Learner

Adobe Premiere Pro Certification - Adobe is constantly updating its programs and changing its interface. It is my job to stay up to date on trends and keep my knowledge current. This is doubled because I help students. If my information is inaccurate, then what I am teaching does them a disservice. Part of my advantage as a teacher is that I have worked in the field. I've been under deadline with no safety net. Submitting this LinkedIn Learning Professional Certificate is proof of a lifetime of learning with a goal to never stop. 

Softchalk -  One of the new programs I learned during my ED 510 class is Softchalk. This site works with Canvas and can help incorporate interactive elements, such as gamification, to increase lesson engagement. 

In this image created in Adobe Illustrator, I explain the program's workflow, how to use Microsoft products, and how to create games within the program to add interest for students. 

Never. Stop. Learning.

My grandfather was an engineer for NASA. He worked on the Apollo 11 program and helped design the tires for the Lunar Rover. One evening, we were talking outside my grandparents' home. It was a clear night, and he kept looking up at the moon. I asked him what he was thinking about. He said he had been researching the gravitational pull of the moon and its relationship with the Earth. He was 91 at the time. I was blown away. Here was a person who literally helped figure out how the treads on the tires for the Lunar Rover should react and was still wanting to know more even in his 90s. He was like that. He was always working with computers. He would call my brother and me to ask why something wasn't working. He would then tell us each step of the process he took.

"If you learn something new every day, you've done good." -Chester Haggard

My granddad has lots of sayings. One of my favorites was, "If you learn something new every day, you've done good." I have taken that phrase to heart. I am continuously learning. The multimedia field has changed drastically from the start of my career. You must continue to stay on top of trends and learn from those around you. 

I work closely with a team of professionals in the Calhoun Multimedia department. It is a diverse group with a co-worker in his early 20's and another who is threatening to retire. Everyone in the department can do most jobs independently; however, when we work together, that is where we shine. We are constantly helping each other learn and grow. When one of us learns a new technique, we share it with the group. We all have our jobs and assignments for the week. We want to complete them to the best of our ability. 

I am constantly on the lookout on social media and online to keep up with trends. The target audience for one of our spots is 16-30. We try to keep our production clean, up to date, fun, short, and upbeat. In the coming weeks, I will take a test to be Adobe Certified.