Technology Coordinator, Purdue's Professional Writing Program

Since 2000, I've served as the technology coordinator for Purdue's Professional Writing program, located in the department of English. The Professional Writing program offers an undergraduate major, a secondary area for the Ph.D (which I have completed), and teaches business writing (English 420) and technical writing (English 421) to students from all over the university who take either course as a requirement for their majors.

The Professional Writing program is committed to using all sorts of technologies for writing and teaching writing, and also sponsors technology-related events such as the Pedagogy and Technology showcase, the Computers and Writing 2003 conference, and The Writing Instructor, a networked journal. The program also works closely with Instructional Computing Services (a division of Information Technology at Purdue) and the School of Liberal Arts Information Technology staff.

As technology coordinator, I:

• install, configure, update, maintain, and administer various program technologies on three servers, including a MOO, electronic bulletin boards, various mailing lists, weblog software, LiveJournal, a search engine, and four web sites (pw.english.purdue.edu, rc.english.purdue.edu, cw2003.org, writinginstructor.com).
• manage the Instructional Multimedia Production Lab (IMP) and the Electronic Publishing Lab (EPL), including installing, configuring, updating, and maintaining computers, printers, and peripherals, and assisting users with questions and problems
• work closely with our liasons from Instructional Computing Services and the School of Liberal Arts Information Technology to help ensure that instructor and student technological needs are being met, as well as to solve problems and plan for the future
• work with the Director and Assistant Director of Professional Writing to plan for future technology uses by the department
• mentor new instructors of business and technical writing in semester-long for-credit courses taught as part of a team (English 505M)
• work with continuing instructors and professors of professional writing in order to help them use technology effectively and productively
• help to organize program events such as the Pedagogy and Technology showcase
• give presentations about using technology at on-campus events such as the Teaching, Learning, and Technology showcase and the Pedagogy and Technology showcase
• document existing technologies and resources
• create and add content to the Professional Writing web site
• prepare reports on technology use and web site use
• serve as a resource for people who want to use technology in their classroom, teaching, or professional lives within the professional writing program and to a smaller extent within the department of English.

I also teach technical writing (English 421).