My competency in service is limited. However, I have I created a plan to expose and share my expertise with others. Though I have always been humble about my education and skills, I have worked hard through these years to accumulate knowledge and skills associated with the profession of instructional design.
First, I need to make myself available by networking with instructional designers,
professors, and other professionals. Networking provides the opportunity to
share my knowledge and skill set with others. Through networking, I make myself available and engage in opportunities for professional growth with instructional design and technology.
Second, I created a portfolio listing my education, work experiences, knowledge, skills, and instructional design artifacts. Displaying my work is essential for job interviews and other opportunities such as consulting. In addition, I am volunteering to serve on committees to review articles, present webinars, present workshops, and committee-related instructional activities.
Finally, I recently joined the Association for Educational Communications and Technology, AECT. At 2022 AECT convention, I joined the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA). Unexpectedly, I became an active volunteer for Organizational Training and Performance (OTP). I look forward to what this committee will provide through networking and volunteering. I joined the America Educational Research Association, AERA. I have volunteered to review publications to gain experience with being a reviewer.
One thing about me is that I am not afraid to take opportunities and turn those opportunities into instructional system design and technology learning experiences. Doing this helps me get experience in applying instructional design tools and practice the delivery and design of instructional materials for teaching.
The San Angelo YMCA allowed me to present an instructional workshop for their community outreach program for women incorporating healthy living and social responsibility. The workshop focused on self-care and encouraged women in our community to care for themselves, so they could continue caring for their families. Physical activity and self-care are essential for women to remain healthy and viable.
I presented the group with a Powerpoint presentation detailing the definition of stress, what self-care was, and the suggested behavior modifications to allocate time for self-care. A print-out of the Powerpoint was made available to the attendees. In addition, an interactive activity took place during the workshop, where each attendee wrote words of affirmation and traded those cards with the group.
My portfolio displays my biography, curriculum vitae, presentations, publications, memberships, and affiliations. A portfolio can be a powerful tool to use when applying to positions that suggest experience in the field of instructional design. The focus of my portfolio is shifting to project management with instructional design.
OTP Volunteer for AECT
During the 2022 AECT conference, the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) asked me to volunteer for OTP. I chose to volunteer to network and get exposure to other graduates and professionals in the instructional system design and technology field. The GSA committee works on providing opportunities for leadership, networking, and education in instructional technology. I am the official note-taker, and our goal is to provide monthly seminars on issues, training, and learning associated with being a graduate student. GSA is a great fit for me as I am passionate about adult learning.
AECT Membership
The first GSA webinar for 2023 I helped with was "Supporting Mental Health in Academia and Advocating for Change."