As I near the end of my journey in the Ed.D. program at Nova Southeastern University, I had the opportunity in my last doctoral course, Professional Practice in Instructional Technology and Distance Education, to research and investigate different subfields in the area of instructional design and technology. I learned about employment opportunities available to instructional designers and technologists in K-12, higher education, business, industry, the military, and the government.
My experience has been strictly in the K-5 sector as I have been an elementary classroom teacher designing and developing curriculum and instruction and integrating technology to deliver engaging learning opportunities for my students since 2000. During this time, I have had many opportunities to provide training for other teachers, served on curriculum committees, and I have also acted as a mentor for pre-service and new teachers.
When considering my options for employment upon graduation, I have thought many times that I would like to move into the realm of higher education. I envision myself guiding the next generation of teachers to use research based approaches for designing and delivering instruction for their students. With this in mind, I approached a friend I met through the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) and asked if she would be willing to answer some questions about her new position as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Professional Studies at the University of Wyoming.
Below is culmination of the interview that took place via email and recorded responses.
My experience has been strictly in the K-5 sector as I have been an elementary classroom teacher designing and developing curriculum and instruction and integrating technology to deliver engaging learning opportunities for my students since 2000. During this time, I have had many opportunities to provide training for other teachers, served on curriculum committees, and I have also acted as a mentor for pre-service and new teachers.
When considering my options for employment upon graduation, I have thought many times that I would like to move into the realm of higher education. I envision myself guiding the next generation of teachers to use research based approaches for designing and delivering instruction for their students. With this in mind, I approached a friend I met through the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) and asked if she would be willing to answer some questions about her new position as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Professional Studies at the University of Wyoming.
Below is culmination of the interview that took place via email and recorded responses.
Tonia A. Dousay, Ph.D.
After learning more about Dr. Dousay's experience, I took some time to reflect on where I fit in to the realm of higher education. I realized there is a gap in my experience when it comes to higher education. I have experience designing curriculum and instruction for students in elementary education; however, I do not have experience doing the same in higher education. Two other areas I am lacking on my resume are publications and experience with the grant process for funding research projects. Therefore, before I can enter higher education as an assistant professor, I will need to gain some experience in these areas.
I will use the resources gathered during this semester to acquire experience in the areas that I am deficient. I plan on applying for an internship for the spring semester in order to gain experience in designing courses for higher education. I will also explore teaching options with colleges or universities that offer online courses in education, instructional design, or instructional technology. I plan on selecting a paper or two that I have written as part of my doctoral program to prepare for submission to publications in the area of instructional design and technology. Finally, I am working on writing a grant to fund an engineering after-school program for elementary students. Although this will be a small project, it will provide me with the experience of writing and overseeing a grant funded initiative.
Once I gain additional experience in these areas my chances of being hired as an assistant professor increase. I will continue to network with individuals I have met through the professional organizations I belong to in order to learn of positions that are a good fit with my knowledge and experience.
I will use the resources gathered during this semester to acquire experience in the areas that I am deficient. I plan on applying for an internship for the spring semester in order to gain experience in designing courses for higher education. I will also explore teaching options with colleges or universities that offer online courses in education, instructional design, or instructional technology. I plan on selecting a paper or two that I have written as part of my doctoral program to prepare for submission to publications in the area of instructional design and technology. Finally, I am working on writing a grant to fund an engineering after-school program for elementary students. Although this will be a small project, it will provide me with the experience of writing and overseeing a grant funded initiative.
Once I gain additional experience in these areas my chances of being hired as an assistant professor increase. I will continue to network with individuals I have met through the professional organizations I belong to in order to learn of positions that are a good fit with my knowledge and experience.
RSS Feed
