{"id":46915,"date":"2025-05-14T08:42:22","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T12:42:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/?p=46915"},"modified":"2025-05-14T08:42:22","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T12:42:22","slug":"jessica-israel-sta-reflection-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/jessica-israel-sta-reflection-25\/","title":{"rendered":"Jessica Israel &#8211; STA Reflection &#8217;25"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 id=\"hello-im-jessica-israelsoontobe-graduate-of-the-college-of-wooster-and-fiveyear-veteran-student-technology-assistant-sta-in-educational-technology\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hello! I\u2019m <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/people\/jessica-israel\/\" data-type=\"itpeople\" data-id=\"12601\">Jessica Israel<\/a><\/strong>\u2014soon-to-be graduate of The College of Wooster and five-year veteran <strong>Student Technology Assistant (STA)<\/strong> in Educational Technology.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What began as an interest in helping friends troubleshoot projects grew into the heartbeat of my college experience. As an STA I have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Guided digital projects<\/strong> for students, faculty, and staff.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Written how-to blog posts<\/strong> and technical tips.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Assisted seniors with formatting Independent Studies<\/strong> so that they meet departmental submission standards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Promoted Ed Tech\u2019s Instagram<\/strong>, curating posts and stories that highlight campus resources.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Explored emerging tools<\/strong>\u2014most recently Canva\u2019s web builder and generative AI with ChatGPT.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alongside day-to-day support, I have <strong>designed and led more than ten workshops<\/strong>. Favorites include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/animate-in-canva\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"42990\">Animate in Canva<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/beginners-guide-to-website-design\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"18942\"><em>Beginner\u2019s Guide to Website Design<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/audacity-workshop-2\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/audacity-workshop-2\/\"><em>Basics of Audacity<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/website-design-in-canva\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"46593\">Website Design in Canva<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each session sharpened my ability to translate \u201ctech speak\u201d into clear, actionable steps for every skill level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"202425-projects-im-especially-proud-of\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">2024\u201325 Projects I\u2019m Especially Proud Of<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"1-advanced-game-user-interface-design-renpy-instructional-blog-post\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/advanced-game-user-interface-design-renpy\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"45886\">Advanced Game User Interface Design: Ren\u2019Py<\/a><\/em> \u2013 Instructional Blog Post<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren\u2019Py 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\u2019Py skills and gave me valuable experience in technical writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"578\" src=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2024\/09\/boba-game-menu-1024x578.png\" alt=\"A game menu picture that has the image of boba tea.\" class=\"wp-image-45893\" style=\"width:856px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2024\/09\/boba-game-menu-1024x578.png 1024w, https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2024\/09\/boba-game-menu-750x423.png 750w, https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2024\/09\/boba-game-menu-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2024\/09\/boba-game-menu-1536x867.png 1536w, https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2024\/09\/boba-game-menu-2048x1156.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Figure 1.1: The sample screen of the main menu in Ren&#8217;py.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"2-website-design-in-canva-student-workshop\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/website-design-in-canva\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"46593\">Website Design in Canva<\/a><\/em> \u2013 Student Workshop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I discovered Canva\u2019s website feature, I tested it to see how far a \u201cno-code\u201d 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\u2014and the confidence to update it\u2014was incredibly rewarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"3-digital-media-bar-animatics-instagram-reels\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Digital Media Bar Animatics \u2013 Instagram Reels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To increase awareness of the Digital Media Bar (DMB), I storyboarded and animated two short videos: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DI_mVskAuj-\/\">one welcoming students to the space<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DJCzUpEPr5D\/\">another outlining the services we offer<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"skills-gained-and-lessons-learned\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Skills Gained and Lessons Learned<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Teaching &amp; Facilitation<\/strong> \u2013 Developing agendas, pacing live demos, and adapting on the fly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technical Writing<\/strong> \u2013 Producing clear tutorials with screenshots and accessible language.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Content Creation in Canva<\/strong> \u2013 Posters, short videos, animations, GUIs for games, and full websites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Animation Basics<\/strong> \u2013 Planning, storyboarding, and timing for social-media-friendly clips.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Leadership &amp; Mentoring<\/strong> \u2013 Onboarding new STAs and guiding them through their first projects.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Marketing Mindset<\/strong> \u2013 Tailoring messages to meet students where they are and tracking engagement to refine strategy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These experiences have prepared me to pursue a career that blends digital media, user-focused design, and technology education. I\u2019m grateful for every troubleshooting session, every \u201caha\u201d moment in a workshop, and every chance to see someone\u2019s project click into place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"thinking-about-becoming-an-sta\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Thinking About Becoming an STA?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you enjoy learning new software, solving creative problems, and sharing what you know, <strong>consider joining the STA team<\/strong>. You\u2019ll build marketable skills, contribute to campus innovation, and\u2014most importantly\u2014help your peers bring their ideas to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks for reading and thank you to Educational Technology for an unforgettable five years. I can\u2019t wait to see where these skills take me next!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hello! I\u2019m Jessica Israel\u2014soon-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: Alongside day-to-day support, I have designed and led more than ten workshops. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":46923,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","wpo365_audiences":[],"wpo365_private":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"coauthors":[410],"class_list":["post-46915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sta-reflection"],"acf":[],"gutentor_comment":0,"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2025\/05\/IMG_3772.png",785,902,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2025\/05\/IMG_3772-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2025\/05\/IMG_3772-435x500.png",435,500,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2025\/05\/IMG_3772-768x882.png",768,882,true],"large":["https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2025\/05\/IMG_3772.png",785,902,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2025\/05\/IMG_3772.png",785,902,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2025\/05\/IMG_3772.png",785,902,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Jessica Israel","author_link":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/author\/jisrael24wooster-edu\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Hello! I\u2019m Jessica Israel\u2014soon-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: Alongside day-to-day support, I have designed and led more than ten workshops.&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46915","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46915"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46915\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46973,"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46915\/revisions\/46973"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46923"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46915"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46915"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46915"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=46915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}