Joshua Frechette
Education Technologist & Systems Librarian

About Me

I am an open designer, developer and maker focused on accessible technology and community engagement.

I work with museums, libraries and organizations to plan, fund, build and teach about technology within local communities.

I am a librarian, archivist and information scientist specializing in data structures, digital archaeology, conservation, and education.

I have experience with full-stack web development, tech support, systems administration and server management.

I live in Tacoma, WA in the United States with my family and pets.

 

Skills

colorize

UX/UI & Design

  • 2D digital visual design, layout and branding
  • 3D promotional modeling and rendering
  • technical and artistic illustrations and diagrams
  • user experience, interaction and interface (UX/UI)
  • human-computer interaction (HCI)
  • color theory, perception, matching and profiling

code

Research & Development

  • compare, qualify and integrate technology based on project specifications
  • executing and communicating iterative prototypes for continued assessment
  • cross-disciplinary team collaboration across institutions
  • data structures, formats and encoding for APIs and REST
  • front-end and back-end web development using HTML, CSS, JS, PHP and SQL
  • holistic hardware, electronics, software and application embedded systems

print

Printing & Fabrication

  • 2D and 3D prototyping, production and finishing
  • consumer, commercial and industrial production technologies
  • organic and synthetic material science
  • label, adhesive and packaging technologies
  • sustainable, recyclable and repairable systems

fact_check

Assessment & Evaluation

  • hardware, software and networking standards specifications
  • development based on production specifications and frameworks
  • digital media and data file formats and specifications
  • product quality testing and assurance

support

Technical Support

  • cross-platform desktop and mobile technical knowledge
  • computing and networking systems maintenance, repair, assessment and upgrade
  • organizational support team facilitation through testing, documention and communication
  • troubleshooting to identify root-cause errors and prevent reoccurance

dns

Systems & Server Admin

  • managing linux cloud computing server environments
  • virtualization and containerization technologies
  • small- to medium-scale identity and authentication solutions
  • web and cloud server storage, hosting, and proxying
  • development, production and upgrade environments
  • on-site and cloud backup processes

play_lesson

Instructional Media

  • informal education focused on technology, science, and culture
  • lesson planning, course design and educational aids
  • audio recording, processing, editing and mixing
  • video storyboarding, editing, animation and production
  • digital media formats, encoding, conversion and archiving
  • learning and content management systems

accessible

Accessibility

  • multi-sensory experiences
  • tactile graphics and accessibility aids
  • multi-format instructional design
  • subtitles and closed captioning
  • document accessibility remediation
  • wcag and aria compliant web sites

article

Writing & Documentation

  • technical documentation for diverse audiences
  • do-it-yourself and self-help guides
  • technical illustration and diagrams
  • charts, graphs and data visualization

volunteer_activism

Funding & Grants

  • long-term technology project planning, communication and assessment
  • iterative project proposals and milestones
  • technology project funding and grant application process
  • project sustainability and budgeting

event

Workshops & Outreach

  • community integration workshops for technology development
  • informal education through hands-on activities
  • participatory research, design and development processes

 

Experience

Researcher

Access Tech & Text @ UW DRS

September 2023 – June 2026

construction

Designer & Developer

  • Researched accessible educational aids for use by blind and low-vision students.
  • Generated research reports reviewing current literature, integrating test results and proposing further research.
  • Fabricated functional educational aids to establish guidelines and documentation.

carpenter

Fabricator

  • Explored the creation of tactile learning aids using consumer 3D printers.
  • Performed filament print quality and substrate compatibility testing with 3D printers.
  • Formally proposed project development based on research, testing and stakeholder requirements.


Web Manager

Student Chapter of the ALA @ UW iSchool

September 2023 – June 2026

construction

Designer & Developer

  • Managed the student organization's intranet portal and social media.
  • Designed and developed a website, blog and event platform.
  • Designed and illustrated marketing and other graphic art assets, as necessary.
  • Created documentation to assist with the transition between student officers.

strategy

Workshop Facilitator

  • Collaborated with student organizations to provide event and organizational support services.


Technology Intern

Daniel J. Evans Library

September 2021 – June 2023

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Designer & Developer

  • Collaborated with the Evergreen Media Loan program to provide students access to open, affordable, and educational technologies through library-circulated Open Development Kits.
  • Designed and maintained technical and research documentation for community-developed and evaluated projects.
  • Secured project funding through crowdsourcing and grants.
  • Created comprehensive documentation with related guides for specific institutional roles.

strategy

Workshop Facilitator

  • Completed workshops with the Museum, Library, Longhouse and Gallery to consider applications of kiosk-integrated exhibits.
  • Centered perspectives of accessibility, equity, sustainability, integration, educational potential, and overall visitor experience.


Technology Intern

Puget Sound Museum of Natural History

September 2020 – June 2022

construction

Designer & Developer

  • Developed techniques to lead educational lessons with live facilitators and remotely-accessible interactive activities through video conference software.
  • Directed multiple cross-disciplinary teams for independent host institution development cycles.

play_lesson

Educational Media Designer

  • Created lesson plans for elementary school students that follow Washington State science education guidelines.
  • Designed blog-based educational modules with prerecorded facilitation videos and interactive activities.
  • Completed qualitative evaluation of student reasoning skills and teacher perception about the interactive lessons.


Technology Intern

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture

September 2019 – June 2020

construction

Designer & Developer

  • Secured project funding through crowdsourcing and grants.
  • Designed and developed the open CLIO toolkit.
  • Designed and developed the open POP toolkit.
  • Created documentation to ensure continued support of the project.
  • Researched, planned and drafted iterative proposals for community workshops.
  • Compared and qualified open-source software development libraries for project integration and long-term sustainability.
  • Created functional interpretive technology prototypes based on practical feedback and technical specifications.
  • Completed ethical reviews to consider the implications for the institution, its professionals and the larger community.
  • Completed life cycle sustainability evaluations throughout development process.
  • Developed an easy-to-clone operating system image for creating pop-up, web application-based kiosks.
  • Created comprehensive documentation with related guides for creating and configuring the kiosk.

carpenter

Fabricator

  • Researched, planned and drafted iterative proposals related to embedded systems design and features using established evaluation models.
  • Created functional technology prototypes based on practical feedback and technical specifications.
  • Researched, compared and tested 3D fabrication technologies and materials.
  • Compared and qualified open-source hardware assemblies and software distributions for long-term sustainability.

play_lesson

Educational Media Designer

  • Collaborated with the Education department to implement digital collections content for their BurkeMobile program using the open toolkits, 3D printing and low-cost hardware.
  • Evaluated prototypes using established models alongside a team of educational professionals.
  • Collaborated with educators to create educational experiences that utilized digital interactive technologies as an integrated part of traditional interpretation.
  • Adapted common pedagogy techniques into discrete, template-based interactive activities for informal education facilitation.


Technology Intern

Roger Williams Natural History Museum

May 2017 – May 2018

construction

Designer & Developer

  • Operated as part of a small team to design and develop low-cost, re-usable exhibit kiosks using open-source hardware and software.

play_lesson

Educational Media Designer

  • Utilized grant funding and open NASA resources to create an interactive exhibit about the potentials of extraterrestrial life.
  • Designed and produced the collection of educational infographic videos on display.


Media Lab Manager

AstroNova, Inc.

September 2011 – September 2019

support

Tech Support

  • Ensured product performance in unique and complex customer applications.
  • Managed laboratory network infrastructure and performed troubleshooting of hardware, software or other peripherals.
  • Provided technical product assistance to support technicians and customers.
  • Trained company personnel regarding new or updated product offerings to ensure smooth customer adoption and continued satisfaction.

acute

Lab Manager

  • Defined the Media Lab's protocols and procedures for quality control, product testing and laboratory maintenance.
  • Established lab priorities, managed schedules, organized workloads, and kept management informed about the status of active projects on a daily basis.
  • Managed archives of past work orders, requisitions, complaints, test reports and samples.

fact_check

Quality Assurance & Control

  • Performed qualitative and quantitative testing using industry-standard methods and test equipment.
  • Inspected incoming raw materials, manufacturing processes, and outgoing final product for quality control.
  • Evaluated defective products to identify root-cause errors and implement procedures to prevent future recurrences.

carpenter

Fabricator

  • Created label solutions using a range of industrial printer technologies and techniques.

science

Researcher & Developer

  • Assisted with the research, development and support of printer and media product portfolios.
  • Prepared reports that informed customer applications and company-wide product decisions.
  • Coordinated with international branches and partners to explore and qualify manufacturer alternatives to create a cohesive international inventory.
  • Developed and maintained a database cataloging product lines' relevant technical specifications, test data and anecdotal information.
  • Developed and curated a product offering intranet portal for use by management, sales, support and marketing personnel.
  • Developed commercial printer media profiles for optimal print quality and color matching.


Technologist

Interpretive.Tech

January 2010 – Present

volunteer_activism

Volunteer

  • Volunteered websites for local non-profits, such as animal adoption services, theater organizations, museums, libraries or other public institutions.

support

Tech Support

  • Provided freelance IT support services to local businesses such as restaurants and car dealerships.

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Systems Administrator

  • Provided freelance IT support services to local businesses such as restaurants and car dealerships.
  • Maintain a self-hosted web server for family, friends and local community web sites.

construction

Designer & Developer

  • Designed and developed websites and promotional content for local restaurants and organizations.
  • Designed merchandise, promotional material and websites for local bands.
  • Designed portfolio and resume websites for local professionals.
  • Performed live event sound mixing and management.

draw

Illustrator

  • Work is created through Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

 

Education

University of Washington

Master of Library and Information Science

September 2023 – June 2026

work

Cloud-First Colleges

This presents a case study about the University of Washington, it’s IT department and library system exploring how a “cloud-first” approach can put institutions at odds with digital and environmental stewardship values. By analyzing a cross section of websites and academic services provided through University affiliation, this study explores the increasingly corporate ties that institutional members are required to engage with for success and access.

communities

Responsive Makerspaces

Libraries are increasingly offering Makerspaces to their communities and the proliferation of these new services is shifting the paradigm of what constitutes core library functions. The core community elements of Makerspaces have been subjects of scrutiny, with academics and practitioners alike raising questions about who has been traditionally served by Makerspaces and who has been left out. Scholars have observed that the Maker Movement is marked by a culture that is historically white, male, cisgender, heterosexual, able-bodied, and neurotypical.


Evergreen State College

Bachelor of Art in Education Technology

September 2019 – June 2023

code

Open Development Kits

Collaborated with the Evergreen Media Loan program to provide students access to open, affordable, and educational technologies through library-circulated Open Development Kits.

group

Group Capstone Pilot

Operated as part of a pilot program allowing Museology graduate students to complete their capstone as a group project and led a seminar for the following cohort.

co_present

MuseTech Conference

Presented a paper at the conference and took place in an technology critique session.

wall_art

Student Exhibition

Provided digital and collage artwork for a student gallery exhibition.

Projects

Publications

Awards