What It's Like to Be an Educational Developer with Mark Morton
Watch/Listen to this Episode What Is It Like as an Educational Developer, A Conversation with Mark Morton
Ever wondered what an educational developer does? In this episode of the Time We Discuss podcast, host Dan sits down with Mark Morton, an educational developer at the University of Waterloo in Canada, to explore his career, his transition from professor to developer, and his work with educational technology and open learning.
Who Is Mark Morton?
Mark Morton began his academic journey as a professor of 16th-century English literature after earning a PhD from the University of Toronto. He later transitioned into the role of educational developer, where he supports faculty and institutions in improving teaching effectiveness.
What Does an Educational Developer Do?
Mark describes his role as a “teacher of teachers.” Educational developers collaborate with professors, academic programs, and even entire universities to enhance the quality of teaching and learning. At the Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Waterloo, Mark specializes in educational technologies.
🔎 Related Keyword: Educational developer job description
How Educational Technology Has Evolved
During the interview, Mark reflects on how technology in education has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. From early online courses and clickers to tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, the digital classroom is more advanced than ever. He also shares how the COVID-19 pandemic forced a rapid pivot to remote teaching, pushing educational developers into the spotlight.
Supporting Open Educational Resources in Canada
Mark plays a key role in promoting Open Educational Resources (OER)—free, instructor-created textbooks and learning materials. He serves on various university committees to help guide both technical implementation and faculty adoption of open-access learning tools.
🔎 Related Keyword: Open Educational Resources Canada
From Literature Professor to Fiction Author
In addition to his academic work, Mark is a published author with five books to his name. After a long hiatus to raise his four adopted children, he returned to writing with The Headmasters, a young adult dystopian novel set in northern Ontario. The main character, Maple, was inspired by the resilience of his children.
📚 Learn more at: markmorton.ca
Final Thoughts from Mark Morton
Educational development is a dynamic, multifaceted field that blends pedagogy, technology, and human connection. Mark Morton's story is a reminder that careers in education can evolve in unexpected—and deeply meaningful—ways.
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