I am an associate professor in the Instructional Psychology and Technology department at Brigham Young University. He serves on the IMS Global Digital Credentials executive board. I teach courses in instructional technology, academic research and writing, creativity and innovation, and product/program evaluation. My research focuses on how to create learning environments that prepare students for the 21st century, including designing learning environments that foster group creativity through design thinking, utilizing microcredentials and open badges to promote competency learning, and technologies to develop online learning communities. I am the editor of the Foundations of Learning and Instructional Design Technology textbook, available at http://edtechbooks.org/lidtfoundations and my personal website is http://richardewest.com.