About DeDee
EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE
DeDee Ludwig-Palit has been working at the intersection of education, science, and communication for over two decades. Her work has included impact-focused evaluation, research, instructional design, curriculum design, online education, user experience research and design, training and professional development, and long-range strategic planning.
DeDee has extensive experience in education, having authored an underwater robotics curriculum, the Grand Canyon Field School at Home curricula, curriculum and courses at the Museum of Science and Industry, online courses for best practices in nonprofit management, and digital learning courses at Arizona State University.
Her experience is backed by an evidence-based approach to education. DeDee has designed user experience and evaluation protocols and programs for a wide range of institutions. She also has both peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Museum Education.
Her work includes experience at Arizona State University, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, along with numerous contract roles.
When DeDee isn’t working, she can be found hiking, reading, paddling, or exploring the world in her camper with her husband and cats (Frodo and Samwise).
Recognition
Selected as a program fellow for the Getty Leadership Institute Executive Education Program for the Next Generation of Leaders, a blended professional development program focused on examining leadership, team dynamics, institutional needs, design thinking, and strategy.
Awarded Arizona State University President’s Award for Innovation for the “Innovating from Life” biomimicry series, a project based out of the NatureMaker active learning library.
Selected by the Ocean Exploration Trust to serve as an Educator-at-Sea on the E/V Nautilus, an ocean exploration vessel headed by Dr. Robert Ballard, the noted oceanographer who located the R.M.S. Titanic.
Co-authored and published an article in the Journal of Museum Education titled Simulation for Authentic Learning in Informal Education.
Nielsen Norman Group Certification in User Experience, with a specialty in Interaction Design (certification ID: 1049924).
Professional Experience
Inform Evaluation and Research, Researcher
Inform’s work focuses on environmental and science informal learning organizations and those who support learning in these contexts.
Coordinate and implement research and evaluation projects, including communicating directly with clients, coordinating activities, and managing timelines and deliverables.
Facilitate project discussions with representatives from organizations.
Develop strategic documents such as logic models and evaluation plans.
Review current literature to identify theoretical frameworks, promising practices, validated instruments, or methodologies relevant to a project.
Co-plan and facilitate evaluation capacity-building training as the projects arise.
Develop collection instruments such as surveys, interview guides, focus group guides, observation checklists, and rubrics.
Carry out or support data collection including survey administration and conducting interviews and focus groups.
DeDee Ludwig Consulting LLC, Learning and User Experience Consultant
Provide clients with services related to user experience research and design, instructional design, curriculum development, evaluation, and digital learning
Clients have included:
INFORM EVALUATION AND RESEARCH: Subcontracted to develop and facilitate a user experience research study of the Deep Ocean Education Project website and other projects.
GCON INC: Identify companywide cross-functional training opportunities, standardize processes, and develop means to address needs.
STAR HARBOR: Established department best practices and standards in instructional design and curriculum development; led strategic planning process to determine companywide ethos and core competencies
GRAND CANYON CONSERVANCY: Developed and authored the curriculum for Canyon Field School @ Home, a collaboration between the Grand Canyon Conservancy and Grand Canyon National Park
MARINE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION CENTER: Designed, developed, and authored a national underwater robotics curriculum
Arizona State University, Instructional Designer
Oversaw the design, development, and evaluation of online ASU course content, materials, interactives, multimedia, and other support materials consistent with established design processes
Coordinated production of instructional materials with subject matter experts, graphic artists, multimedia developers, and departmental partners
Used applications such as desktop content authoring tools, document creation applications, and presentation tools to develop custom products to meet user needs
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, VP of Public Engagement
Promoted to a key member of the senior leadership team, providing strategic vision, guidance, budgeting, and oversight for a portfolio of public-facing departments, including tours, special events, and education
Provided the leadership, vision, and long-range strategic planning for public programming, including a focus on inclusiveness and equity, to advance the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs and ideas
Oversaw and managed a staff of over 40 staff members, with a focus on creating a visitor-focused organizational culture
Fostered a culture of learning that emphasizes dialogue, imaginative use of learning and evaluation methods, creativity, and risk-taking in the development and deployment of on- and off-campus engagement programs
Blackbaud, Instructional Designer II
Designed and developed action-driven non-profit best practices courses created to elevate the thought leadership and nonprofit savvy of Blackbaud customers
Worked across the organization to catalog best practices and create engaging course content
Collaborated with a cross-functional team to design and develop effective training offerings that meet customer needs while applying best practices for effective adult learning
Worked across the organization to gather, consolidate, create, and maintain a set of non-profit best practices, wrote and edited training materials, and created course materials
Built productive relationships and collaborated effectively with subject matter experts, other instructional designers, and key stakeholders across the business to produce effective training offerings that best meet customer needs
Museum of Science and Industry, Manager of Student Experiences
Managed the implementation, development, and delivery of Student Experience programs that served over 22,000 people annually in accordance with the Center for Advancement of Science Education
Maintained relationships with external funders and collaborated with the External Affairs department on a range of corporate, foundation, and government grant applications and reports
Collaborated on the development of exhibits and their corresponding educational programs
Served as a liaison to create and maintain productive partnerships with external organizations, such as universities, school districts, and granting agencies
Directly hired, trained, supervised, and coached a team of seven full-time staff, volunteers, and interns
Adler Planetarium, Associate Director of Education
Provided intellectual leadership and strategic planning for the Student and Teacher Programs division
Guided and oversaw cycles of design, implementation, and evaluation/reflection for all student and teacher programs, including both developing new initiatives and increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of existing programs
Hired, trained, mentored, and supervised seven-member staff
Shedd Aquarium, Student Experiences Coordinator
Oversaw the development, implementation, and delivery of all K-12th grade school group programs that serve over 17,500 people annually
Hired, trained, mentored, and supervised a team of six science educators
Launched a citywide underwater robotics science club, teacher training, and regional competition in collaboration with the Marine Advance Technology Education Center
Created and implemented an evaluation plan for all school group and underwater robotics programs