Welcome to my Blogfolio!

This my first ever blogfolio so expect my beginning work to be at a rookie level! I hope that you will enjoy this site as it is dedicated not only to individual learning but also group learning. My colleagues as well as myself are enrolled in IT648: Telecommunications in Education at The University of Southern Mississippi. This course is being taught online by Dr. Steve Yuen and will span across ten weeks of the 2008 summer term. 

My blogfolio was created to give a reflective look at the coursework I have completed within IT 648 featuring personal reflections, assignments and discussions completed during the course. The second purpose of my blogfolio is to help foster individual and group learning between my colleagues within this course and myself. Throughout the semester we were able to review one another's sites allowing us the ability to learn and discuss our findings amongst one another. Links to my colleagues blogs are also posted on my site so that anyone who is interested in checking out their sites will have easy accessibility to do so. 

The blogs you will see posted will be self-reflections on the activities this course  including but not limited to readings, assignments, learning modules and theories studied during the summer of 2008.  The left menu bar of the page will allow you the navigational ability to: learn more about me, view my additional blogs, view colleague's blogs and get the latest news from Apple. I have also included some pictures from some of my experiences as well as some family pictures for your enjoyment. I am looking forward to the new experience of blogging and hope to build experience, knowledge and relationships that will prepare me for a career with technology. Feel free to ask questions, post comments, leave suggestions, or offer feedback. 

Self Introduction

Hello Everyone!

My name is Jennifer Styron. I am a doctoral student at The University of Southern Mississippi. I am pursuing a minor in Instructional Technology and am very exciting about the learning opportunities technology is affording to students throughout the world! I aspire to work in the field helping integrate emerging technologies into curriculum developing and challenging education to take learning to the next level. I hope to work for a visionary organization whose mission is to proactively help increase efficiency, reduce cost, improve accessibility, retention and customer service. I look forward to building relationships with similar companies and collaborating with them on projects and research, together helping our nation lead the way into the 21st century!

I graduated from Northwestern State University in 2003 with a Hospitality Management and Tourism degree. Post graduation I worked as a consultant for my sorority and had the opportunity to travel the midwest and Alaska helping chapters develop women leaders on their campuses. It was a pleasure working with students as well as my sorority, Alpha Sigma Alpha however something was still missing. Upon completion of my position in 2005 I moved to Portland, Oregon where I took a position as an admissions advisor at an online university. It was in this role that I found my passion for the wonderful world of technology and have been hooked since!

I am a huge family person, have a deep appreciation for the arts, enjoy sports and am crazy about traveling!! My favorite place I have visited has been New York. I love the energy, determination, and spunk the city (and its people) has to offer. I hope after I graduate to live close to the area so that I may visit frequently. Chicago could hold the number two spot on my list. I tend to be a city girl however I enjoy the West Coast immensely also which is much different than the city life I generally enjoy. My favorite sports teams are the New York Yankees (obviously), the Indianapolis Colts (lived in Indiana when I traveled for the sorority), and the Phoenix Suns (no reason except I love the team's running game). I always root for the Saints since I am originally from Louisiana and hope to ONE DAY see them win a Super Bowl!