FSU Coursework

Overview

This page lists the coursework from the Information Technology major at Florida State University that I feel have most prepared me for a career in Instructional Technology. Each course lists the instructor, the semester, and a description of how the coursework applies to the field.

LIS3021 – Communication for Information Professionals

Dr. Robert F. Brooks, Fall 2007

From this course I learned skills relating to nearly every aspect of communication in the IT field, including letter writing, drafting emails, conducting phone calls, recording meeting minutes, and compiling a proposal. We investigated the similarities and differences between communication with superiors and communications with subordinates.

As a long-term project, my team worked with a fictional web design company in restructuring their office. Deliverables included a Project Plan, Meeting Minutes, a Short Report, and a Visual/Oral Presentation. The deliverables furnished our team with a simulation of real-world experience in that we were required to prepare professional-quality research-based documents.

LIS3267 – Information Science for Information Professionals

Hongyan Ma, Fall 2007

Through this course I gained a better understanding of the theory behind the collection, organization, storage, and retrieval of information. This included a history of devices used in information architecture as well as a hands-on learning project that reinforced the importance of understanding IS principles for IT professionals.

Together with three teammates, I redesigned the web site of Killearn Lakes Elementary School as a semester project. The redesign process included Usability Testing, Site Mapping, and a Client and Audience Analysis. We approached each of these activities from an IS perspective, asking questions about the schema and employing principles of user-centered design.

COP2220 – Intro to C++ Programming

Stephanie Spike, Spring 2008

The purpose of this course was to teach me basic C++ programming skills through practical assignments. Each assignment built on the skills gained from the previous one. This course was my first real exposure to programming; previously I had made minor changes to programs created others. Together with the skills learned in an introductory Java course taken later, this course gave me a new understanding of Computer Science and the programming process and established a programming foundation that will make learning new languages easier in the future.

LIS3201 – Research & Data Analysis

Christopher Landbeck, Spring 2008

From this course I learned the accepted practices for conducting surveys, interviews, and other research methods as well as skills for analyzing the data collected and drawing conclusions based on the results. In a team of five, I worked to answer questions about the feasibility of innovation at a fictional hospital. We developed survey and interview questions, compiled the results in graphs and charts, and created a report and a presentation containing our findings and recommendations.

As one of the presenters for my group, I enhanced my communication skills through this project. The survey design skills have already been useful when I’ve needed to collect data to answer a question in the workplace.

LIS3784 – Information Organization & Communication

Dr. Sabah Currim, Spring 2008

In this class, our course project was to create a database-driven system for a mock business or client. The purpose of this project was to provide hands-on experience with the Microsoft Access database software and the concepts of good database design. Throughout the semester I increased my knowledge of database optimization, queries, and tables and gained new knowledge of Entity-Relationship (ER) Diagrams and project management skills.

Together with a team of four, I developed an optimized Microsoft Access application for a helpdesk ticket tracking. I then created an audio-visual demonstration using Adobe Captivate software. This project was my first experience designing an interactive presentation with voice-over. It was designed as a product endorsement.

LIS3793 – Information Architecture

Dr. Mia Liza A. Lustria, Fall 2008

In this course I gained an understanding of how to model complex information systems in a structured and organized way. I also learned more about usability and findability, and gained experience with site mapping and usability testing.

As a course project, I was part of a team of five students who redesigned and reorganized the web site for Conley Elementary School in Tallahassee. After meeting with the school’s administrators, faculty, and community members, our team performed card sorting exercises and other activities to create a model of the web site’s information. The site is currently in use by the school, and I continue to maintain it as part of my duties there.

I especially enjoyed this project because of the broad number of skills that it encompassed: principles of design, usability testing, information architecture, information science, communication with a client, CSS, ASP, and many more. Our entire team was proud of the result, and thrilled that the school decided to use our design.

LIS4301 – Electronic Media Production

Jane Barrager, Spring 2009

In this course I increased my knowledge of Photoshop, CSS styles, and other design software. The course project was developing a personal logo to use on professional documents and to show off my design skills.

Testimonials

David Schubert worked as my Assistant in the Technology Department at Lawton Chiles High for two years, September 2006 to June 2008. He brought a large skill set to the job. What impressed me most about David was his character as a person. He proved to have a high level of integrity and trustworthiness. He could be trusted with access to sensitive information and was very receptive to learning how institutional systems function and inter-personal dynamics.

David will be a fantastic resource for any IT company where he lands, but will be exceptional in an educational institution with his experience in the public school environment and his understanding of how those institutions work.

Buck Buchanan, Technology Coordinator

David is a delightful young man who is talented beyond his years. On several occasions he has helped our family with our technology issues and is always knowledgeable, polite, and insightful in the process.

Angela Turner

It is my pleasure to "brag" about David Schubert. David worked as part of our Technology support staff at Chiles during the 2007-2008 school year and was absolutely outstanding. His knowledge is incredible, his demeanor is very upbeat and supportive, and his ability to help individuals understand what he is doing and to help them be able to help themselves is amazing. David has a tremendously bright future ahead of himself and, in my opinion, will make some company very fortunate to have him as an employee.

Stan Goldstein, Teacher

I have had the pleasure of working with David in two of my classes. His evident competency in various areas of information technology (including information architecture, network administration, and instructional technology support) is a result of his dedication and enthusiastic attention to his coursework as well as diligence in seeking extracurricular and professional opportunities outside of the classroom. As a student, he has distinguished himself by engaging fully in all classroom activities, being open to learning and constructive feedback, and putting a stamp of excellence on all his projects. I am confident that David will be a wonderful asset to any organization he will dedicate his services to after he completes his studies at the University.

Dr. Mia Liza A. Lustria, Professor

I've known David in three different capacities: As a student in two of the courses I teach, as our school's Technology Assistant, and as an FSU student who continues to assist teachers at Chiles - for no remuneration.

Of the many students I've taught in 30+ years in the classroom, David is without a doubt one of the brightest, most hard working, and caring students I've ever known - to both teachers and students alike. Those traits are coupled with a natural ability to understand technology and even more importantly, to communicate to others how to learn and utilize that technology. Of the many technology training sessions I've attended, those in which David was the instructor were by far the most effective and most easily understood--because he is a natural teacher. Any business would be extremely fortunate to have David working with them. I have never seen his equal - both in his personal qualities and in his technical skills as well.

Jan Dunlap, Teacher

David Schubert was a member of the Honors section of Fundamentals of Speech. His work was exemplary.... and he was the resident guru to whom we addressed all questions of a technological nature. David is quick witted, humble, smart, caring, and responsible. I wish all students at Florida State had his sense of maturity and a commitment to things greater than himself.

Mark Ziegler, Professor