TTT: Please
describe your work at UW Colleges.
PF: I am the instructional
technologist for the 13 UW Colleges campuses and for UWC Online. So, in
a nutshell I support faculty and students at 14 different campuses, one
of which is virtual. My work falls into six main areas: instructional
technology support and training for faculty and students in the distance
education program, instructional technology support for faculty at our
13 campuses, Blackboard and Academic.com site administrator, software
training for faculty and staff across the UW Colleges, liaison for the
distance education support staff at our 13 campuses, and in my spare time,
I evaluate emerging technologies. I am also the UW Colleges representative
on the UW System Learning Technology Development Council.
TTT: How long
have you been in your current position?
PF: I started in this position in December of 1998. Between Fall 1999
and Fall 2001 I was the Director of Distance Education for the UW Colleges
in addition to continuing many of my duties as the instructional technologist.
In the last year I transitioned back to the instructional technologist
position!
TTT: What do
you enjoy most about your job?
PF: I love teaching, and I love working with technology; and this
job allows me to do both. I find it very satisfying to see a faculty member
embrace technology, especially after they fought technology and distance
learning for so many years! I also love the challenge of finding ways
to effectively train folks at a distance. We have done some pretty innovative
things in this area in the last few months, and that has been very satisfying.
The other part of my job that I really enjoy is my involvement with the
LTDC. The group is a great network of people who share ideas, support
each other, and are have a wealth of knowledge. I have learned lots from
them. More importantly the LTDC folks are wonderful people to work with.
TTT: What's
the most memorable thing that has happened to you at this job?
PF: With the geographic dispersion of the Colleges, communication
and working together are critical in everything we do. I stress we
because the most memorable thing that has happened to me really happened
to us, the UW Colleges. The development and eventual North Central approval
of the UW Colleges Online degree program was a huge accomplishment for
the UW Colleges. It was a lot of work for many people, and my role in
the process took me on quite a journey. I'll never forget the day Chancellor
Messner came into my office, all smiles, and waved the letter of approval
from North Central. The day we processed and admitted our first online
degree student made the whole journey very worthwhile. Interestingly one
of the first graduates of the Online program will be a student who was
my advisee several years ago at UW-Richland!
TTT: What do
you enjoy doing in your free time? Any hobbies, recent trips or hidden
talents you'd care to tell our readers about?
PF: In my free time, I love going to UW women's athletic events. You'll
see me at every UW women's volleyball and basketball game. I do however
wear green and cheer for my alma mater, Michigan State, when they are
in town. Something most people don't know about me is that I am a musician.
I have played the guitar for 32 years and recently acquired an organ,
so I'm now learning to play the organ. Hardly a day goes by when I don't
play the guitar or organ or both. My music is my escape from the stress
of the day. I have two cats, Zoe and Zazu, who think I travel way too
much, but still love me. My favorite place to travel to is the Pacific
Northwest. I love Oregon: the coast, the ocean, Mt. Hood, the Columbia
River, but most importantly spending time there with my family.
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