Timothy M. Stafford, PhD

Director of Online and Graduate Academic Affairs & Professor @ St. Thomas University

About

Online discussion has become one of the weakest elements of modern learning design. In many courses, it has been reduced to compliance—students post, respond, and disengage, with limited evidence of deep thinking or meaningful interaction. The issue is not participation—it’s structure. Traditional discussion models were never designed to support sustained dialogue, adaptive thinking, or real intellectual engagement in online environments. My work focuses on advancing a new model of learning interaction: AI-mediated conversations grounded in the Socratic method and heutagogical principles. This approach transforms discussion from a static requirement into a dynamic, guided learning process. As Program Director for the MS in Instructional Design & Technology at St. Thomas University, I work at the intersection of pedagogy, technology, and learning experience design. I am currently collaborating with institutions exploring how to improve engagement and depth of learning in online education.

Country

United States

City

Sorrento

Industry

Management Consulting

Skill

Learning & Development Solutions, Coaching & Mentoring, Instructional Design, E-Learning, Public Speaking, Motivational Speaking, Instructor-led Training, Learning Management Systems, Educational Assessment, Social Media, ADDIE, Research, Ubiquitous Learning, Training, Technical Writing, Action Learning, Web-based Training, Educational Technology, Lifelong Learning, Curriculum Design

Experience

Director of Online and Graduate Academic Affairs & Professor

St. Thomas University

2016-7 - Present · 10 yrs 3 mos

Miami Gardens, Florida

Renowned for leadership development in justice, science, business and ministry, St. Thomas University has been an important part of South Florida's higher education landscape for over 50 years. Its academic expansion now includes unique degrees in instructional design and technology, global entrepreneurship and international business, sports administration, intercultural human rights and undergraduate science research conducted in state-of-the-art laboratories.

Owner/Senior Consultant

RU Institute

2010-3 - Present · 16 yrs 7 mos

Central, Florida

Discover the future of Christian education with RU Institute, the premier instructional design consultancy dedicated to providing exceptional, faith-based learning experiences. Our team of seasoned experts in instructional design, online learning, educational leadership, and accreditation services collaborates with K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and nonprofit organizations to elevate their educational offerings. From tailored eLearning courses and faculty development to accreditation support, RU Institute's comprehensive range of services is designed to empower your institution and foster spiritual growth. Ready to transform your Christian education program? Connect with RU Institute today and take the first step towards academic excellence and innovation.

Director of Image Building and Technical Editing

Building Forensics Group

2008-11 - 2018-12 · 10 yrs 2 mos

Zellwood, Florida

Liberty Building Forensics Group® is an architectural, engineering, and construction forensics firm that specializes in building failures that are attributable to mold and moisture related issues. As a member of the image building and human resource team, Dr. Stafford served as the Senior Technical editor and Director fo Marketing for the firm.