SEYED AHMAD RAHIMI Name: Seyed Ahmad Rahimi Degree Level: Doctoral Program: Instructional Systems & Learning Technologies Hometown: Mashhad, Iran When did you discover your passion for your field? I have always loved teaching and I have always loved to learn new things. When I was getting my bachelor’s degree in Tehran, I learned many computer software programming languages by myself. The selflearning process for me was the reason I became interested in how people can learn better and how I can help. With a background in computer programming and graphic design, I decided to follow my passion of enhancing the teaching and learning process by studying the field of instructional design and learning technologies. After getting my master’s degree in e-learning technologies in Malaysia, I decided to attend one of the most prestigious instructional systems and learning technologies programs in the world. Why did you choose Florida State University? The Instructional Systems & Learning Technologies (ISLT) program is one of the top five programs In the nation–and the world–in the field of instructional design and training. I had been following the work of ISLT’s great faculty members when I was getting my first master’s degree in Malaysia. Being able to be a Ph.D. student in this program was an honor and a great goal for me that I had been pursuing. In addition to the program’s great reputation, its faculty, staff, students, and Florida State University as a whole were some of the deciding factors for why I chose to come to the U.S. and start my studies in the FSU College of Education.
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What do you like to do in your free time? I love to exercise. On the weekends, I like to bike the beautiful, 16-mile St. Mark’s trail. Other than that, I enjoy spending time with my wife, who is also a Ph.D. student at FSU in the School of Information. It is very interesting to share some ideas between our two fields. We also watch movies together, talk to our families back in Iran, spend time with friends, and travel around the U.S. when we can. I also like photography; I could take photos for hours on end. Describe your most memorable moment at FSU. When I came to FSU, I did not have any funding or an assistantship, and you can imagine how difficult it is to survive financially for an international student with the cost of living expenses. Because I had four years of teaching experience, Dr. Vanessa Dennen offered me a teaching assistant position for her course, Introduction to Educational Technologies. When I heard the news that I was going to teach, I was thrilled and determined to go out of my way to be the best I could be. The interactions I’ve had with my students, my passion for teaching, and winning a 20162017 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award are among my great memories at FSU COE so far. I do, however, want to mention one other memory that will stay with me forever – that is the memory of the support and kindness my wife and I received from
THE TORCH - COLLEGE OF EDUCATION MAGAZINE
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Being a self-learner, I believe learning should never stop—it should be life-long.
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