members. His work spans needs analysis, curriculum and learning experience design, synchronous and asynchronous instruction, assessment, and evaluation. He is especially passionate about experiential and simulation-based learning, designing realistic opportunities for learners to practice decision-making, communication, problem-solving, and policy application before encountering similar situations on the job.

Nick is completing an M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology at the University of Tampa, where his graduate studies have strengthened his ability to use learning theory, accessibility and universal design, educational technology, and evidence to make intentional design decisions. He also explores generative AI and AI-assisted coding to develop and refine customized, interactive digital learning experiences and web-based resources. In his professional work, Nick collaborates with subject-matter experts to translate specialized knowledge into effective instruction and uses assessment data and stakeholder feedback to continuously improve learning experiences.

Before transitioning into residential education, Nick spent approximately five years in financial aid administration, where training professional staff and helping students and families navigate complex regulations strengthened his interest in making complicated information understandable and useful. He earned a B.S. in Biology with high honors from Eckerd College, where he received awards recognizing his writing, leadership, and service.

As Nick continues his journey as an instructional designer, he hopes to create learning that remains intentional, practical, and designed around the people it is meant to serve. Nick resides in Tampa, Florida.

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After graduation, I expect to continue in my role as Assistant Director of Residential Education at the University of Tampa, where I lead recruitment, selection, training, and professional development initiatives for student staff. These responsibilities allow me to apply instructional design and project management principles to initiatives that support staff preparation, performance, and ongoing development. Looking ahead, my professional goal is to pursue opportunities in instructional design, learning and development, and project management within higher education or the corporate sector. I am especially drawn to roles where I can combine instructional strategy, project leadership, educational technology, and assessment to move initiatives from identified needs to effective solutions. Whether managing a project or designing a learning experience, I want to create work that is purposeful, collaborative, and responsive to the people it serves.

Through my graduate studies and professional practice, I have developed experience across the full instructional design process while building complementary strengths in project management. I consider needs analysis, curriculum and learning experience design, and experiential and simulation-based learning among my strongest competencies, as I regularly apply these skills to identify training needs, develop meaningful instructional experiences, and create opportunities for learners to practice applying their knowledge. I have also developed strong skills in stakeholder collaboration and project coordination through leading initiatives that require communication, planning, and collaboration across multiple departments. While I have practical experience in assessment and evaluation, I recognize opportunities to further strengthen my ability to measure the longer-term impact of instruction on learner performance. Additionally, I continue to develop my proficiency in accessibility and universal design, eLearning development, and generative AI and AI-assisted coding, particularly as I explore new approaches to creating inclusive, engaging, and interactive digital learning experiences.

As I continue to grow professionally, I aspire to take on leadership roles where I can guide projects from strategy through implementation, bring people and ideas together, and develop solutions that improve individual and organizational performance. At the center of my work is a question that continues to shape how I approach both learning and problem-solving: What will people need to do with what they have learned? I hope to build a career defined by intentional design, meaningful collaboration, continuous improvement, and practical impact.

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University of Tampa

Fall 2024 (08/26/2024) - Fall 2026 (12/17/2026)

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Core Courses

Elective Courses

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