NEIL RYAN: Porftolio
Welcome to my e-learning and technical communications portfolio
About me
A passionate, curious, problem-solver, in love with learning and supporting and developing my colleagues.
I am currently working as a Learning Systems Specialist in Anglo American, a leading global mining company, where I manage, enhance, support and innovate across a complex learning ecosystem for tens of thousands of colleagues across the globe. My previous role was as a Learning & Development Solutions Specialist, where I created a variety of learning content from traditional corporate compliance to operational safety training in virtual reality.
I have also as worked an Educational Technologist at a third level institution Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, after completing an MA in Technical Communication & E-Learning through University of Limerick with first class honours.
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I have many years of experience of working in educational and academic publishing across Ireland and the UK. I've had to ride the wave of digital change across education and publishing over the last decades, moving from traditional print products, to creating eBooks, video recordings, online assessments and other digital content. This change in professional practice, alongside my existing interest in technology and digital media, prompted me to complete the MA in Technical Communications and E-Learning and move into the technology enhanced learning space.
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Experiences in Anglo American
Learning Experience Platform Implementation
I led the initial implementation for our Degreed LXP in Anglo American in 2019, driving over 30,000 employees' self-development journeys. Additionally, I have been the technical admin and SME for the platform since then, providing support on education, technical integration and content curation across a variety of Group Functions and Business Operation environments.
Learning Technology Market Expertise
From changes in LMS, LXP, LCMS, xAPI and AI, I maintain a broad knowledge of every acronym and change in the learning technology space. I am regularly asked to speak at vendor customer summits, provide learning ecosystem insights to external research groups and am only too happy to speak for hours about shared challenges and opportunities with other colleagues across large enterprises and industry vendors.
Accelerators Leadership and Innovation Programme
I was nominated to participate in the Accelerators leadership and innovation development programme on top of my business as usual work. This involved months of leadership challenges, design thinking and stretching outside our comfort zone. It culminated in an innovation project challenge where I led our team to research, design, and actually physically create a prototype brick made from iron ore tailings waste. We presented this to CEOs and Heads of Engineering within the company with a 10 minute video I produced and edited in Camtasia for our team.
MA Studies: Sample Creative PROJECTS
Select one of the projects below to learn more about my skills and previous work.
For further examples please see my Google Drive.
This study examined how using a mobile device to access the online Cambridge Dictionary affects users and what that reveals about effective online dictionary design and usability.
Skills: writing; analysis; interviewing; technical skills; and presentation skills.
This assignment focused on creating a project proposal, storyboard and a sample digital learning resource for the Irish Leaving Certificate History curriculum.
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Skills: research; writing; design; and technical skills.
This project involved building and creating content for a website that teaches beginner hiking skills and writing an accompanying research report.
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Skills: HTML and visual design, research and writing.
This project involved creating an instructional document to be structured and marked up in XML with accompanying CSS.
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Skills: research; writing; and technical skills.
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This project involved creating a podcast on gamification and also tied in to a series of blog posts I had written on the subject.
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Skills: research; writing; and technical skills.
Note: A PDF version of my CV is also available on Google Drive.
Learning Systems Specialist: 2021-Present
Managing a complex learning ecosystem across a global, fast-changing, safety-critical environment
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Providing user support, education and governance on a broad range of learning technologies
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Analysing the overall learning technology market and current vendor roadmaps to deliver key input to overall HR Technology and Group Learning strategy
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Technical admin for our Degreed LXP instance. Overseeing the developmental learning platform for over 30,000 active users, with multiple content providers and bi-directional third party systems integrations​
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Leading our CoE team to enhance, support and integrate third party content to our learning management system
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Directing our virtual reality platform integrations for both learning content and hardware
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Assessing third party vendor offerings, facilitating large scale integration projects and mapping complex user data flows and journeys
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Leading projects with critical safety and production dependencies
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Key attributes: problem-solving, stakeholder and governance management, contract negotiation, high-level vision, understanding granular technical details, user experience design.
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Learning and Performance Specialist: 2018-2021
End to end instructional design, development and support in a high intensity multinational corporate environment
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Creating learning experiences in multiple languages, formats and brands for thousands of end users
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Working with a broad range of learning technologies and providing user support and education on learning management systems, record stores and experience platforms​
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Leading projects with multiple stakeholders, external third-parties and demanding business needs
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Key attributes: committed, adaptable, stakeholder management and communication
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Content Manager: Aug 2016–April 2018
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Managing the production process of multiple academic titles in print and digital format across a range of subjects.​
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Diligently working with other team members to manage titles, work with external suppliers and to keep authors informed, involved and happy
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Testing HTML and EPUB components of books
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Writing cover blurbs and sales points
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Managing budgetary concerns for each title
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Working on titles across varied academic subjects from political history to perioperative care
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Given responsibility for high profile authors and time sensitive titles
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Educational Technologist: May 2018-Sep 2018
Providing technical support and professional development in teaching enhanced learning
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Administrating the Moodle VLE: managing courses, users and plugins
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Creating video content in Camtasia, including a submission video for an award winning entry to the Jennifer Burke Educational Technology Award
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Using Articulate Presenter and Storyline to create course content, including professional development for academic staff​
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Researching new technological tools and teaching enhanced learning trends
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Key attributes: creativity, technical and pedagogical knowledge
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Managing Editor for Post-Primary Textbooks: 2009–2016
Editorial project management with a dual focus on text and digital components
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Editing, proofreading and managing multiple projects running concurrently with intricate dependencies
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Achieving tight print and digital production schedules within budget
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Liaising with designers, freelance editors, photo researchers, artists, editorial assistants and authors
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Working with authors and designers to structure and organise complex and highly-designed content, demonstrating an ability to think about the visual as well as textual implications
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Guiding authors through the editorial process and providing support throughout
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Key attributes: communication, dedication, organisation, problem-solving and a passion for great products
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Digital experience
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Undertaking more digital responsibilities than are typical for the managing editor role, due to my passion for digital projects
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Managing production schedules for digital resources in multiple formats
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Uploading and editing content on the CMS and online assessment site
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Developing basic HTML resources, and also creating and editing audiovisual content in Adobe Premiere
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Organising CD recordings including managing scripts, speakers and quality
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Working closely with the IT department to write and edit user documentation
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Presenting digital content to sales reps to help them to support and demonstrate our products.
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Communicating with designers and developers on feature requests, user interface suggestions and bug reports
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Liaising with third parties for production of assets for digital use, such as e-books, animations, icons and HTML assets
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Key attributes: ability to research and adapt to new digital processes; willingness to pitch in on new projects as required; aptitude for a technical role
Photo Researcher: 2009
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Meeting strict deadlines
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Handling administrative duties, including invoicing and rights clearance
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Liaising with authors and designers
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Maintaining a good rapport with photo suppliers while negotiating discounts
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Working on a variety of projects, including researching press photos for trade books, and contacting museums and archives for educational books; some of which required over 500 photos
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Key attributes: ability to juggle multiple projects; working closely with authors and other stakeholders to help create striking products; finding creative solutions to problems
Production Assistant: 2008–2009
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Coordinating various elements of the print production schedule
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Liaising with designers and members of staff
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Managing the digital archive
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Additional production duties, such as organising book covers and checking PDF proofs
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Key attributes: attention to detail and meeting daily targets
Editorial Assistant: 2008
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Proofreading, organising reprints, general administration
PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC HISTORY
Professional Experience
Academic Experience
MA Technical Communication & E-Learning: 2015–2017
First Class Honours Degree
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Studied e-learning theories and instructional design
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Created multimedia content such as animations and podcasts
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Produced content using XML, HTML and CSS
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Writing, clear precise content
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Evaluated design and usability of software applications
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Developed a web-based e-learning course on hiking skills for beginners
MA Literature & Publishing: 2007–2008
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Published a 130 page literary journal called Ropes. Responsibility for layout and design, website and posters. Basic InDesign, Photoshop and Dreamweaver usage.
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Studied editing, marketing and publishing workflows
BA New Media & English: 2007–2008
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Studied literature, sociology and technical writing
Continued Professional Development
2017 Cambridge University Press: Introduction to Management
2016 Publishing Training Centre: Progress in Editorial Skills
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2015 Publishing Training Centre: User Needs Analysis
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2013 Publishing Training Centre: Developing Digital Products with User-Centred Design
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2011 Publishing Training Centre: Editorial Project Management
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Additional Experience
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Leaving Certificate English grinds and volunteer work: Between 2005 and 2007 I gave one-on-one tutorials for the Leaving Certificate English course. I continued to give grinds at the St Vincent de Paul Homework Club at Ozanam house between 2009 and 2010. In 2015 I volunteered with the Suas Literacy programme in Ballyfermot, Dublin.
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First aid qualification
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Full Irish driver's licence
CONTACT ME
Thanks for reviewing my portfolio.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch through the contact form below.
