Short version: I have a rare mix of experience in not only instructional design, but also in project management,customer service, delivery, operations, LMS/LCMS, instructor-led training, one-on-one tutoring, and training the trainer. I have extensive experience in online-only, blended, ILT, and retail books.

 

Long version: Doug Tarnopol brings a unique mix of talents and experience to teaching and instructional design. Doug has ten years’ varied experience in SAT preparation. He has taught and tutored students of all backgrounds and advised both students and parents; he has also developed instructional print materials, designed online tests and courses, and run online academic support. Doug combines over a decade of test preparation experience in teaching, instructional design, and front-line customer and academic support with an academically rigorous education.

Doug graduated magna cum laude from Cornell University in 1992, earning a B.A. in History and writing a senior honors thesis on twentieth-century evolutionary theory. He continued his work in the history and sociology of science at the University of Pennsylvania, receiving an M.A. in 1996.

While in graduate school, Doug began teaching SAT classes for Kaplan Test Prep. After completing his graduate work, Doug moved to New York City and continued teaching for Kaplan, adding PSAT, SCI HI, SAT II: Writing, SAT II: Math, GMAT, and other courses to his repertoire. In 1999, after serving as Pre-College Student Advisor at Kaplan’s flagship Manhattan center, Doug became a curriculum developer in what was then called the Kaplan Learning Services division, designing instructional material for state proficiency exams. He was later promoted to Assistant Editor.

In 2000, after serving briefly as Manager of Pre-College Curriculum for Kaplan Test Prep, Doug joined the brand-new Kaplan Test Prep Online division, becoming Manager of Academic Services. Later promoted to Associate Director, Doug helped to create, coordinate, and maintain website, product, technical, and academic support activities, including management of admission and GMAT/GRE essay review services and the design of online course homepages and assets.

In November, 2002, Doug joined Peterson’s new Test Prep division as Associate Program Manager, designing and gathering content for online tests for SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, and several CLEPs, as well as doing market research on various SAT online courses. He also worked on Peterson’s adaptive online course for the SAT, which won Brandon Hall’s Gold Excellence in E-Learning Award for 2003. Promoted to Program Manager in early 2003, Doug designed and edited Peterson’s adaptive PSAT online course.

In October, 2003, Doug launched Tarnopol Learning Services, LLC, an educational consulting and instructional design company. In addition to SparkNotes’ Power Tactics titles, Doug has edited scholarly books and articles in the history of science; designed Flash simulations and diagnostic skills assessments for corporate training courses; expert-reviewed test prep books; written and edited learning objects for adaptive online courses for the Texas high-stakes exit exam; and developed instructor-led training materials for both California’s high-stakes exit exam and a thirteen-lesson basic writing skills course.

Over the past few years, in addition to tutoring, Doug’s highlight projects are as follows. In 2008, Doug published SparkNotes' Guide to the PSAT. After the recent changes to the GRE, Doug published The New GRE: A Strategic Approach with REA in 2012. In 2016, Doug created a distance-learning course on ADDIE for an item-writing company interested in converting item-writers into instructional designers. In 2018, Doug published Master the AP US History Exam via Peterson’s.

He is currently working on both a self-study and online course that jointly prepares students for ever-more-convergent SAT and ACT tests.

Doug also writes fiction and poetry. He is an avid drummer, beginning bassist, and voracious reader. He currently lives in Cranston, Rhode Island with his wife, Donna. When not reading or watching classic films or The Simpsons, they can usually be found playing Scrabble or enjoying time with their niece and nephew.

 

 

(In re: my picture: I have since upgraded to an iPhone. Legacy cat, Grendel, remains un-upgraded. :) )