# Ari Bader-Natal

> I design, build, and operate online learning environments that help learners access new opportunities and create new futures.

This is my personal portfolio website. It showcases my work in learning engineering — the systematic application of learning sciences to design and develop learning environments that help people gain access to new opportunities and create new futures.

## Key Sections

- [Homepage](https://aribadernatal.com): Overview of my current work and background
- [Projects](https://aribadernatal.com/projects/): Portfolio of software projects and platforms I've built
- [Publications](https://aribadernatal.com/publications/): Academic papers and research publications
- [Blog](https://aribadernatal.com/blog/): Technical posts and articles
- [Learning Engineering](https://aribadernatal.com/learning-engineering/): Overview of learning engineering methodology
- [Search](https://aribadernatal.com/search/): Site search functionality
- [RSS Feed](https://aribadernatal.com/feed.xml): Subscribe to updates

## Current Work

- [Sparkwise](https://sparkwise.co): Co-founder and CTO of a platform that automates live group learning

## Featured Projects

- [Sparkwise](https://aribadernatal.com/projects/Sparkwise/): Automating live group learning
- [Calbright College](https://aribadernatal.com/projects/Calbright/): Fast, focused, flexible
- [Minerva Project](https://aribadernatal.com/projects/Minerva/): Nurturing critical wisdom for the sake of the world
- [Studio Sketchpad](https://aribadernatal.com/projects/Sketchpad/): Collaborative coding for visual thinkers
- [Favelog](https://aribadernatal.com/projects/Favelog/): A central collection of web favorites
- [Sketchcasting](https://aribadernatal.com/projects/Sketchcasting/): Pixel-free narrated code screencasts

## Recent Posts

- [Sparkwise Completes Second Annual SOC 2 Type II Audit](https://aribadernatal.com/2025/04/03/sparkwise-completes-second-annual-soc-2-type-ii-audit/): April 2025
- [Introducing the Program Builder: Design your custom learning journey](https://aribadernatal.com/2024/10/15/introducing-program-builder/): October 2024
- [Product Updates: September 2024](https://aribadernatal.com/2024/09/30/product-updates-september-2024/): September 2024
- [Sparkwise is SOC 2 Type II Compliant](https://aribadernatal.com/2024/03/14/sparkwise-is-soc-2-compliant/): March 2024

## Patents

- [Apparatus, user interface, and method for authoring and managing lesson plans and course design for virtual conference learning environments](https://aribadernatal.com/2022/01/04/patent-course-builder/): U.S. Patent 11,217,109
- [System and method for a virtual conference interactive timeline](https://aribadernatal.com/2020/05/26/patent-virtual-conference-interactive-timeline/): U.S. Patent 10,666,696
- [System and method for scalable, interactive virtual conferencing](https://aribadernatal.com/2020/01/21/patent-scalable-interactive-virtual-conferencing/): U.S. Patent 10,541,824
- [Participation queue system and method for online video conferencing](https://aribadernatal.com/2018/04/03/patent-participation-queue/): U.S. Patent 9,935,987
- [System and method for tracking events and providing feedback in a virtual conference](https://aribadernatal.com/2017/06/06/patent-minerva-tracking-events/): U.S. Patent 9,674,243
- [System and method for decision support in a virtual conference](https://aribadernatal.com/2017/02/21/patent-minerva-decision-support/): U.S. Patent 9,578,073
- [System and method for managing virtual conferencing breakout groups](https://aribadernatal.com/2018/05/01/patent-minerva-breakout-groups/): U.S. Patent 9,961,119
- [Registering and displaying visual attention metadata in a web video conferencing and seminar system](https://aribadernatal.com/2019/07/16/patent-minerva-attention-metadata/): U.S. Patent 10,356,364

## Publications

- [CCCApply and OpenCCC Issues and Opportunities](https://aribadernatal.com/2020/10/21/cccapply-memo/): (2020)
- [Building Lesson Plans for Twenty-First-Century Active Learning](https://aribadernatal.com/2017/10/06/3-building-lesson-plans/): (2017)
- [The Active Learning Forum](https://aribadernatal.com/2017/10/06/2-active-learning-forum/): (2017)
- [Assessing Student Learning](https://aribadernatal.com/2017/10/06/1-assessing-student-learning/): (2017)

## Optional

Over the past 20 years, I've designed, built, and operated six different online learning platforms, from my PhD dissertation research on peer-to-peer learning games through to my current work at Sparkwise. You could describe this work as "learning engineering" — a process that applies learning sciences using human-centered engineering design methodologies and data-informed decision making to support learners and their development.

This site also features a [favorites feed](https://favorites.aribadernatal.com) that aggregates my bookmarks, likes, and recommendations from various platforms — a way to share what I'm currently reading and thinking about.

- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/aribadernatal): Professional profile