The art and science of learning, by design.
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Erin Richardson is an instructional technology leader, designer, and national conference speaker with over a decade of experience at the intersection of creative design and learning science. She founded SmARTclass to help educators, institutions, and organizations build learning experiences that actually work — for every learner.
Erin's background is genuinely interdisciplinary: she holds a B.A. in Art from the University of North Florida and a Master's in Adult Education, and has spent her career applying both to the challenge of making education more engaging, accessible, and effective. That combination — the artist's eye and the researcher's rigor — is what makes SmARTclass distinctive.
Erin has served as Director of Digital Teaching and Learning at Meridian Community College, where she lead institutional efforts in instructional design, digital accessibility compliance, and faculty professional development. She brings that same depth of experience to every consulting and speaking engagement.
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M.A. in Adult Education
Graduate studies focused on adult learning theory, curriculum design, and organizational learning
B.A. in Art — University of North Florida
Foundation in visual design, aesthetics, and creative problem-solving
Director of Digital Teaching & Learning
Institutional leadership in instructional design, accessibility compliance, and faculty development
National conference speaker
Presenter at regional and national higher education and instructional technology conferences
Neurodiversity Design
Neurodiverse design leader, creating innovative learning for every learner.
Digital accessibility leadership
WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 compliance, institutional policy development, and accessibility training
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The name says it all. SmARTclass lives at the intersection of art and science — where beautiful, intentional design meets evidence-based learning practice. Too often, education leans too hard in one direction: either highly creative but unmeasured, or rigorously structured but lifeless. SmARTclass exists to prove those don't have to be opposites.
"I started SmARTclass because I kept seeing the same gap — organizations investing in training that checked the box but didn't change anything. Learners deserve better than that, and so do the people designing for them."
Every SmARTclass engagement is guided by five core commitments — not as abstract values, but as design constraints that shape every deliverable.
Research-informedGrounded in learning science and evidence-based practice
Beautifully designed
Aesthetics and clarity working together, not competing
Ethically implemented
Responsible, values-driven practice — especially around AI
Inclusive by default
Designed for every learner from the start, not as an afterthought
Practical to apply
Strategies that travel beyond the session and into real practice
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Instructional design
Backward design, UDL and neurodiversity, competency-based frameworks, and multimedia learning principles
Digital accessibility
WCAG 2.1 AA, Section 508, accessible course design, remediation, and policy
AI for content development and design
Ethical implementation, AI-resistant assessment, policy development, staff readiness
Professional development
Professional learning systems that are scalable, research-based, and measurable
Let's work together.
Whether you need a consulting partner, an accessibility audit, or a speaker who makes research feel alive — SmARTclass is ready.
