Karen LaPlant

Biography

Karen LaPlant was a faculty member at Hennepin Technical College where she taught courses in Business and Information Technology for almost 30 years with the past 16 years online using Brightspace. LaPlant has a Masters in Instructional Technology from St. Cloud State University. Karen has presented at national conferences in Course Communication, Integrating Technology, Classroom of the Future, Quality, Security and Accessibility. She is a Certified Quality Matters Reviewer, ACBSP Accreditation reviewer and Instructional Designer/Curriculum Specialist

Karen P. LaPlant

612-735-9205, karenplaplant@gmail.com

EDUCATION

Master of Science in Information Technologies, St. Cloud State University 1999

Masters Portfolio "Integrating Technology in Higher Education”

Instructional Technology Graduate Certificate, St. Cloud State University 1998

Business Computer Information Systems, BES Degree & AS Degree, St. Cloud State University 1997

Leadership Academy, North Hennepin Community College 1999

SKILLS

• Curriculum development, Instructional design, UDL
• Accessibility and Assessment
• Quality Matters
• LMS Trainer
• Accreditation
• Training Modes: F2F, blended, online

AWARDS

D2L Award of Excellence from MinnState IT Center of Excellence for curriculum project 2021

Collaboration Award of Excellence at D2L IGNITE Regional User Conference 2014

President’s Spirit Award and Employee Keynote at Hennepin Technical Award 2013

Collaboration Award of Excellence at D2L National User Conference 2012

MnSCU Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL) Leader Award for Hennepin Technical College 2006

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Curriculum Developer/Instructional Designer, Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, MN 2018-2026

• Minnesota State IT Center of Excellence, Data Analytics, Cyber Security and AI Curriculum

FT Instructor-Business and Information Technology, Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park, MN 1989-2018

• Taught, developed, and wrote curriculum for face-to-face, blended and online courses in Computer,

IT and Business using D2L Brightspace. Semester credit courses in E-Business, Computer Security,

Operating Systems, Information Systems, HTML, Windows, Introduction to Computers, Help Desk/Support,

Computer Essentials in a Digital World, Office, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, Office Integration

Adjunct Instructor for Google IT Support & Proj Mgmt Professional Certificate, Minneapolis College, Mpls, MN 2023-2026

Adjunct Instructor, NW Technical College, Bemidji, MN 2023-2026

• Emerging Technologies, Network Essentials, Security Essentials, Business Apps, Intro to Medical Apps

Adjunct Instructor for Computer Essentials, Pine Technical College, Pine City, MN 2022-2026

Adjunct Instructor for Web Design using HTML, North Central University, Minneapolis, MN 2017-2019

Adjunct Instructor for Information Media, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN 2004-2009

• Under/graduate level courses in Information Quest, Research Strategies, Access to Information

PUBLICATION/WHITE PAPER

Book Co-Author "Designing Effective Teaching and Significant Learning" by Stylus, Fall 2019 2018-2019

Minnesota State Captioning ToolKit Resource 2016-2018

Guest Speaker at the College Board Conferences in Ft. Lauderdale, CA and Seattle, WA 2008-2009

• “Why Computer Skills Are Important in Achieving Academic Success and Improving Retention”

PRESENTATIONS

MN Summit on Technology & Learning (MSLT) – formerly MN eLearning Summit (MnLC) 2014-2025

• AI Tools, Digital Badges, digital literacy, computer security, course design, accessibility, LTI, Inclusivity

D2L Fusion National User Conference 2010-2024

• Advising, digital literacy, communication, quality, computer essentials, accessibility, LTI

Quality Matters National Conference 2014-2023

• Implementing QM, course design, course communication, course quality, AI, badges

D2L Connection Regional User Conference – formerly D2L IGNITE 2013-2019

• Classroom of Future, comm, security, digital lit, teaching online, accessibility, LTI

MnSCU IT Conference 2016-2018

• Computer security, digital literacy, prof dev training, accessibility and LTI

Hennepin Technical College-All About Me Day & Technology Workshops 2013-2017

• Computer security, digital literacy, productivity applications, accessibility, online quiz

STAR Symposium Virtual Conference 2014-2016

• Respondus Quizzing, accessibility

Quality Matters National Conference 2014-2021

• Implementing QM at your institution, Designing Effective Teaching and Significant Learning

MnSCU Realizing Student Potential and ITeach 2010-2015

• Information literacy, computer essentials, online exams, quiz security

MEMBERSHIPS/ASSOCIATIONS

NOCTI Subject Matter Expert for Business Information Processing

Quality Matters Instructional Designers Association (IDA)

ACBSP Accreditation Site Evaluator Team Member

Quality Matters Course Peer Reviewer & former Coordinator