I was born and raised on Long Island - probably one of those rare people who still lives in the house they grew up in. I've only worked for three companies since I graduated college - the last two of them for 8-1/2 and 12-1/2 years respectively. I have only owned three cars in my adult life. Can you tell I am not one for change? I like stability and respect loyalty. I believe that it is important to enjoy what you do for a living and like the people you work with. My father always used to say that if you wake up in the morning and don't look forward to going to work anymore, it's time to leave. In my training career, I have been very fortunate to work for companies and people that make me want to get up in the morning.
Like most Instructional Designers, I imagine, I did not grow up dreaming of a career as an ID. In fact, even after 4 years of college, I still didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up. My first job in an office didn't yield any additional clues either. It took a couple of years, but eventually I found myself working in the Training Department for a Mutual Fund company. I enjoyed teaching people to do what I used to do - it seemed pretty easy. I attended a few workshops, but otherwise taught myself everything I knew and relied on my coworkers and manager for collaboration and insight. We didn't have Designers and Facilitators - you were simply a Trainer. We did everything - writing the materials, teaching the materials, keeping the class records, copying and making the class binders. Technology was not what it is today - we even had to hand-write our documents and give them to our Administrative staff to type - and that was only 20 years ago!
I don't think I ever thought I would still be in this line of work, but with each passing year, I learned more, grew more and realized I enjoyed being a Trainer. Trainer evolved into Instructional Designer and here I am today graduating from San Diego State University (SDSU) with a Masters in Educational Technology. Twenty years ago, I didn't even know that there was a name and a career path for what I did. I am older and wiser now, and after four years at SDSU, I think I know what I want to be when I grow up.
In this ePortfolio, you will find a sampling of my work at SDSU. One of my favorite hobbies is photography - in particular flowers and nature. The photos you see here represent just a few of my favorites.
If you have any questions about my site, my work or my photos, please use the Contact link to email me.
Best Regards, Janet
"There is nothing training cannot do. Nothing is above it's reach. It can turn bad morals to good; it can destroy bad principles and recreate good ones; it can lift men and women to angelship." - Mark Twain