An update on my progress toward my degree –
A few years ago, I started attending the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online to get a bachelor’s degree in Web Design and Interactive Media. I’m doing it part time, one class at a time, so it’s slow going, but I’ve been at it steady for a long time now. I’m finally in my 4th year classes, and I think I have about a year left to go. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and am really looking forward to hanging that diploma on my office wall.
I’ve really been moved toward the eLearning part of the program. In my past career, I had done a good bit of software training, teaching clients how to use Adobe Photoshop and After Effects in the sign business, so this seems like a natural fit for me. I picked up Adobe Captivate, and have been digging into that, and am very impressed by what it can do. The capabilities in Instructional Design are just tremendous compared to a decade ago. This would have saved my employer a fortune on travel and overtime expenses. It also allows someone to learn at their own pace, rather than forcing them to do a multiple-day marathon, which pushes them far beyond their saturation point. To be able to take a break, and come back for a little more the next day is really nice.
I’ve also done a good bit of Javascript and Jquery work. I’ve had a lot of fun working with that, and been very impressed by what I can do so easily with a few well-placed widgets. My coding skills have leapt forward by a long shot.
A few months ago, I had a portfolio class, and built an entire new site for myself. I’ve redone it several times since then, and will probably keep redoing it every few months. It contains links to a lot of my recent Instructional and Web design pieces, as well as a lot of my graphic art.
My current class, Advanced Communications, is very helpful. It mainly deals with how to speak and write in a professional environment, for interviews, reviews, etc.
So, that’s where I am in the effort to improve my education. See you at the top!