WGU Student Newsletter

"Sandboxes"

Spring is here. The last pile of snow on my front yard has finally melted into the ground. In another couple of weeks, I’ll get the oil changed and the blade sharpened on my lawnmower. I don’t have any kids, but maybe you do. If they’re fairly young, you may run out to Home Depot, buy one of those big green plastic turtles and throw in a few bags of sand. It will get the kids out of the house so you can watch the game in peace. They’ll bury the cat (or at least attempt to), build sand castles, use their "Bob the Builder" earth moving equipment to dump the sand out in the yard, and generally exercise their young imaginations. Sandboxes are a good thing.

Computer labs are often called “sandboxes.” I can’t emphasize enough the importance of a computer lab to learning. Certification exams use a lot of scenario type questions. Hands-on (yeah, doing the chapter assignments) is the best way to develop the competencies that you’ll need. Your colleagues and bosses will be impressed that your certifications are more than just pieces of paper framed and hung on the wall. If you’re like me, you probably have enough parts strewn around the basement and can cobble together a box or two. Some Cat-5 and a cheap router - Presto! You have your own sandbox.

The software is free. Some of the assessments require Microsoft, and you can download that from the MSDNAA that WGU provides free of additional charges (although if your internet connection is too slow, you may need to purchase the media). If you’re willing to expend additional effort with installation and configuration, open-source software is available for almost every imaginable use: Server & client OS, Web Server, Database, Office Software, PVR (I’d use MythTV if I had a little more ambition) software.

Les Vance is an Academic Mentor for the IT College.

Faculty Spotlight

Gwen Britton, Program Coordinator, IT College

Where are you from? I was born in Laramie, Wyoming and have lived in ten different states, one U.S. territory, and three foreign countries. I attended eight different schools (K-12), six different colleges for my undergrad work, four different colleges for graduate work, and I currently reside in Sunapee, New Hampshire. I WISH I lived someplace where SNOW didn’t exist (that’s my worst favorite 4-letter word at this point…)

When did you join WGU? I joined WGU in September of 2003 as a part-time IT mentor. At one point, I was mentoring students in all three colleges (Business, IT, and Teachers) in 15+ different programs at both the bachelors and masters levels.

What do you enjoy about WGU? “There is nothing permanent except change.” Heraclitus of Ephesus (ca. 525-475 B.C.)

How do you see WGU’s program different from traditional universities? In the college of IT, we cater to the IT professional folks who have been in the field for a while and for one reason or another, didn’t finish their degrees. I also love the competency-based model—self-paced for IT professionals is right on the money! Mostly though, I love the students that make this place what it is! AND of course, my extensive pajama ward-robe ;). I believe I officially own more pairs of PJ’s than Amelia Marcos owns shoes.

More on Gwen: Gwen graduated magna cum laude from Thomas College with a master's degree in computer technology in education. She holds bachelor's degrees in computer science and mathematics from the University of Maine at Farmington. Prior to completing her master's degree, Gwen taught high school mathematics and computer science, in addition to serving as an adjunct professor of computer science at Central Maine Technical College. After completing her master’s degree, Gwen accepted a position as district technology coordinator for a large school district in Maine. Her duties as technology coordinator included training faculty and staff, providing a leadership role in developing and implementing the district plan for instructional use of computers, and ensuring school-level budgets and district budgets adequately supported the district's instructional technology plan. Gwen spent several years as an assistant professor of computer science at Keene State College, helping to pioneer a bachelor's degree program in computer education and teaching. She also spent several years as a software engineer writing energy efficiency, energy information systems, and energy saving software solutions. Gwen is currently a doctoral candidate at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.


Volume 1, Issue 2 May 2008	Home \| News & Highlights \| FAQs Teachers \| Business \| IT \| Health \| Liberal Arts
In This Section "Sandboxes" Faculty Spotlight Calendar of Events July 18 Student/Mentor Mixer July 19 Graduation	IT College
	"Sandboxes" Spring is here. The last pile of snow on my front yard has finally melted into the ground. In another couple of weeks, I’ll get the oil changed and the blade sharpened on my lawnmower. I don’t have any kids, but maybe you do. If they’re fairly young, you may run out to Home Depot, buy one of those big green plastic turtles and throw in a few bags of sand. It will get the kids out of the house so you can watch the game in peace. They’ll bury the cat (or at least attempt to), build sand castles, use their "Bob the Builder" earth moving equipment to dump the sand out in the yard, and generally exercise their young imaginations. Sandboxes are a good thing. Computer labs are often called “sandboxes.” I can’t emphasize enough the importance of a computer lab to learning. Certification exams use a lot of scenario type questions. Hands-on (yeah, doing the chapter assignments) is the best way to develop the competencies that you’ll need. Your colleagues and bosses will be impressed that your certifications are more than just pieces of paper framed and hung on the wall. If you’re like me, you probably have enough parts strewn around the basement and can cobble together a box or two. Some Cat-5 and a cheap router - Presto! You have your own sandbox. The software is free. Some of the assessments require Microsoft, and you can download that from the MSDNAA that WGU provides free of additional charges (although if your internet connection is too slow, you may need to purchase the media). If you’re willing to expend additional effort with installation and configuration, open-source software is available for almost every imaginable use: Server & client OS, Web Server, Database, Office Software, PVR (I’d use MythTV if I had a little more ambition) software. Les Vance is an Academic Mentor for the IT College. Faculty Spotlight Gwen Britton, Program Coordinator, IT College Where are you from? I was born in Laramie, Wyoming and have lived in ten different states, one U.S. territory, and three foreign countries. I attended eight different schools (K-12), six different colleges for my undergrad work, four different colleges for graduate work, and I currently reside in Sunapee, New Hampshire. I WISH I lived someplace where SNOW didn’t exist (that’s my worst favorite 4-letter word at this point…) When did you join WGU? I joined WGU in September of 2003 as a part-time IT mentor. At one point, I was mentoring students in all three colleges (Business, IT, and Teachers) in 15+ different programs at both the bachelors and masters levels. What do you enjoy about WGU? “There is nothing permanent except change.” Heraclitus of Ephesus (ca. 525-475 B.C.) How do you see WGU’s program different from traditional universities? In the college of IT, we cater to the IT professional folks who have been in the field for a while and for one reason or another, didn’t finish their degrees. I also love the competency-based model—self-paced for IT professionals is right on the money! Mostly though, I love the students that make this place what it is! AND of course, my extensive pajama ward-robe ;). I believe I officially own more pairs of PJ’s than Amelia Marcos owns shoes. More on Gwen: Gwen graduated magna cum laude from Thomas College with a master's degree in computer technology in education. She holds bachelor's degrees in computer science and mathematics from the University of Maine at Farmington. Prior to completing her master's degree, Gwen taught high school mathematics and computer science, in addition to serving as an adjunct professor of computer science at Central Maine Technical College. After completing her master’s degree, Gwen accepted a position as district technology coordinator for a large school district in Maine. Her duties as technology coordinator included training faculty and staff, providing a leadership role in developing and implementing the district plan for instructional use of computers, and ensuring school-level budgets and district budgets adequately supported the district's instructional technology plan. Gwen spent several years as an assistant professor of computer science at Keene State College, helping to pioneer a bachelor's degree program in computer education and teaching. She also spent several years as a software engineer writing energy efficiency, energy information systems, and energy saving software solutions. Gwen is currently a doctoral candidate at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.