Introduction

Hi, I'm J. Roberts. I'm studying for my Ph.D. in mass communication with a minor in IT. I am a journalism instructor and senior writing associate.

This blog is part of my requirements for my IT 860: Emerging Technology in IT class. Over the course of the next couple of months, I will document my assignments in class and will post my own musings as to what I have learned. I am actually taking two other IT classes as well – IT 709: Administration of Instructional Technologies and IT 648: Telecommunications in Education. All three are my first online classes that I’ve taken.

I received my bachelor's degree in journalism and English in 2005 and then went on to receive my master's in mass com in 2008. I commute to Southern Miss, but, with technology, I think those days are now numbered, as I will probably skype my classes in the fall. Yea!

I'm interested in studying social media, particularly as it pertains to political communication. For my dissertation, I plan to survey voters to determine where they receive most of their information regarding candidates' positions, policies, and voting records.

As mentioned above, I am pursuing a minor in IT, and I'm hoping to get the full 18 hours in so I will be able to teach it after graduation. While I plan on teaching journalism, I feel that with the changing technologies in the media, IT is essential for journalism students to learn. Also, I teach an online class, and I would like to make it more interactive for the students so they will learn more. Already, I feel like I have learned a lot in this class, and I am planning on implementing what I learn in IT to my classes. My next online class will not be taught until next summer, but that should give me enough time to prepare a highly interactive class. I also would love to use some of the technologies I learn in the traditional classroom setting.

As a side note, I like to run. I ran my first half marathon back in February in New Orleans, and I am excited to run my second one (same location, same month) next year with my husband and some friends.I also love coffee. Javawerks has become my home away from home on most days I go to Southern Miss. My husband is pursuing his master's in counseling and hopes to be finished in May. He works at a nearby counseling center and is considering working on his doctorate after graduation.

I'm very excited to be in this class and to "meet" everyone, and I'm looking forward to increasing my knowledge in IT.