Paul Sparks - Resume

25021 Trailview, Lake Forest, CA 92630 - psparks@calstatela.edu - 949/951-5607

Director of Instructional Technologies, RKG Interactive, 1999-present
Direct instructional design efforts for industry clients. Review new instructional technologies. Manage trainng center for authorized Macromedia courses (Authorware, Dreamweaver, Flash, etc.)

Director of Training, EPOCH Internet, 1996-1999
Developed Internet University, a robust curriculum of technical courses (Internet architecture and security, web tools, client/server, networking, e-commerce and data base business solutions) delivered to over 1,000 employees and business partners. Performed needs analyses with IS/networking managers and coordinated technical/project management/developmental tools training with appropriate vendors and internal resources.  All training events were designed to facilitate team building and communication skills.
 
Produced a web-based Internet 101 course with 20 interactive technical modules using Shockwave, designed as an introduction to and review of basic concepts. Set pricing and policy for this online training product and our stand-up sales/product training.  Also created WebMentor, an online tool to assist sales managers in fine tuning product knowledge and sales skills of new representatives during their first 90 days, improving retention rates.  These efforts shifted pressure from traditional training methods to more efficient and cost effective technology based methods.

Directed corporate training vision, managed budget, tracked statistics and all employee training records. Managed two training labs (Irvine and D.C.) including hardware, projection systems, and networks. Hired and supervised three additional trainers/course designers to meet increasing training demands with business partners.  Sponsored Lunch and Learn, a very popular noontime brown bag seminar series. Directed four national sales and technical training summits, providing ongoing sales and technical training, vendor/ reseller relationship building, and integrated product knowledge to a growing number of employees (max. 320) based on market trends and corporate strategies.

Training Technologies Specialist, Rockwell, Information Systems Center, 1988-1996
Managed a nine month (85 course) retraining effort at corporate offices, working with managers on training needs and training vendors on quality and cost issues. Directed three corporate-wide training technology conferences and chaired the Rockwell Education Council for two years.
 
Expanded the company-wide satellite and mainframe computer-based training programs.  Built a system to enable a visually impaired employee to administer the nation-wide mainframe CBT system.  Created and maintained a high tech learning lab with seven stations featuring interactive videodisk instruction, satellite broadcasts, and networked computer-based training.  Developed an interactive video employee orientation program to more efficiently instruct new employees on company goals and operations.

Applied technology solutions (computer-based training, interactive video, mainframe courses) to training needs at many Rockwell Divisions by creating proof-of-concept projects/demonstrations and encouraging remote training teams. Built Rockwell's initial corporate web site, coordinated the development and integration of divisional web sites, and created a corporate intranet which proved extremely effective and popular. A new department was created to handle over $300K in internal projects
generated during the first few months of operation.

Lead three instructional software development teams for interactive courseware projects with NASA (astronaut training), the US Navy (sonar processing - $750K), and the Royal Australian Air Force (avionics troubleshooting - $1.8M). Designed and managed development of PathFinder, an interactive fault isolation and training product for Allen-Bradley's (a division of Rockwell) industrial automation programmable controllers.  This product was well received by customers and cut training time required in expensive regional labs.  This intense six month effort resulted in a nomination for the chairman's TEAM award, for extraordinary teamwork.
 
Adjunct Professor, California State University, Los Angeles, 1987-present
Taught various courses in our Instructional Design and Technology masters program.  Have taught hundreds of students how to design and develop computer-based education using the best industry tools (Authorware, Quest, and Macromedia Director). Have helped many to transition into industry jobs.

Assisted growth of the program by developing new curriculum for courses in project management, interactive video design, Internet training, and educational multimedia authoring, and courseware evaluation.  Consulted with and produced technical seminars for the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Currently designing VRML worlds for use in the K-12 Team’s distance learning program.

Education
Earned Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Technology from the University of Southern California in 1996. My thesis studied the effects of instructional graphics and analogies on learning hard-to-see content such as how the Internet works.  Previously earned a Master of Arts degree in Instructional Design and Technology from California State University, Los Angeles where I continue as a part-time instructor.  My Bachelor of Science degree in biology was earned at Brigham Young University with the help of a leadership scholarship.

PC/Software Skills
Competent with Windows 97/MacOS and all previous versions, Office 98 including Outlook and PowerPoint, Multimedia and HTML development tools including Photoshop, Macromedia Director, Dreamweaver, Shockwave, Flash, Quest, and Authorware.

Other
I have been a member of the American Society for Training and Development and the International Interactive Communications Society.  I am a frequent local presenter on Internet and multimedia topics.