My USFP Experience

I selected USF Polytechnic (USFP) as the regional, accredited institution offering the most relevant undergraduate program to enhance my career path in Information Technology (IT).  The hands –on learning style and IT major fit in well with my personal learning style. The flexible curriculum selection made it easier to incorporate earlier academic material into my undergraduate experience.  As a working professional in IT, I also appreciated the flexible class schedule offered by USFP. I began attending USFP in 2007.

At USFP the group interactions in classes and the formal presentation of IT concepts from the faculty have both been important in rounding out my knowledge of core IT concepts and work skills. My classroom experience at USFP has been particularly good at strengthening my critical analysis and communications skills, both vital for career growth. While there is room for improvement in the on-line course presentations the flexible hours have been of great benefit to me. I do miss the direct interaction with other students, when on line, but I am very pleased with my interactions with the Faculty, both on and off line. The curriculum has been fairly relevant and I have already made use of skills from the classroom in my activities at work.

As a senior at USF Polytechnic it is important to begin preparations for life after graduation by linking skills acquired in class and those needed in the workplace. Building an E-Portfolio provides this opportunity. Constructing the E-Portfolio allows me to review work done for courses at USFP, projects from my prior academic work at North Carolina State University (NCSU) and current work related projects, showcasing the relationship between all three. Integrating these materials demonstrates my lifelong learning experience as well as my commitment to keeping my skills up to date. The E-Portfolio provides potential employers with an example of consistent growth in my abilities as well as examples of my competency in specific areas.

E-Portfolio Development

Overall the creation of an E-Portfolio has been an unremarkable process. The technology used in the E-Portfolio is well known to most students, and very familiar to me as a professional focusing on web applications. The TaskStream E-Portfolio application is fairly easy to use and does not pose any particular learning curve or require new knowledge. The application is serviceable, though it could be more flexible in its Graphical User Interface (GUI) presentation options. The functions of the on-line tools are clearly documented. Adequate help is available and the product is responsive. I chose to upload documents demonstrating competency in Communications, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Group Interaction and IT Skills. Creating pages for each of these areas and adding the attached documents was easy using the TaskStream menus.

Areas for Further Growth and Development

I believe that I could improve my E-Portfolio and my own skill set by making more effort to include socially conscious activities. It is important for me to seek opportunities to expand my interaction with social groups and with responsible causes as a citizen and member of the community. In my remaining time at USF Polytechnic I hope to have the opportunity to extend my efforts in this direction through both my ethics coursework and my Senior Project.

Career Goals

After completing my undergraduate at USF Polytechnic I will be better positioned to seek alternate positions, should that be necessary. My E-Portfolio will be a good tool for any future job hunting. In my immediate future I hope to keep my current job and use my newly enhanced IT skills to better meet my daily challenges as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of my firm. In the future it is my intention to continue pursuing management positions on Internet-related projects in the federal sector. I also plan to build on my work at USFP by taking graduate courses related to IT and Internet software development in particular.