{"690825":{"#nid":"690825","#data":{"type":"news","title":"When Art Meets Instruction ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMalena Bisanti\u2019s work and life mirror each other. She calls herself a \u201clifetime learner\u201d by practice. She works with faculty to design the visual presentation of online graduate courses while spending her free time constructing layered works of art. Somewhere between the classroom and the studio, her philosophy, career, and creativity have come together into a real-life collage.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019ve been in teaching and learning spaces for a long time, and I\u2019ve always been curious about what makes something click for someone. That\u2019s the part of the work I love most,\u201d Bisanti said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBisanti is an instructional designer in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lifetimelearning.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECollege of Lifetime Learning\u003C\/a\u003E, where she helps shape the design and presentation of online courses. Her role involves taking academic material \u2014 slides, scripts, and outlines \u2014 and organizing it into clear, structured courses that support how people learn in an online environment. She applies both learning science and visual design to make complex material easier to follow, ensuring that courses remain accessible.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom start to finish, building a course can take six to nine months. The work requires steady planning and a deep understanding of how learners absorb information over time. While instructors remain the content experts, Bisanti brings expertise in learning science and visual design, drawing on her artistic background to structure, pace, and present material in ways that support understanding and growth.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen I\u2019m working on a course, I\u2019m constantly asking how I can break something down and build it back up in a way that makes sense for the learner,\u201d Bisanti said. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot of structuring and layering, making sure each piece connects and supports the next.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMuch of this work connects to Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/omscs.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EOnline Master of Science in Computer Science\u003C\/a\u003E, which serves learners balancing coursework with full-time careers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore coming to Georgia Tech, Bisanti worked across teaching and learning roles, including positions in public libraries, K-12 classrooms, and curriculum-focused environments \u2014 experience that continues to shape how she approaches instructional design today.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOutside of work, Bisanti is a mixed media artist who has been making art since childhood, beginning with paper dolls and handmade clay. Over time, her interests expanded to include photography, printmaking, ceramics, mosaics, and collage. Today, she focuses primarily on mixed media collage, which combines elements such as paper, paint, and drawing into a single composition.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cArt is something I have to do,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s not about producing something. It\u2019s about the process and what it gives me, and how it balances the more structured side of my work.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBisanti\u2019s connection to the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arts.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Earts at Georgia Tech\u003C\/a\u003E became more visible when she led a mixed media collage workshop during \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arts.gatech.edu\/hg\/news\/2026\/04\/20\/tech-arts-fest-2026-showcases-creativity-across-campus\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETech Arts Fest\u003C\/a\u003E. The session invited students to experiment and create \u2014many for the first time \u2014 using layered paper, paint, and texture, reinforcing her belief that creativity has an important place in learning environments.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI had one student who was there just for a short time, but when he was leaving, he said, \u2018I was having a really bad day, and I\u2019m glad this workshop was here for me.\u2019 That made my day. That\u2019s why I do art.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough that work, she also discovered Georgia Tech\u2019s broader arts community. After attending an arts salon meeting, she encountered artists, designers, and creative practitioners working across disciplines throughout the Institute. Finding that community was both energizing and affirming.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI didn\u2019t expect to find such a strong arts community here, and that surprised me, in a good way,\u201d Bisanti said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot more happening in the arts than people realize, and it\u2019s becoming a real part of how students experience learning here.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat experience revealed a side of Georgia Tech aligned with the Institute\u2019s broader commitment to innovation and exploration, including the launch of a new \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/creativetech.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eundergraduate program in Arts, Entertainment, and Creative Technologies\u003C\/a\u003E this fall.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI think people don\u2019t always expect the arts to be part of the experience here, but they are,\u201d Bisanti said. \u201cThe more you look, the more you see how much creativity is built into how people learn and work across campus.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe same patience, curiosity, and openness that guide her in the studio shape how she approaches learning design. Whether refining a course structure or adding a final layer to a piece of art, she grounds her work in respect for how ideas take shape over time.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe more I learn, the more intentional my work becomes, whether I\u2019m designing a course or making art,\u201d she said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn connecting her work, her art, and her sense of belonging on campus, Bisanti embodies the idea that learning is never static.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"For Malena Bisanti, designing courses and making art are inseparable. As an instructional designer in the College of Lifetime Learning and a mixed media artist, she brings the same curiosity and love of learning to both.   "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Malena Bisanti, designing courses and making art are inseparable. As an instructional designer in the College of Lifetime Learning and a mixed media artist, she brings the same curiosity and love of learning to both.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"For Malena Bisanti, designing courses and making art are inseparable. As an instructional designer in the College of Lifetime Learning and a mixed media artist, she brings the same curiosity and love of learning to both.   "}],"uid":"36418","created_gmt":"2026-06-18 20:25:53","changed_gmt":"2026-06-18 20:37:36","author":"sgagliano3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-18T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-18T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680481":{"id":"680481","type":"video","title":" The Artist Behind the Role - Jackets of all Trades : Malena Bisanti","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIn this episode of Jackets of All Trades, we meet Malena Bisanti, a creative professional in Georgia Tech\u2019s College of Lifetime Learning. Blending her artistic perspective with her work in higher education, Malena shares how her experiences shape her approach\u2014connecting creativity, purpose, and impact at the Institute.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1781814333","gmt_created":"2026-06-18 20:25:33","changed":"1781814333","gmt_changed":"2026-06-18 20:25:33","video":{"youtube_id":"1AWnWlGjPqg","video_url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1AWnWlGjPqg\u0026t=1s"}},"680482":{"id":"680482","type":"image","title":"Malena-Youtube-thumbnail-template-copy.jpg","body":null,"created":"1781814755","gmt_created":"2026-06-18 20:32:35","changed":"1781814775","gmt_changed":"2026-06-18 20:32:55","alt":"Malena Bisanti","file":{"fid":"264751","name":"Malena-Youtube-thumbnail-template-copy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/18\/Malena-Youtube-thumbnail-template-copy.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/18\/Malena-Youtube-thumbnail-template-copy.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":159599,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/18\/Malena-Youtube-thumbnail-template-copy.jpg?itok=sBaVxpVq"}}},"media_ids":["680481","680482"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"42891","name":"Georgia Tech Arts"}],"keywords":[{"id":"183499","name":"georgia tech arts"},{"id":"13005","name":"arts at georgia tech"},{"id":"193940","name":"college of lifetime learning"},{"id":"2002","name":"Tech Square"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EStory Produced by\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:meavenson@gatech.edu\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMicah Eavenson\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:steven.gagliano@gatech.edu\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESteven Gagliano\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:julian.hills@gatech.edu\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJulian Hills\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}