Hello! I’m Jessica Israel—soon-to-be graduate of The College of Wooster and five-year veteran Student Technology Assistant (STA) in Educational Technology.
What began as an interest in helping friends troubleshoot projects grew into the heartbeat of my college experience. As an STA I have:
- Guided digital projects for students, faculty, and staff.
- Written how-to blog posts and technical tips.
- Assisted seniors with formatting Independent Studies so that they meet departmental submission standards.
- Promoted Ed Tech’s Instagram, curating posts and stories that highlight campus resources.
- Explored emerging tools—most recently Canva’s web builder and generative AI with ChatGPT.
Alongside day-to-day support, I have designed and led more than ten workshops. Favorites include:
Each session sharpened my ability to translate “tech speak” into clear, actionable steps for every skill level.
2024–25 Projects I’m Especially Proud Of
1. Advanced Game User Interface Design: Ren’Py – Instructional Blog Post
Ren’Py is a fantastic engine for visual novels, but customizing its interface can be tough for newcomers. I spent weeks experimenting with code, built the sample screen shown in Figure 1.1, and turned my notes into a step-by-step tutorial. Now anyone interested in game development can follow a clear path instead of piecing instructions together from scattered forums. Writing the post deepened my own Ren’Py skills and gave me valuable experience in technical writing.
2. Website Design in Canva – Student Workshop
When I discovered Canva’s website feature, I tested it to see how far a “no-code” tool could go. The answer: far enough to build sleek, mobile-friendly portfolios in a single afternoon. Because many peers were already using Canva for internship and job applications, I created a workshop that walks participants through layout planning, internal links, and publishing. Helping students leave with a live site—and the confidence to update it—was incredibly rewarding.
3. Digital Media Bar Animatics – Instagram Reels
To increase awareness of the Digital Media Bar (DMB), I storyboarded and animated two short videos: one welcoming students to the space and another outlining the services we offer. Posting them as Reels boosted engagement compared with static graphics and gave us data to justify making more motion-based content in the future. The animatics also showcased a new skill set for my portfolio: combining illustration, animation, and concise messaging.
Skills Gained and Lessons Learned
- Teaching & Facilitation – Developing agendas, pacing live demos, and adapting on the fly.
- Technical Writing – Producing clear tutorials with screenshots and accessible language.
- Content Creation in Canva – Posters, short videos, animations, GUIs for games, and full websites.
- Animation Basics – Planning, storyboarding, and timing for social-media-friendly clips.
- Leadership & Mentoring – Onboarding new STAs and guiding them through their first projects.
- Marketing Mindset – Tailoring messages to meet students where they are and tracking engagement to refine strategy.
These experiences have prepared me to pursue a career that blends digital media, user-focused design, and technology education. I’m grateful for every troubleshooting session, every “aha” moment in a workshop, and every chance to see someone’s project click into place.
Thinking About Becoming an STA?
If you enjoy learning new software, solving creative problems, and sharing what you know, consider joining the STA team. You’ll build marketable skills, contribute to campus innovation, and—most importantly—help your peers bring their ideas to life.
Thanks for reading and thank you to Educational Technology for an unforgettable five years. I can’t wait to see where these skills take me next!