In talking to people over the last few weeks–and really years, I guess–I’ve noticed that people don’t always understand not only what I do, but the broad knowledge I have, and feel I need, in order to do my job effectively. So I just wanted to put this down off the top of my head:
- A variety of software applications, including but not limited to:
- iMovie
- Flash
- Dreamweaver
- Photoshop
- Word Processing
- Spreadsheet
- Camtasia (screen recording)
- Cleaner (video and audio file conversion)
- Audacity and/or Garageband
- Acrobat professional
- iPhoto
- Skype
- iChat and AIM
- PowerPoint
- A variety of web browsers
- Blackboard and other course management systems
- Drupal and other blogging platforms
- CD and DVD burning software
- FinalCut pro
- Picassa
- Illustrator
- QuickTime
- OpenOffice
- GIMP (linux-based photo editor)
- HTML and CSS
- An understanding of how our Student Information System works (PeopleSoft)
- A general understanding of databases. I have actually created a simple database-driven web site, but I wouldn’t want to do that on a regular basis. It’s harder than it looks.
- Knowledge of the field of educational technology. I need to know the latest research and understand what experts say about the effects of technology on learning. Best practices in integrating technology into different disciplines
- Basic understanding of instructional design. People get whole degrees in this, but I understand the basic principles. We don’t actually do instructional design, really, at our institution.
- Understanding of web design principles and standards.
- RSS, XML
- Some system administration skills–modifying the apache configuration, setting file permissions.
- A smidge of php.
- How to use search effectively. I can’t tell you how many times Google has helped me solve a difficult problem.
- Various web 2.0 applications
- Blogger
- Odeo
- del.icio.us
- furl
- flickr
- youtube
- An understanding of how above applications are affecting education and learning
- Excellent writing and communication skills, especially the ability to communicate technical information to non-technical people.
- All three major operating systems–Mac, Windows, and Linux
- Streaming media creation and serving
- How to connect various hardware–digital cameras, scanners, palms, iPods–to various kinds of computers.
- How to scan slides, photos, and documents into appropriate formats and at appropriate quality levels.
There’s lots more, I’m sure. But I think sometimes faculty (and others) who tend to have a narrow area of knowledge don’t quite understand the scope of what I do. Many, many people believe I have one of two areas of expertise. And while it’s true that I have a greater depth of knowledge in some areas over others, I still need an understanding of things (like system administration) that I’ll never be an expert in. I feel that this broad knowledge is not something that’s always valued in academe–at least not on the faculty side. But maybe I’m wrong about that?
