About
Sarah A. Barker, PhD
Learning Researcher | Instructional Designer | Audio Content Creator
I spent nearly 20 years teaching and designing performance-based learning for adult learners preparing to work in professional radio, television, and digital media. In those environments, success wasn't measured by test scores—it was measured by whether people could perform under real production constraints.
That experience led me to pursue a PhD in Media Psychology at Fielding Graduate University, where I studied how attention, cognition, and immersive media influence learning and performance. My research includes a published systematic review and meta-analysis in JMIR XR and Spatial Computing examining the psychological and physiological effects of virtual reality–based mindfulness interventions.
Today, my work sits at the intersection of instructional design, learning science, and media production. I combine nearly two decades of experience designing adult learning with doctoral research in cognition and a professional background in audio, video, and immersive media to create learning experiences grounded in how people actually pay attention, make decisions, and build lasting skills.
Core Expertise
15+ years leading learning, curriculum, and media-production programs for adult learners
PhD in Media Psychology with expertise in attention, cognition, media effects, and technology-mediated experience
Learning and instructional design across instructor-led, online, blended, and experiential environments
AI and emerging technology applied to learning, research, content development, and immersive experiences
Media production and storytelling spanning audio, video, documentary, and digital content
Published researcher in virtual reality, mindfulness, media psychology, and AI-assisted research methods
Learning technology: Articulate 360 (Storyline, Rise), Adobe Captivate, Camtasia, Canvas, Blackboard, and Moodle
ISTE Certified Educator | CITI Human Subjects Research Certified