Researcher & Writer
I am curious. That's what drives the research and the writing. At the intersection of Instructional Design, the educator, researcher, and writer come together.
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The educator-writer-ID manifests in writing OER textbooks and handbooks.
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The researcher-writer-ID manifests in writing research articles.
Research Areas of Interest
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Managing Cognitive Load
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Mitigating Anxiety in Online Learning
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Generative AI and Self-Efficacy
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Curiosity-Based Generative Learning
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Ethical and Holistic Design Practices in Online Learning
Here you'll find my current and published research, OER, and passion projects like multimedia stories.
Current Research
Supporting Faculty in Creating DEIA-Focused OER Using Backward Design
My work as an OER Instructional Designer for Social Justice includes guiding faculty training, workshops, project management, and co-authoring a faculty handbook for faculty teams from four institutions designing Open Education Resources that are DEIA-centered, accessible, interactive, and instructionally aligned. Such a deeply layered goal and carefully planned process calls for lots of research as we go. My colleagues and I are working hard to not just do the work but also research as we do it, sharing our wins and gaps, so we all learn together. Coming Spring 2026
TechTrends Analysis
Along with Dr. Rebeca Peacock and Dr. John Curry, we are reviewing the last ten years' worth of peer-reviewed, journal articles from AECT's TechTrends journals to determine research trends and sectors. We are using keywords, methodologies, author and article sectors. We presented this work at a roundtable at the 2025 AECT convention and are preparing the journal article to publish our findings.
Coming Spring 2026
Designing for the Grand Challenges Ahead
Collaborating with Dr. Stephanie Moore and several other researchers, I am contributing to a series of research and writing projects focused on the Grand Challenges identified by our colleagues leading the OTESSA initiative. Together, we are examining how ethical, equitable, and human-centered design can help instructional design and educational technology respond to emerging needs in online learning, leadership development, and the future of educational technology. This collaborative work explores ways to strengthen the field through shared inquiry, coordinated research, and a design-forward approach to addressing complex, systemic challenges.
Ongoing 2025-2026
Amplifying Missing Voices in AECT: Insights from K–12 and International Members
Working with the AECT 2025 intern cohort and division partners, I am contributing to a research project focused on strengthening inclusion and representation within AECT. Together, we examined how the organization can better understand and support two groups whose voices are often absent from the broader conversation: K–12 educators and international members. Through two IRB-approved surveys and collaborative analysis, our team identified key barriers to participation, ranging from access, workload, and digital pedagogy challenges in K–12 settings to issues of global accessibility, affordability, and culturally responsive engagement for international members. This shared inquiry highlights actionable opportunities for AECT to reduce participation barriers and expand meaningful involvement for educators across contexts.
Summer 2026
Publications
Huff, T., Tseng, D.C.Y. (2025) Active Learning in Open Digital Textbooks: Designing for Learner Engagement and Motivation using H5P. TechTrends. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-025-01144-3
Huff, T. (2025). Design in progress: A collaborative text on learning theories. Idaho State University. https://isu.pressbooks.pub/thuff/
Huff, T. and Younger, K. (2025). Open voices, just choices: OER for social justice faculty handbook. Loyola Marymount University. https://lmu.pressbooks.pub/oerfsjfaculty/
Huff, T. (2024). Measuring the efficacy of using four multimedia principles in alleviating anxiety in online learning environments [Doctoral dissertation]. Idaho State University.
Coffland, D. & Huff, T. (2022). Stats Kwon Do: A Case Study in Instructional Design, Multimedia and Gamification of Instruction. TechTrends, 66(6), 945-956. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-022-00793-y
Huff, T. & Coffland, D. (2022). ‘A Preliminary Examination of a Gamified Course to Address Affective Domain Issues in Learning Statistics’, AECT International Conference: Impact Student Learning, Las Vegas, NV, USA, 24-28 October. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.20089.54882
Multimedia Storytelling
I first heard about the The Horse Slaughter story in my undergrad studies from a history professor, Dr. James Jewell. When I mentioned it to others in the local area, I was confused that no one seemed to know anything about it. I went looking for the spot where it took place and was dismayed to find it barely marked, hidden behind a weigh station along the highway.
The next semester, in a Multimedia Storytelling course, I was introduced to SnowFall, a multimedia story by New York Times reporter, John Branch. It inspired me to research, write, and develop a multimedia story about The Horse Slaughter.
Later, for a graduate course in Adobe Premier Pro, I took the story one step further and turned it into a video, The Horse Slaughter of 1858.
This project required studying maps, primary sources and journals, loads of news articles, and conducting key interviews with Coeur d'Alene tribal leaders, historians, and horse experts. The video creation and editing, using the online ArcGIS mapping and storytelling platforms, troubleshooting layout and file types, getting copyright permissions, and launching the site challenged and grew my tech skills. Retelling it later on using Adobe Premier Pro was more difficult, as the video length requirements forced me to make difficult editing cuts.
At its core, though, the most important part of this piece is the story itself, which took months for me to write and edit. I took pride in being able to bring attention to and advocate for these voiceless animals while standing amazed at the resilience of the survivors: the Coeur d’Alene tribe.
Multimedia Storytelling Tools
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ArcGIS Storymaps
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Adobe Premiere Pro