Jen Kramer Eyes the Future

Jen Kramer

Jen Kramer seems synonymous with the Grad Center. She's both an alum and an instructor whose classes consistently bring rave reviews.

After building static HTML websites over the past 5 years, Jen has begun working for Lucidus Corporation, a web development firm in Keene, NH. Lucidus has hosted the Macromedia User Group meetings held on the 1st Tuesday of every month for several years now.

Recently, we asked Jen to comment on the changes that have taken place since her graduation in 2001 and what she sees headed our way.

"We've seen 4 versions of Dreamweaver released and 4 versions of Photoshop. We had a whole new search engine emerge and take over (Google), and, thank goodness, we no longer have to worry about Netscape 4 when doing web work! We're no longer using font tags, spacer GIFs, and piles of nested tables to lay out web pages -- we use CSS, and we're finally even getting rid of tables themselves for layout. Open source software solutions have really taken off. We are seeing all kinds of excellent products being released, from calendars, to content management systems, to client relations management software, to project management software, and more. What's more, it's becoming easier to install this software and customize it for a client's needs.

In the next 5 years, I believe the majority of websites will be built using some type of content management system. They make so much sense, making it easy for clients to maintain their own websites without knowledge of HTML, and allowing a whole new level of dynamic and interesting content to be managed quickly and easily. Now that open source solutions are available, and are at least moderately usable, they are becoming affordable for more clients. (Clearly many of the open source products could be improved usability-wise, and they tend to be light on documentation, but they're an excellent start and I think they'll significantly improve over the next few years)."

This winter Jen will be teaching Web Standards, an excellent class for alumni to take since it will bring them up to speed quickly with XHTML and CSS. Towards the end of the course, she plans to get into tableless layouts and some pretty cutting edge stuff for front-end web design.

New Networks Class at the GC

We are delighted to announce a revamp of one of our key and most popular courses. The course that was titled "Educational Networks" has been overhauled and will now feature more on the setting up and administration of collaborative Learning/Content Management systems. The course will now be titled: "Configuring Networked Learning Environments." These CMS/LMS tools are gathering a great deal of interest in Academia and the corporate world as they facilitate real collaboration and interaction through (relatively) easily set up web based systems.

Michael Lyman, class instructor, shared this overview of the course: "The class will learn about networks by installing and creating courses in Moodle (one of the main CMS/LMS Open Source systems). Students will get the skills to create and work with online classes while also learning how to set a CMS/LMS system up from scratch. Students will be given a tutorial on network terms (IP address, port, etc), Linux file systems, and an Apache under the hood training. They will practice downloading and installing Moodle, creating the tables in a database, and configuring Moodle for a "case study" course the students make up."

The Grad Center will supply machines with Linux, Apache (with PHP) and MySQL installed.

If you're interested in taking advantage of this class,please contact Margaret Donahue at mdonahue@gradcenter.marlboro.edu.

Class Notes

Brian Wade Bickford, ISM '99 recently passed along this good news: "I have been nominated and confirmed to serve as one of the distinguished judges for the 2006 Internet Advertising Competition (http://www.advertisingcompetition.org). The Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards are produced by the Web Marketing Association to honor excellence in online advertising, recognize the individuals and organizations responsible, and showcase the award winning Internet advertising. Internet Advertising Competition entries come from more than 22 countries around the globe." Brian is the President of Strategic Productions, an advertising, interactive and marketing firm headquartered in Portland, Maine with offices in Hong Kong and Bangalore, India,

Dawn Barnhart, ISM '99 told us: "I am still working as a design and web consultant here in Boston. I am working mainly with software companies and investment banking firms here and NYC. I also am teaching full-time at the New England Institute of Art, my area of expertise being the Web Development Certificate program. I was recently awarded the title of Assistant Professor through NEAI as well. My faculty and I are in the midst of developing a new advanced certificate program for NEIA in Web Development and expect it to go live in April '06. I have a couple of trips in the works since you are asking. I will be off to Mexico's Mayan Riviera for the Christmas holidays and then to Panama in February for a week in the sun and surf. I have begun learning Spanish for these travels. I spent time in Montana this summer - my mother is from there - meeting a great number of relatives. One of my dearest friends is from Geneva, Switzerland, and she came along to see and experience the "American Alps". We had a great time: horseback riding, whitewater rafting, water skiing, hiking and enjoying the incredible scenery." My best to everyone this holiday season!

Linda Donaghue, ITC '01 wrote: "I had a fabulous time in Ireland over Thanksgiving feeling less like a tourist and more like a native (until I opened my mouth): hiking on Sherkin Island off the coast of West Cork and shopping in cosmopolitan Limerick (eons from the Limerick of Frank McCourt). Apple laptops available in weird places (tiny B&B's, for example) for internet connection, which was often free. The new Ireland is very much a connected society with a financially savvy and tech literate younger generation. But still, those "old things" all over the place give the sense of ancient history and an agrarian culture not so far removed. So my turkey was "cabbage and bacon" and it was grand."

Andrew Jackson, ISM '99 emailed us: "I just returned from the Digital Magazine Forum in New York. In my role as publisher at Vermont Life I'm trying to get current on the digital delivery of magazines. For an example and some samples, have a look at www.Zinio.com."

Happy Holidays to the Grad Center community and all ISM99ers.

Career Opportunities

Project Manager
Landmark College
Landmark College has an exciting professional opportunity for a Project Manager in The Landmark College Institute for Research & Training (LCIRT) at their Putney, Vermont campus.

The Project Manager (PM) is responsible for managing projects at the Institute and preparing new business initiatives and projects for deployment and implementation. Reporting to the Associate Director, the Project Manager will work on ensuring the successful implementation of grant, foundation, and client-funded projects. The PM will also work with LCIRT staff, College faculty and staff, and partner organizations to develop new business opportunities.

The PM should be well-versed in project management, with a portfolio demonstrating successful project initiation, implementation, and close-out. The position requires developing and implementing contracts and subcontracts, working with clients and contractors to ensure understanding of timelines and deliverables, and managing project details to ensure timely delivery to expected standards of quality and service. The PM will conduct market research to analyze new market opportunities and work with Landmark College staff to identify appropriate clients.

Responsibilities include managing active projects, cultivating new projects, and ensuring smooth operations across internal and external staff and partner organizations. Due to the changing nature of the market, and the need to be responsive to state, federal, and industry requirements, the PM must be able to thrive in an environment of change, and be responsive to new directives and guidelines. Frequent business travel is required.

Essential qualifications include: Master's degree in business, education, technology, or related field; at least 3 years experience in administration or project management; experience with educational projects and working with educational personnel; demonstrated ability to manage complex projects on-time; strong attention to detail; ability to maintain complex filing systems and track numerous project details to support government and internal audits; outstanding communication skills, including public speaking, familiarity with project management software (e.g. Microsoft Project), word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software applications; genuine interest in, understanding of, and commitment to issues and concerns for students with learning disabilities/attention deficit disorders. The ideal candidate will have a Doctorate, consulting experience, experience developing and presenting professional development to educators, and previous teaching or higher ed experience. Actual experience working with students with learning differences a plus.

Landmark College offers challenging employment with competitive salary and a comprehensive benefit program. Interested individuals should apply with a cover letter, resume and three references to: Director of Human Resources, Landmark College, P.O. Box 820, Putney, Vermont 05346.

Contract Instructional Designer
Massachusetts Bay Community College

Part-time: Up to 18 hours per week
Salary: Up to $35 per hour*


This position is responsible to provide instructional design and development for their hybrid nursing and surgical technology programs.

Works under the supervision of the Dean of Community and Corporate Education and/or Associate Dean who assigns duties and reviews work to conform to established policies and procedures.

Responsibilities
Collaborate with faculty on instructional design issues, including integration of multimedia, streaming content and other technologies into instruction and online course development.
Consult with faculty on design of curriculum, instruction and effective uses of multimedia and instructional technology.
Provide design and production assistance to faculty in the development of instructional media in a range of delivery modes.
Gather content through subject matter experts (SMEs).
Copyedit course materials and related documents.


Skills and Requirements:
Bachelor degree in English, health, nursing, education, instructional technology, or related field.
Experience in instructional design, preferably for blended and/or e-learning.
Experience creating instructional design materials (design documents, storyboards, etc.) to support the production of blended and online course materials involving graphics and multimedia.
Excellent communication, consulting, and organizational skills.
Ability to lend a learner-centered focus when collaborating with faculty and team members.
Ability to be a self-starter and manage multiple tasks in a collaborative team environment.
Knowledge of technical capabilities typical of robust e-learning.
Project management skills a plus.
Two years successful college level teaching experience a plus.


Preferred Qualifications
Experience using the Blackboard course management system.
Experience training others in the use of technology.
Excellent communication skills.
Experience using the Macromedia suite of web applications (i.e. Dreamweaver, Flash, Freehand and Fireworks).

The Successful Candidate will demonstrate
Experience supporting faculty in instructional design and/or technology training.
Working knowledge of a variety of computer tools applied to learning.
Knowledge of learning management systems.
Knowledge of emerging technologies as related to teaching and learning.
Ability to work in a team and establish collegial relationships with faculty and staff.


Apply for this Position through My HigherEdJobs http://www.higheredjobs.com/myHigherEdJobs/Apply/chooseNextStep.cfm?JobCode=175160123
Postal Address:
Human Resources
50 Oakland Street
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
Phone: 781-239-3175
Fax: 781-239-2606
Email Address: Employment@massbay.edu

Experienced Trainers
Vermont Panurgy Corporation, originally founded as Champlain Computer Systems, began working with Vermont businesses in 1983. Today, Panurgy is an IT services provider offering product procurement services, network design and maintenance, training, and development.

PC Application Trainers: They are currently looking for part-time and contract instructors that are experienced in Adult Education with a strong knowledge of the Microsoft Office environment. You will be required to understand all training materials, organize and deliver the curriculum using various methods to enhance the learning experience at Panurgy. Microsoft Office Certification is desired. This position will travel throughout the state of Vermont.

Web Design/Developer Trainers: They are currently looking for part-time and contract instructors that are experienced in Adult Education with a strong knowledge of Web Design and Development. You should have extensive knowledge in Macromedia, Microsoft and .Net technologies. You will be required to understand all training materials, organize and deliver the curriculum using various methods to enhance the learning experience at Panurgy. Microsoft and/or Macromedia certification desired. This position will travel throughout the state of Vermont.

Please contact Dawna Majher at dmajher@panurgyvt.com.