Beyond Links: Intentionally Integrating AI into Canvas Courses
Michigan Canvas Users Conference
Washtenaw Community College
MEET ME IN THE ROOM
Join me at upcoming events
Reduce Friction. Build Traction.
AI Through the Lens of Transformative Mindset Instructional Design (TMID)
Align Center for Workforce Development
Explore Lenawee Forward ↗TMID IN PRACTICE · TRUST & RELATIONSHIPS
One framework.
Many contexts.
Meaningful transformation.
My work explores how Transformative Mindset Instructional Design (TMID) takes shape in everyday life. Building trust and relationships is central to that exploration. Across education, family support, community leadership, and technology, I follow opportunities to help people connect, reflect, and move from knowing to becoming.
Sonja L. Howell, PhD · Instructional designer and developer. Nonprofit executive director. TEDx licensee and organizer.
ONE FRAMEWORK · MANY CONTEXTS
Explore My Work
Education & Instructional Design
Learning experiences, faculty development, and practical tools.
Explore examples →Family & Community Education
Parenting, engagement, trauma-informed learning, and community support.
Explore this work →Faith-Integrated Academic Preparation
The biblical worldview woven through my doctoral education and research.
Read my academic story →Speaking & Leadership
Keynotes on learning, connection, communication, and leadership.
Explore speaking →A LOOK AT WHAT’S NEXT
Current Works
Microsoft Power BI
Build practical skills in turning data into clear reports, dashboards, and insights. Clear data helps people make informed decisions.
TMID lens: Making information understandable so people can reflect and act.
Explore Microsoft Power BI ↗Coming soon at Jackson College Training ↗
Data-Driven Accreditation
Using Watermark to connect assessment, evidence, and continuous improvement. Meaningful evidence helps turn accreditation into lasting improvement.
TMID lens: Using shared evidence to support reflection, dialogue, and improvement.
Learn about Watermark ↗
Solving Today’s Classroom Discipline Challenges: Part 1
Explore types of classroom behavior and practical ways to respond. Understanding behavior helps educators create classrooms where students can learn and belong.
TMID lens: Understanding behavior while strengthening trust and relationships.
Coming soon at Jackson College Training ↗
Solving Today’s Classroom Discipline Challenges: Part 2
Focus on specific classroom situations shaped by the challenges of today’s world. Preparing for these situations helps educators respond with confidence and care.
TMID lens: Responding to present-day situations with context, connection, and care.
Coming soon at Jackson College Training ↗SELECTED EVIDENCE
Experience you can explore.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
TEDxJackson College
Licensee & organizer
Connected speakers, students, partners, and institutional teams for the inaugural By MI Design event.
View project story ↗
LEARNING & INNOVATION
Learning with AI
Instructional designer & facilitator
Designed a five-day learning experience introducing 26 AI tools through practical activities for educators.
View project story ↗
RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE
Transformative Mindset Instructional Design
Researcher & framework developer
Translated doctoral research into a framework, publications, and resources for intentional learning design.
View project story ↗
THE EXPERIENCE BEHIND THE WORK
A strategic path
across disciplines.
My career brings together educational technology, instructional design, communications, nonprofit operations, and professional development. I follow my passion for exploring how TMID fits within the wider world, carrying forward the questions my doctoral research opened up. Building trust and relationships connects these experiences and supports a shared purpose: helping people move from knowing to becoming.
Career, leadership & credentials →ABOUT THE WORK
A few helpful answers.
Who is Sonja L. Howell, PhD?
Sonja L. Howell, PhD is an educator, instructional designer and developer, author, and nonprofit executive director. Her work connects learning, leadership, family education, and community partnerships.
Explore my experience →What is Transformative Mindset Instructional Design (TMID)?
Transformative Mindset Instructional Design (TMID) is Sonja’s six-step framework for intentional learning, reflection, engagement, and growth. Building trust and relationships is central to how she explores it across different contexts. Her 2022 doctoral case study examined instructional design in a nontraditional parenting education program in Lenawee County, Michigan.
Explore TMID and the research →What topics does Sonja speak about?
Sonja’s keynotes and workshops explore Transformative Mindset Instructional Design (TMID) through many lenses, including learning and development, community leadership, classroom practice, communication, AI, and emotional intelligence.
Explore keynotes and workshops →How do family education and faith connect with her work?
Sonja’s work includes Tranquil Parenting, parent education, mediation, and current catechist service. Her doctoral preparation at Liberty University integrated a biblical worldview with education, leadership, ethics, and research.
Explore family, faith, and community education →