Gaining Experience on Several Levels

Since my interest lies in adult learning and higher education, I've been working on expanding my skills and experience both. I've mentioned before that I will be starting my Masters program at UT, so to pay for said education I've picked up a few extra jobs here and there. Besides teaching at Northeast State, I also work as a receptionist/caseworker at The Salvation Army, as a tutor (for English and test prep), and now as an instructor with Adult Education and the Kingsport Senior Center. It's a full schedule, but so far, it has been eye-opening on several levels. I think I am also going to commit to literacy training with the local literacy council. Crazy, maybe, but there's just so much I want to do.

Currently, I am working on getting the ins and outs of my new position at The Salvation Army down pat. Having a desk is a wonderful thing, but the job definitely gets real. I have really had to take a hard look at myself and the things I've completely closed my eyes to in my own hometown!

I am also in the planning phase of my as yet unnamed skill building class for Adult Ed. It will center on job seeking skills - resumes, cover letters, online job search, the use of social media, interview skills - and will also cover some basic computer instructions (Word, emailing, internet browsing). The class will last eight weeks and will meet twice a week for two hours. After I review the facilities and resources, I will be able to map out my course plans a little better. I plan on incorporating Edmodo as a class hub, so I can use videos and links to various online resources. I think I will ask the director of the program to provide all students with a link to a survey I am going to create in order to gather info on their skill level and expectations for the course. I want to create a faux online application for them to complete along with paper applications and possibly recruit volunteers for mock interviews.

Ok, I just noticed this entry got away from me. The positive is I've gotten (some) of my ideas down and I can come back to them later....which, I suppose, is the point of this whole thing. Right now, I'm behind an essay review and two reference letters, and I'm pretty sure I hear my bed calling my name.