Spotlight Saturday: Marie Reid
Today’s spotlight is on one of the Caribbean’s most dynamic professionals who is making waves in the EdTech industry. Known for her light-hearted nature and creative problem-solving skills, Marie Reid, originally from Jamaica, is the founder of EduLearn Connect - an EdTech organization based in The Bahamas.
Marie’s educational journey led her to study communications and media studies, where she was introduced to various multimedia tools. These skills seamlessly transitioned into her later roles in academia, including adjunct faculty, instructional design, and e-learning development. Her interest in combining human behavioral sciences with emerging technologies to create impactful learning and unlearning experiences naturally led her to the world of EdTech. Her diverse academic experience, covering instruction, administration, quality assurance, and learning design, has provided her with a holistic understanding of the educational ecosystem. This comprehensive view has been instrumental in identifying and leveraging new opportunities for innovative learning solutions.
Throughout Marie’s career, she has faced her fair share of challenges. However, each obstacle has sharpened her resourcefulness, especially in terms of adapting to new tools and software as the EdTech field continues to evolve. Marie emphasizes that challenges are a part of life that ultimately enhance one’s skill set, so she tackles them to the best of her ability as they arise. Although there can be some challenges, there is also some level of excitement that comes with working in EdTech. What excites her the most about her work is the potential to use new emerging omnipresent technologies (NEOTEC) to influence behavioral changes beneficially. Exploring the untapped capacities of the human brain to make better decisions for individuals and communities fascinates Marie and fuels her passion for her work.
Working with technology and being an entrepreneur can be demanding, but Marie believes in maintaining a good work-life balance by staying updated with tech advancements in various ways, such as watching videos, reading books, experimenting with demos, attending tech events, and working on diverse projects. This constant exploration keeps her engaged and productive. Her advice to girls and women interested in EdTech is to dive into projects that genuinely interest them and seek mentorship from established professionals. Real-world experience, coupled with seasoned guidance, can provide invaluable insights and accelerate growth in the field.
Marie is a passionate individual whose innovative approach and dedication are paving the way for future advancements in educational technology in the Caribbean. To learn more about her and her groundbreaking work in EdTech, visit her link tree at https://linktr.ee/ELC242.
