Student Testimonials
Brenda Marina, Ph.D., Curricular & Instructional Studies, 2003
The Technical Education has been the catalyst for my years of progressive successes. Courses such as "Curriculum Development" and "Instructional Techniques have impacted my education educational career. Course Construction is still valuable today. This foundational course was useful in my position as an assistant dean because it introduced me to how to develop and maintain advisory committees. As an assistant dean in a general college for freshman, I coordinated a critical transitional course: The Student Success Seminar. The decisions I made and changes implemented for this course are a direct result of lessons learned regarding setting curriculum goals and objectives and determining course content. The Instructional Techniques course gave me practical experiences in college level teaching and realistic tools. This course helped me become competent and confident classroom preparation.
The Technical Education program introduced me to the professor/program advisor who became a mentor and cheerleader. Dr. Susan Olson can be called the "extreme administrator" because she has been a major player in promoting success for the program, but more so, for the graduates. Kudos to Dr. Olson as we share our success!
Brenda Marina, Ph.D., accepted a position at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia, as an assistant professor for education leadership. She received her Bachelor's degree in Technical Education in 1993, the Master's Degree in Higher Education Administration in 1996, and the Doctorate of Philosophy in Curriculum & Instructional Studies in 2003, all from the College of Education at The University of Akron. Brenda is married to Akron Fire District Chief, Frank Marina, Jr. and they have one adult son, Frank Marina III, who resides in Washington D.C.
 |
| Dr. Brenda Marina |
| |
Jillian Hinegardner, M.S. Technical Education, August 2007
The Technical Education program at The University of Akron provides learners with the skills they need to succeed and to become versatile employees. The core courses taught me the foundations of adult learning theory, needs assessment, curriculum development, and instructional design. The real-world, project-based nature of these courses makes learning relevant to the individual and results in usable products. Furthermore, the online class format allowed me to maintain a flexible schedule, while enhancing my awareness of instructional technology. The program addresses theory with an emphasis on how it relates to practice, as exemplified by the internship experience. I believe that having this internship experience on my resume made it possible for me to obtain interviews from prospective employers, resulting in my current position as an Instructional Technology Support Specialist. I feel confident that I can succeed in this position because I have obtained my skills from the Technical Education program at The University of Akron.
|
