LIS5313

Jane Barrager

Hospitality to Payroll

My name is Ciara and I currently live in the Orlando area, home to Walt Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld. My love for Disney is what brought me to this city in 2018 when I completed an internship with Disney at Magic Kingdom theme park in their Outdoor Foods department. It also influenced my decision to pursue a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management from the University of Central Florida.

My Disney College Program Days

In 2020 when the pandemic shut down the world, I was let go from my internship in the Guest Service Department at Disney and found the company I currently work for, Paylocity. Paylocity is a cutting-edge HR and payroll tech company that offers Software as a Service (To learn more click here). I spent a little over 2 years in the client service department as an account manager and team lead. In February of 2023 I transitioned to our implementation team as a team lead helping onboard our new clients.

I am currently pursuing a master’s in information technology. This is my second semester and I anticipate graduating in fall of this year. In my free time I like to hang out with my husband and our German Shepard, Athena. We enjoy going to all the theme parks that are surrounding us. I am looking forward to attending EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts within the next month to try some new food/drinks and see all the art on display. If you’re local, I recommend checking it out here.

This is Athena, our 3 year old German Shepard!
January 16, 2024 by Spring 2024 Student Posts 4

Welcome to lis 5313

My name is Jane Barrager and I will be your guide this semester on the subject of Digital Media: Concepts and Production.

I am originally from Detroit, but I’ve been living in Florida since 1992, and in Tallahassee in particular since 1996. Like many northerners, I came here for the warmth and Sunshine.

I am a graduate of both the undergraduate and graduate programs at Florida’s iSchool located in the School of Communication and Information and Florida State University. In fact, I am one of the first original 6 undergrads to ever be enrolled at the, previously graduate only college. The funniest story I have of that time is the day that I sat next to Warrick Dunn in class and had no idea who he was. I sat next to him on the first day of class because he looked lonely – it seemed to me that the other students in the class where, for some reason, keeping a wide berth around his seat and, feeling sorry for this poor guy, I sat next to him. During the first class our professor asked us to turn to the person next to us and describe the first thing we were going to buy when we graduated and started making money. I don’t remember what I said, but Warrick started describing what I knew (being a Detroiter and all) to be about a $60K vehicle. My response? “I hope you find a good job when you graduate, because you’re going to need it to afford that!” Warrick just smiled. About the third class period I woke up late for class, pulled on the dirty clothes lying next to my bed, swept my uncombed hair into a pony tail, and ran, make-up-less, to class and sat down next to my new friend (who’s name I still did not know). Suddenly a news crew burst into the room, shoved cameras and microphones into my deskmate’s face and started rapid firing questions at him which he answered with confidence and ease like it was the most natural thing in the world. When it was over I looked at him and said “Who the hell are YOU?” He smiled and said, “my name’s Warrick”, and it was at that point I realized who he was. So, my first taste of learning about multimedia at Florida state was when I was featured on national television as the seat partner of the infamous Warrick Dunn on ESPN’s “Sports Center” – makupless and, I’ll admit it, hungover!

I discovered in college that teaching was my passion. I’ve been teaching since 1998 and, although I spent some time teaching computer literacy at our local community college, the ischool has been my home since then. I’ve taught a variety of courses both online and f2f including: Intro to Information Technology, Social Media Management, Digital Media: Concepts and Production, Design and production of NW multimedia, Perspectives in IT, Electronic Media production, Technologies for Information Professionals, Research Methods, and Web site development to name most. I also spent some time working for the Office of Distance Learning developing web-based learning modules and other websites for the FSU community. In my current position I serve as the ischool’s Instructional Support Specialist which basically means that I help other faculty rehab classes. I also train and supervise doctoral students who teach in the UG program.

Now you all know a little about me, and I look forward to reading your stories as well. See you online!

January 16, 2024 by Instructor Posts Student Posts 0

Sort of a Smorgasbord

Dear Reader,

Hi! I’m Erin Crawford and I am from Middleburg, Florida. I am currently 26, but will turn 27 at the end of the semester. I’m an MSI student here at FSU and will graduate in May with my degree and a graduate certificate in School Librarian Leadership.

“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”

Dead Poets Society

Now, what else could you want to know about me?

Well, I am a single mom and my three-year-old is one of the coolest humans I’ve ever met, although I guess I am a bit biased. I’m in my first-year as the Media Specialist at Lake Asbury Junior High and I teach TV production to 7th and 8th graders. Additionally, I am a worship leader at HighPoint Community Church. I am also a newly-discovered ISFJ, after years of being an INFP. I love to read, hike, cook, bake, and explore new hobbies. I love Dead Poets Society, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, tattoos, piercings, iced coffee/espresso, and many more things. I wholeheartedly believe I’m a smorgasbord of all these hobbies, interests, and talents, and I am always looking for new things to add to my repertoire.

My daughter and I just moved into our new home, so I am juggling work, school, motherhood, and unpacking all at once. I am looking forward to this semester, and everything I will learn from this course. I hope that the tools I learn in this class will help me become a better teacher of Media for my students, as this is my wheelhouse.

Looking forward to working with all of you. Best of luck, and thank you for reading!
-Erin

January 16, 2024 by Student Posts 7

Pages to Pitches

Hey everyone!

My name is Meagan and I will be graduating with my Master’s in Information in May! I am looking forward to taking such a fun class as one of my last ones at FSU. I am not the most creative person so I am taking this class to push myself out of my comfort zone and to learn some new creative skills.

I currently live in Roanoke, VA but was born in South Florida and lived there (The Acreage) until I was in middle school. My love for libraries started very young and I spent a lot of time volunteering at my school and public libraries. I currently work at Virginia Tech’s library and Roanoke Public Libraries as a library assistant. When I am not working, I enjoy reading, playing board games, watching sports, traveling, playing sports, hanging with friends, and playing with my pets (three cats and one dog).

One of my main hobbies is playing rugby. It all started because I was watching my partner play when suddenly they needed an extra player. I was voluntold to boot up (aka put on some cleats) and get out there and tackle the people with the ball. Did I know the rules? Not really. Did anyone care? Nope! From that day forward I went from onlooker to active participant. If anyone is interested in learning about rugby this is the video I first watched and it gives a decent overview of the sport.

January 16, 2024 by Student Posts 4

The Pages of Heather

Hello friends! My name is Heather Page. I graduated from FSU with a bachelor’s in both Psychology and Information Communication and Technology (ICT), and am currently in my last semester of the MS IT program. In the past couple of years, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to Iceland, Italy, and Chile: for both leisure and business ventures!

I am originally from Gainesville, FL but currently live in Tallahassee. I work for the State University System of Florida (SUS) as the Assistant Director of Public Affairs. I have been with this organization since 2019 when I started as an intern in the Social Media Coordinator position. After completing my undergraduate degrees, I had the opportunity to accept a full-time position with the Public Affairs office, assisting in communications, graphics and media content, as well as legislative duties during Session.

Looking into after graduation, I would like to focus in on a career in UX/UI Design and the certain experience and steps needed to achieve that goal. I thoroughly enjoy researching the different aspects human and computer interaction, and analyzing how a product can have effective usability for the consumer.

Some new hobbies that I’ve picked up include crocheting, knitting, and making homemade soaps and sugar scrubs. I really enjoy making heartfelt things for the people I love. 🙂

Outside of work and school, my friend and I have ventured into building an organic, natural wine importing company, called Bacchus Selection. Over the past year, we have traveled and visited various smaller, family-owned vineyards that had a focus and commitment to sustainable, organic, and biodynamic viticulture practices. The experience of hearing all the unique stories of the vineyards and their teams was truly rewarding, as well as how they lean into their local communities to make a difference. I enjoyed creating the branding, logo, and website for the company as well.

Aconcagua Valley, Hacienda Valdeperillo
January 16, 2024 by Student Posts 3

Hey Siri, Who’s Kaitlyn?

Hi everyone! My name is Kaitlyn Darling and I am from Fleming Island, Florida, a small town 30 minutes south of Jacksonville. I have lived in Tallahassee since August of 2021 to finish my Bachelors degree in IT. I graduated last year and now am two semesters into my Master’s degree in IT as well. I am currently not working at the moment but would like to get a part time job this semester. However, during my last semester of my undergrad program here at FSU I had the amazing opportunity to be apart of the Spring 2023 ITS Intern Cohort for the Information Technology Services department. I was grouped with three other seniors and we worked with Microsoft as Solutions Architects to fix a problem on campus. We chose to introduce digital literacy courses to FSU’s curriculum. We spent our time researching, interviewing faculty, and surveying students. The ITS department, my fellow interns, and our Microsoft contacts made this experience an unforgettable one that I recommend to all students in my program/similar ones. Some other ideas we had were also implemented such as redesigning the FSUTranz parking app for on campus parking garages. Having my fellow interns and I’s thoughts and opinions not only listened to but real changes occurring meant so much to us.

My favorite hobby that takes up most of my free time is reading. I used to be an avid reader when I was younger but picked it back up last year. I enjoy most genres such as fantasy, romance, and mystery but prefer series more than standalone books. During my undergrad program I was Vice President of Women Wednesday’s, a social and mentoring organization. We also published blogs, one of my favorites I wrote was, 20 Books to Read in Your Twenties. I recommended a variety of books that offer wisdom, inspiration, and life lessons. One aspect of this class that interests me is these blogs. I enjoy writing as well as reading about others and their thoughts. I hope to gain a better understanding of media analysis during my time in this class. I wish the best to all of you this semester !! 🙂

January 16, 2024 by Student Posts 3

My Life Mosaic

Hello!

To start off, my name is Hussein (who-sane), I completed my undergrad at the College of Business here at FSU with a B.S. in Management Information Systems, minoring in Business Analytics back in the Spring of 2022. Originally from Palm Harbor, FL, I decided to move back home upon graduation until I received a job offer to work for the Florida Auditor General here in Tallahassee as a Data Analyst in November of that same year (where I still am currently employed). So I moved back, the city just did not want me to leave, and a little under a year later I decided to go back to school to pursue a M.S. in Information Technology. Which leads me to today, where I am starting my second semester with you all.

A little bit more about myself, like I said earlier I am from Palm Harbor, FL which is located just outside of Tampa. I moved there at the age of 7, from Spain which is where I was born. My family is Lebanese and yes I am fluent in speaking Arabic. Back home, I have two younger brothers, in 9th and 7th grade as well as a sister who is a senior at the University of Florida. Yes, our house is divided unfortunately.

Chicago, IL

I love to travel, having gone to several countries across Europe as well as Lebanon over the past couple years. This past summer, I took my first ever trip to the midwest with visiting Chicago.

Not to forget mentioning, I am an avid sports fan, from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Lightning to the Rays and most importantly the Florida State Seminoles! This year I even became a football season ticket holder.

This course is going to be a first look into the world of digital media for me and I am very excited to get into it and tackle on any challenges. Maybe even learn how I may incorporate digital media into the world of data analytics.

January 16, 2024 by Student Posts 3

Florida Woman

Hi class! My name is Kendal McDowell, and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I graduated from FSU with my BA in Art History in 2022, and I’m back to earn my MSI degree. This is only my 2nd semester in the program, so I still have plenty to learn.

I live in Tallahassee, but am originally from Lakeland, FL. Lakeland is the birthplace of Publix, and my first part-time job was bagging groceries at one of the smaller stores in town. Nowadays I work in the student services office for the FSU College of Law as a full-time program coordinator. I am obsessed with the Sanrio character Gudetama, so my desk is heavily decorated with merch of the lazy egg. I think I like this character because it’s entire personality is centered around being lazy and not caring, whereas I care too much about everything all the time.

My hobbies include playing piano, playing video games, reading, consuming useless pop culture news, and walking the different trails and parks around Tallahassee. I also volunteer at the Tallahassee Museum as a living history docent. I’m really interested in history, and I love learning about local and Florida history.

While I’m familiar with a lot of the subjects this class will be covering, that familiarity is surface-level, and I want to dive deeper into areas such as video and audio editing. I have some graphic design experience from classes I took in my undergraduate studies, but in recent years, I’ve become pretty reliant on Canva for work projects. I’m not the most creative person, but I am hardworking and eager to learn.

January 16, 2024 by Spring 2024 Student Posts 4

Character Unboxing

Hi all,

My name is Bremen, and I reside right here in Tallahassee. I’m currently serving as the Technology Coordinator for FSU Libraries, where I manage the Tech Desk and the circulating technology for Strozier, Dirac, and Engineering Libraries. This marks my first semester in MSIT!

My undergraduate degree was in Studio Art, where my interests were centered around Sculpture and Electronic Art. I have a broad collection of hobbies, including photography, 3D modeling, casting, blacksmithing, and jewelry work. I also enjoy working with digital media, and I am excited to work on these projects for the course while also looking forward to expanding my knowledge of copyright licensing.

After graduating, I hope to advance past my role as a library specialist and onto a faculty position within information technology at an academic university.

The old circ desk that I spent too much time on.
January 16, 2024 by Student Posts 4

Tales of a Struggling Author

Hi! I’m Katherine Stanford; you may see me occasionally show up as India Stanford (the joys of going by one’s middle name). I completed my MSI degree in December 2022 and am working on towards my Specialist degree, along with two graduate certificates: one in User Services and one in Information Architecture. I hope to finish up with this degree in Fall 2025. I’m hoping to focus on digital libraries or digital strategy. I have been job shopping, mainly with the latter as my focus, so I’ve had an online resume going for the last while.

A headshot of Katherine Stanford

I’m originally from Georgia, but I live in Tallahassee right now. I work at FSU, in the Public Administration department, as an Academic Program Specialist and Communications Manager. I was at Georgia State University for a few years prior to this, and prior to that, I worked at Strozier Library in various departments, including (the long-defunct) User Services, Undergraduate Programs, Systems, Administration, and Special Collections. So I lived in Southwest Georgia, Tallahassee, Atlanta, and now Tallahassee again.

Something interesting about me is, as implied by the subject line, I’ve written a few books. Two were published under my maiden name, while the third was under a pseudonym. I had hoped to use the break between my master and specialist degrees to work on the next one, but work did not exactly permit for that. That might have to come at some lull at another point, should one ever present itself.

Book Covers

I’m working a lot with digital media in my current position, and I have used it quite a bit in my admittedly long past online. I’ve been playing around building websites and learning what can be done with computers and online for years, from the old Geocities days to learning the WYSIWYG sites to when WordPress became the new hotness. However, because everything I know is self-taught, it will be nice to have that Information Architecture certificate to put on my resume.

In the meantime, I read nonfiction (Philippa Langley’s The Princes in the Tower: Solving History’s Greatest Cold Case has my attention right now), science fiction (I started Peter Cline’s Ex-Heroes on Audible on a long car trip in December, and I’m almost through the last book now), and fantasy (while I’ve actually read all The Sandman comics and a fair number of his books, the audio dramas of Sandman as Neil Gaiman narrates them are wonderful. I could ramble about true crime, mythology, and folklore until the day ends as well, but that’s also a story for another time. You’ll probably see any one of my three cats come across the screen any time my camera is on: the two black cats are Luci and Samara, while the orange cat is Copperfield.

And that’s a bit about this struggling author. I’m looking forward to this class!

January 16, 2024 by Spring 2024 Student Posts 4