About Me
Welcome to my electronic portfolio. This portfolio is the culmination of my experience for my Master's degree in Instructional Technology.
Originally, I am from DeKalb, IL. I grew up there and attended College at Northern Illinois University where I received a degree in Graphic Arts. Upon graduation, all I wanted was a one way ticket to California. I wanted to see the world outside of DeKalb, IL. I did not land in California, but Dallas TX. After about two years, I decided that Dallas was not the place where I wanted permanent roots, and as the saying goes there is no place like home, and DeKalb was home.
Back in DeKalb I worked for UARCO, which was acquired by Standard Register. I started in their telemarketing department selling business forms to small businesses. Later, I was given two opportunities for promotion. One was within the department as a mid-level manager and the other was to assist in the start up of an in-house art department. I jumped on the artist position. In this position I was responsible for the production of UARCO’s business to business direct mail catalogs. These responsibilities included specing type, layout and design (when it was all done by hand). I also worked as part of the team in the production and production schedule of the catalog. What I did not realize was I really was performing “project management”.
As a graphic designer, I had to interact with a variety of vendors including printers, photographers, and color separators. As a result of this experience, I was offered a job with one of our printing vendors in direct sales. My graphic arts combined with my production experience were assets in my new role as a sales representative. It was in 1990 that I was offered a position as an account executive for a “one-stop” direct mail company located in Sidney, OH. The first two years I was focused on developing and building my client base which involved marketing and selling. However, later my business exploded and I realized that getting the order was just the beginning in the direct mail cycle. As an account executive, I learned how to plan and coordinate all of the components of a direct mail campaign to meet the customer’s deadlines. I learned that customer service was critical if you were to be successful. In addition, I expanded on my team work skills. My team consisted of everyone from the receptionist, to the estimators, production people, warehouse people, press operators and letter shop people, which required an equal amount of selling and motivation skills, inside the plant.
After getting married and becoming a mother of two boys, my focus and priorities changed. While I still wanted to work, I also wanted to have more time for them. Thus, I worked, part-time as an administrative assistant and later took a full time administrative assistant position at Cape Fear Community College. It was during that time that I started to think about going back to school for my advanced degree. With the support of my family, I found and applied to the MIT program.
Through the MIT program I have discovered a whole new field. The program has not only given me the opportunity to further expand on my knowledge and skills, but it has also led me in a new direction. Now, as an instructional technologist/designer, I see my role as providing the proper learning tools and techniques to achieve the agreed upon goals and objectives. I believe that it is critical that I, as an Instructional Technologist/designer, follow a systematic approach in order to determine the correct path in designing environments conducive to learning. Moreover, I realize that when faced with human performance issues, the solution may not always be training; it may be a process improvement or a work related initiative. I feel that it is also critical that as an instructional designer/technologist, I utilize the proper technology tools. However, I do not believe that as an instructional technologist/designer I have to use a technology tool, just for the sake of using it, when it is not the best delivery system. Instructional models and theories are the foundation in which learning is built upon. We do not all learn in the same way as it is noted in the Gardner’s theory of Multiple Approaches to understanding (Gardner, 19903). And lastly, I believe in “keeping it simple”. The learning process you design and develop may be complex, but the delivery of instructional materials does not need to be.
To expound on my education, I am inspired to transfer my knowledge of instructional systems design methodologies to design and develop instructional materials and improve human performance. My goal is to work in an environment where I can incorporate my new skills and knowledge as an instructional technologist/designer and build upon my past experiences in sales, customer service and production to be a vital contributor and member of a successful design team.
