How are you using technology in your job?

Almost everything I do uses technology. Our students do not come to campus. All of our communication is done through emails, phone calls, list serves, and department website. Almost everything I do relies on technology. Each day as I arrive I spend the first bit of everyday reviewing and answering emails questions and preparing materials that are requested from faculty via emails. Our department publishes a newsletter two times a year (uploaded to the website also) I monitor and update our webpage. During the registration period I use the BANNER program to input override codes to assist our students in registering for the correct courses.

In what way has technology transformed your job?

The use of technology helps me in everything I do. Starting with the computer, which helps to compile databases, mailing lists, creation of newsletters and advertise/recruitment brochures. Email is essential with my communication with students and my faculty. Our faculty, who from home periodically are able to request information from my files (databases) and have quick turnaround time with their needed responses. Email also allows communication when faculty are traveling to conferences etc.

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

Almost everything about technology simplifies a secretary's' day. For example, when I first came to this office in 1989, we did not have a complete database with students' information on it. When the faculty wanted to know who needed what classes, files were pulled and reviewed. Now the information is stored in my FileMaker Pro database, and information is almost immediately available for the faculty. With the same database I am able to sort and pull information for major projects (mailing of our 1500 newsletters to our current and past students). When I first came here, the mailing addresses were hand typed on labels and photocopied each time a newsletter was scheduled to go out. These lists were not alphabetized or in zip code order, so each time the newsletter went out our office had to manually sort the 1500 newsletters for bulk mailing requirements. Thank goodness for technology as now we only have to provide the names and addresses to the mailroom via email, and they do the address printing, sorting and preparation for the mailing. A few weeks ago the college had a small power outage. The tasks that a secretary can't do without power is endless.

How do you see technology improving learning?

There is so much information available to us via the internet; technology can only assist in providing us with instant information. (Seek and you shall find it.) Modern technology assists us in just about everything we do from travel plans to assisting our children with their school assignments. Our faculty has also experimented with Long Distance Learning a few years back in a joint doctorate program with SUNY Albany. Our faculty continues to look for ways to use the technology that is available.

In what ways do you find technology frustrating?

Knowing that the answer is out there, and remembering how to extract the information. Having been on campus since the early 80's, I have experienced the changes from the pc's with the two floppy disk drives (no hard drives) to the Apple Macintosh SE/30 with the little 9" screen, full-sized PC's, and even laptops, have experimented with diskettes, to zip drives, and to the age of flash drives. I have survived the challenges of self-taught software programs. We started with Clarisworks, and then made the move to Microsoft Office, which was fairly simple. As secretaries, we are given the new software and have to rely on our own knowledge of software and our ability to play with the software to get the results from it that we needed.

How are you using technology in interesting or unique ways?

Every day our office advances forward with our technology use. I am sure we can't even begin to describe all the ways. As I mentioned above, probably 99% of our communication is done using modern technology. Our students are traditionally adults who are teaching in local school districts. We currently hold classes at three different campus locations (Baldwinsville CSD, Jefferson-Lewis BOCES, and Finger Lakes Community College). Our students seldom come to campus. We encourage our students to communicate with the departmental office and faculty using email, list serves and cell phone technology. Information is emailed out to students as attachments; forms are uploaded to our department website for students to retrieve as needed. I am sure there are still many more ways for our department to move forward to use technology.

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

I am not sure that this really applies to me. But perhaps technology helps us all with the ability to communicate better.

How are you applying technology in your personal life?

I love technology! I am able to management my financial concerns using on-line banking, etc. Plan my mini vacations. Locate just about any place we'd like to visit. Research products we are interested in and don't forget on-line shopping! Locate missing/needed telephone numbers and addresses. Technology allows me to stay in contact with my children and my parents/family. I am one that feels lost without my cell phone (with PDA/calendar) I try not leave home without it!

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

The computer definitely or maybe first would be the cell phone! Think of all the things you can do with a cell phone now -- keep track of appointments, address/contact information, store documents, store music and use it as mp3 player, connect to the internet and surf the web, watch videos or televisions shows plus communicate with people via words or texting.

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

At this point, I don't have anything in particular in mind. We currently have three laptops (and love wireless!) and a desktop computer in our family, plus several digital cameras and camcorders. My children all have their trusted cell phones and ipods/mp3 players, and I myself have gone to a Palm Treo that helps to keep myself organized and connected.