How are you using technology in your job?

Just about everything that I do or am responsible for involves some form of technology. My main responsibilities are to ensure that the website is working properly and to add new features and functionality where they may apply. Both of these require a fairly broad range of knowledge from the web server's operating system to the software that serves the web pages to the hodgepodge of HTML, XML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and a few other languages that make up the majority of the site's webpages.

In what way has technology transformed your job?

My job tends to move in step with new and emerging technologies so it's difficult to recognize the overall impact that they have had on my job responsibilities. If anything it has challenged me to learn new programming languages and to learn more about the underlying computer processes that drive our site and other sites. 

What does technology add that would not be possible without it?

Technology, as it pertains to my job, has the ability to speed up a given task or make a task easier to perform. Without technology we would not be able to quickly and easily communicate with our campus community via the web.

How do you see technology improving learning?

In my opinion the largest area where technology has improved learning is outside of the classroom. Technology has made it possible for students to easily share ideas and work on group projects outside of class, and to continue conversations online that were initiated during a lecture.

In what ways do you find technology frustrating?

It's always frustrating when something doesn't work properly or as advertised, like when the OS 10.5.6 software update erased our office server's UID's, that was fun;)

How are you using technology in interesting or unique ways?

I doubt I'm doing anything unique just yet otherwise I'd probably be working for myself or Google ;) One of the more interesting projects I hope to take on involves developing a suite of web apps for mobile devices.

How are you using technology to develop and deliver staff development?

Currently we use the web to post training materials for web editing and best practices, but we are going to start developing video tutorials for our CMS and other web related tasks.

How are you applying  technology in your personal life?

 I use technology for personal organization and entertainment mostly, nothing too exciting. 

Is there a single technological item you can't imagine living without?

Assuming we're not talking about an end of the world scenario, I would say my MacBook Pro.

Is there a particular technological item that you plan on learning and/or purchasing in the near future?

I plan on purchasing an iPod touch to use on the wireless network around campus.