Online Course | Going Alt-Ac: Alternative-Academic Careers for Technology Professionals

Part 1: September 9, 2020 | 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET
Part 2: September 16, 2020 | 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET
Part 3: September 23, 2020 | 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET

Overview

Technology professionals are among the original alternative-academics, or alt-acs. We lead, manage, deploy, and use information technology to advance higher education. Although we’re expected to be well prepared to do technical work, less certainty surrounds our college, university, and organizational roles when we interact, collaborate, and advocate beyond the technology silo with colleagues who are scholars, researchers, instructors, and campus leaders. In this course, you’ll learn career-development strategies for how technology professionals can understand, support, join—and thrive in—the larger community of higher education.

Learning Outcomes:

NOTE: You will be asked to complete assignments in between the course segments that support the learning objectives stated below. You will receive feedback and constructive critique from course facilitators during the breakout portions of the course segments.

  • Identify and translate technology-sector skills for a higher education environment, using academically valued language
  • Prepare for college and university roles beyond the technology silo (e.g., curriculum design, program planning, institutional research, and access advocacy)
  • Find and create opportunities for professional and career development in conversation with colleagues at your institution, in your region, and through advocacy organizations such as EDUCAUSE

Instructor

Katie Linder Katie Linder, Executive Director for Program Development, Kansas State University Global Campus

Kevin Kelly Kevin Kelly, Instructor, Equity, Leadership Studies & Instructional Technologies Department, San Francisco State University

Thomas J. Tobin Thomas J. Tobin, Program Area Director for Distance Teaching & Learning, University of Wisconsin-Madison