Instructional Technology Program (INST) alums working for The Texas Virtual School Network

Associate Professor Caroline M. Crawford (center) with
INST grads Matthew Cushing and Sara Baltunis. Matthew and Sara
are Course Review Consultants with the Texas Virtual School Network

I am employed by Barrios Technology, a local aerospace engineering and technology services firm that focuses on America's space exploration. Barrios Technology works with federal government agencies and large aerospace corporations. After graduating in 2002 with my INST degree, I began my journey as an instructional designer on the JSC/NASA Bioastronautics Contract in June 2003. I was tasked to create web-based courses hosted in a proprietary eLearning system that tracked training for 900+ employees.

I've enjoyed all aspects of designing adult learning, from gathering requirements with subject matter experts and assisting with technical writing, to producing graphics and video, coding html with a little bit of ColdFusion programming, implementing testing phases, and finally rolling out the training into the production environment.

Unique for this position, besides being responsible for creating a turn-key product, was working in an information technology office. You need to have very good working relationships with the programmers and administrators to help with successful deployments!
Overseeing all aspects of course creation provided me with real time training in project management, which eventually led me to a new career in as a supervisor of IT Services. Each day provides an opportunity to work in different areas… in eLearning, with Helpdesk technicians and with software developers.

Looking back, I'm so very thankful for the INST courses that embraced technology for distance learning, with its various platforms, and which introduced me to the Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK).

Judith Peace - IT Services Section Supervisor