Designing impactful education for a diverse and changing world
Welcome to the Office of Digital Teaching & Learning! We partner with faculty to help them develop their courses and learn how to best use the tools provided by Loyola. Explore our resources and discover how ODTL can help you continue to deliver first-rate course instruction in an ever-changing learning environment.
Our Mission: To create convincing learning experiences, to enable success for all Loyola learners.
Our Vision: Elevating Experiences.
About the Team
Meet the ODTL team: a group of educators, designers, and problem-solvers who bring curiosity, care, and collaboration to their work.
Instructional Design Team Lead Rachael DeLawder
With a passion for creative, learner-centered design, Rachael collaborates with faculty to transform ideas into engaging learning experiences that connect concepts to authentic application. She also develops practical resources that strengthen teaching across the university. Whether designing interactive activities, reimagining assessments, or creating instructional tools, she finds innovative ways to make learning meaningful, relevant, and engaging for both instructors and students.
Focus Areas
- Engaging & Active Learning
- Accessible Design
- Real-World Application
Instructional Designer Lydia Tippett
Grounded in a human-centered approach to instructional design, Lydia partners with faculty to create learning experiences that foster belonging and support diverse learners. As an affiliate instructor and doctoral student in Curriculum and Instruction, she brings a research-informed perspective to her work. Her scholarship explores inclusive teaching practices and the evolving role of generative AI, helping faculty thoughtfully integrate emerging technologies while keeping the learner experience at the center.
Focus Areas
- Belonging & Inclusion
- Adult Learning
- Generative AI in Education
Instructional Designer Brett Youngerman
Committed to clear, intentional course design, Brett partners with faculty to create meaningful learning experiences that support diverse learners. He leads faculty development initiatives, develops practical instructional resources, and helps instructors apply Universal Design for Learning principles to strengthen their teaching, with particular attention to the needs of nontraditional students.
Focus Areas
- Universal Design for Learning
- Course Clarity & Organization
- Nontraditional Learner Success