About Me

My Background

Hi, I’m Sunila [Soo-NEE-la]. I’m a writer, editor, and instructional designer specializing in creating academic curriculum and online courses. My background includes lesson and assessment development for distance learning (both printed and online materials) and online instruction. In 2020, I became a freelancer.

What I can offer you

Are you looking for a learning content writer and editor who can work with various tools to create online learning or other educational materials? Here’s a list of what I can do for you:

Curriculum development and instructional design:

  • Design lessons, learning activities, and assessments.
  • Create storyboards for page layouts and video content.
  • Create supplemental educational resources.
  • Perform substantive (developmental) editing. 
  • Copyedit following style guides and house style sheets/brand guides. 
  • Review and edit materials for diversity, inclusion, and authenticity.
  • Conduct fact checks and library research.
  • Develop MOOCs in Coursera.
  • Create educational materials for printed formats.

LMS skills:

  • Build content in various learning management systems including Blackboard, Articulate Rise, Coursera, and Moodle.
  • Determine useful LMS activity and assessment tools to gauge and improve learners’ experiences.
  • Conduct learner usability testing in online courses.

Information and media research | image editing:

  • Research images, including public domain and Creative Commons content.
  • Edit photos and illustrations using various image editing software.
  • Conduct text searches for excerpting and reproduction.
  • Work with project managers to secure permissions for text and image reproductions.
  • Curate credible informative and educational content for stakeholders.

Accessibility and UX:

  • Write alt text and accessible video scene descriptions.
  • Write and edit for plain language.
  • Create accessible Microsoft Word documents.
  • Test the learner experience in online learning platforms and LMSs.
  • Work with technical support teams during QA testing. 
  • Write process documentation, job aids, support tickets, and software feature requests.

Generative AI Skills:

  • Use generative AI to brainstorm lesson ideas, research topics, create outlines, and conduct initial searches of primary and secondary sources. Create prompts to maximize search results.

Experience

Online instructor: For 7 years, I facilitated asynchronous, independent study courses for teen and adult learners in introductory psychology, study strategies, writing and grammar, and basic life skills.

Online course development: Over 13 years of experience building online course content in various learning management systems and platforms including Blackboard, Moodle, Articulate Rise, and Coursera. Create courses following accessibility, diversity, and inclusion guidelines.

QA testing: 5 years of experience testing online courses, documenting detailed review feedback, and updating guidelines for creating accessible content.

Curriculum writer and editor: I have several years of experience working in the following subject areas: career exploration and planning, academic integrity, writing skills, mental health topics, internet literacy and website evaluation (including misinformation and disinformation), American and British literature, American and world history, introductory French grammar and conversation, office and technology skills.

Diverse representation in educational materials: A core part of my editing work is reviewing content for accessibility, inclusion, and accurate representation.

I hold an MSEd specializing in instructional design and technology and a BA in psychology from Purdue University Northwest.

Let’s connect on LinkedIn!

Storytelling

I’m an aspiring fiction author, and in my years learning the craft, I have not only gained skills in storytelling, but also developed a keener awareness of writing and researching for diversity, authenticity, and accessibility.

I’m currently working on a series of children’s picture books and a mystery novel for adults. One of my poems, “Soft Sol,” was published in Indiana University Northwest’s literary journal, Spirits Literary Magazine.

In 2017, I was awarded a Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Conference Scholarship by KidLit Nation for one of my picture book manuscripts. KidLit Nation is an organization that helps serve underrepresented writers and illustrators of children’s books and promotes diversity in literature.

Memberships

ACES: The Society for Editing

12×12 Picture Book Challenge

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI); I served as an SCBWI Illinois Membership Co-Chair for four years.