Section 6: Getting an IDT Position and Succeeding at It

Begin your post for this week with some background: what is your current job, what program are you enrolled in, what brings you to that program, and what do you expect when you graduate?

I currently work as a systems analyst in a Information Technology department for a large company.  I have 15 years of customer support experience and many of those years on a corporate help desk.  The program I currently am working on is Education Technology because I have a great interest in technology.  I get technology and the value that it can bring.  I see gaps in our public education as school districts try to solve the puzzle of integrating technology into instruction.  I expect to make an impact in this space as a long time technologist problem solver.

Next, describe the kind of work that you want to do and the type of organization or institution in which you want to work. Use the WorkMatrixTM in the chapter titled “Getting a Job in Business and Industry” to help organize your thoughts. Do you most desire first, second, third, or fourth level service? Or would you rather design or develop instruction? What features of work are important to you? What economic sector do you want to work in?

Initially I want to join the public education P-12 arena.  I have spent the past 4 years studying to be a teacher while working full time and I am ready and excited to share my experience and most importantly learn from that environment.  I am open to a corporate training environment but I would like to have the experience of developing content and instructional methods to effectively teach.

I also want to study the field of education technology and help solve some of the problems that exist today.  Technology seems to be fitted for a corporate and consumer environment, but to utilize technology in a education realm exposes a new set of problems.  My experience in the classroom should give me a practical perspective so I can contribute meaningful solutions and discussion to the field.

Based on these intentions, explain what you need to learn. What skills and qualifications do you need? Will you obtain the skills you need in the required courses in your program? What electives might you need to take to help you develop skills specific to your aspirations?

The skills that will help me achieve success in the above will relate to designing lessons or instructional units that engage students with the use of technology.  So far the electives that I have taken seem to be helpful, but I realize that a constant search for new information and training is required.  The skill or ability to learn is what I consider the best tool in the box.  I will try to learn as much as I can with research because that will help me shape future opinions and prove new solutions.

I also will take some media design and was glad to see the suggestion in the book to have some experience with those types of system.  I have a good foundation with using computers and programming with my current job, but to use software that specifically relates to the education realm will be helpful to know so I can focus more on content and not the process.

Finally, what organizations would best support your continued learning after you graduate? Do you think you would benefit from joining those organizations before graduating? Explain why or why not?

I appreciate the lengthy list that was provided in the text.  A couple of organizations that I would like to join as soon as economically possible would be ISTE and AECT.    They both seem geared toward helping educators with regard to education and technology.  From journal to standards to books as well as the conferences (which I am excited about planning to attend next year) the resources available are substantial.