\r\n\t
\u201cHKMU has indeed come a long way, maturing into today's modern comprehensive university that offers a variety of study modes for both post-secondary students and working adults.\u201d This line \u2014 taken from an introductory video launched after the University took on its present name \u2014 sums up a familiar story told repeatedly as HKMU strives to establish its new identity in our fast-changing society. But for Ross Vermeer, the voice behind the video, this institutional story also reflects a significant part in his personal story. From the Open Learning Institute (OLI) to The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) to Hong Kong Metropolitan University, he has not only witnessed its growth, but has also grown with it.<\/p>\n
Off on a three-decade challenging journey<\/h4>\n
Ross joined the University \u2014 the OLI back then \u2014 as an assistant editor in 1992, editing semi-finished materials prepared by course developers and instructional designers. In those early days, the Institute was quickly shaping up as the only tertiary institution offering distance-learning courses on an open admissions basis in a city in which a massive proportion of working adults were thirsting for higher qualifications. Enthusiastic applicants kept rolling in, presenting huge demand for new courses to be developed. Soon, Ross jumped at the opportunity and began a three-decade journey of learning to be an effective instructional designer. \u201cI've worked on all courses imaginable at the University. It's been quite challenging to have to learn new things very quickly, but it's also fun. It keeps the job fresh and interesting,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
What instructional designers do<\/h4>\n
The core business of instructional designers is intertwined with that of the University at its beginning: to work with the course developers \u2014 academics \u2014 to develop self-directed learning materials. The efforts involved are more complicated than it seems. While course developers are subject experts, instructional designers bring their own expertise in pedagogy, educational technology and project management to course teams. They also strive to understand the subject matter from the learner's point of view. . As Ross puts it, \u201cMost importantly, I put myself in the students' place and read or watch as a student would.\u201d Instructional designers' work involves not only editing and rewriting the text to make sure that it is easy to follow. They also make suggestions on things like where to add interactive and multimedia elements, and take part in producing the multimedia materials themselves. The self-directed learning materials that eventually arrive in students' hands are products of collaborative work in which instructional designers play a large part.<\/p>\n
This is how Ross has been learning while helping students learn over the years. Coming from a humanities background, he particularly enjoys the challenge of something at the other end of the academic spectrum, \u201csuch as advanced computing and machine learning,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.hkmu.edu.hk\/35anniversary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2024\/08\/1_Ross-Vermeer_1500x1000.jpg\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t![](\"https:\/\/www.hkmu.edu.hk\/35anniversary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2024\/08\/2_Ross-Vermeer_1500x1000.jpg\")
\r\n\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t![](\"https:\/\/www.hkmu.edu.hk\/35anniversary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2024\/08\/3_Ross-Vermeer_1500x809.jpg\")
\r\n\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t