ePortfolio
JEFFREY SPECHT
About me
Welcome to my portfolio. I am an Instructional Designer with a passion for training, learning and development. With a masters degree in Instructional Design and Technology, I seek opportunities to complete quality projects in the fields of training and education.
The navigation at the top of this site will guide you through projects I have worked on, information about my internship with the Center for Distributed Learning at UCF, courses I have had the privilege to take in grad school, and my resume.
Contact information: jeffrey.r.specht@gmail.com
My Personal Education Philosophy
Throughout my professional life I have often sought out positions of training and development. Empowering others to obtain new skills and ideas has always been a passion of mine. Knowledge is a powerful tool that can allow a person to open their worldview and transcend limitations. I have found in my personal experience that having knowledge is not the only factor in living a productive life. I believe that another factor in achieving a sense of fulfillment comes with the constant pursuit of knowledge. When a person learns, regardless of the subject, it is an opportunity to exercise critical thinking functions in the brain that can be utilized in all avenues in life.
Cultivating a desire to learn in others is a noble goal, but the challenge lies in finding effective ways to allow and encourage that desire. Modern society is rife with distractions and the convenience of complacency. Consumption has never been easier. A person can stream entertainment from anywhere, distracting them from creating for themselves. Opinions can be spoon-fed to them through social media outlets without having to put critical thought into the facts and data that should go into making said opinions.
Educating and training need to be engaging. There is no lack of access to information, just lack of desire to pursue it. Educators, trainers, and instructional designers need to stay relevant by keeping up with trends in technology, digital media, and social media as well as pedagogy. In addition, information can be cold and impersonal. We need to continue to find new ways to make systematic instruction engaging and retain humanity through practices that make the education process personal.