Introductions

=Introductions= Please edit this page by first clicking the "EDIT" button in the top right hand corner. The page will turn into an editable document for you to add your Name and a little something about yourself. When you're done please click the "Save" button in the visible toolbar and the document will change back into the wiki page with your new edits for everyone to read.


 * Jordan Epp** - Hello I'm Jordan and I'm the instructor for Introduction to Emerging Technologies. I'm an Instructional Designer at the Centre for Continuing & Distance Education here at the University of Saskatchewan. I hope this course provides students with the opportunity to get their feet wet in the world of social media and that the experience is a positive one that allows every student to find tools that work for them whatever their needs may be.

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 * Joel Heitmar -** I'm the Senior Research Assistant for two projects through the Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit (SPHERU), called "Smart Cities, Healthy Kids". The projects are multi-year studies focusing on how the built and food environments in Saskatoon contribute to childhood obesity. I've quietly launched a small social media campaign, and am well-versed in social media from a personal standpoint, but am attending this workshop to hopefully learn different ways to develop a professional presence online.


 * Rikki Skiffington**- Hello, I'm a Public Health Nurse for Prince Albert Parkland Health Region. My place of employment provides many services for our community and we participate in many events. We're finding that we're not reaching some of our population and are interested in using social media to help us get the word out about not only special events but also the services we provide on a regular basis. We currently advertise in the newspaper, on our health region's web page, on the radio and sometimes on our local news. We feel that where we currently have no online presence we're missing out on the many technologically aware people within our community. Myself and some of my coworkers have started advertising for events on our own personal Facebook pages and have had some success with this, so my hope for this course is that I will return to work and be able to start setting us up to have a much greater presence online so that we can get the word out to everyone in our community!

Hi, my name is **Mike Chouinard**. I'm a journalist by trade. Currently, I'm editing website content for kidSKAN, the province's early childhood development network. I also do freelance writing and editing for the Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit (kidSKAN is part of SPHERU). I use social media for personal reasons. I'm new to Twitter but have been on Facebook for a few years, and I'm interested in learning more on how I can incorporate these tools (and others like Flickr) into my work.


 * Ashley Dopko -** I'm the Communications Coordinator for the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, we use Facebook and have an online newsletter. I've used social media for personal uses but have never formally used it in a business setting. I want to learn how to engage our members, not alienate or overwhelm them with information.


 * Valerie White**: I am the new Admissions & Development Manager for Rosthern Junior College. We are "playing" with some of the tools available in the social media world in order to let people know about the benefits to attending a High School that is "More than your ordinary High School"! I currently use Facebook as a way to keep in contact with family. But, is there a professional benefit for our school to use these tools to help create a positive buzz for the school that is our question?

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 * Ross Harwood** : I am a Retired Partner from Deloitte & Touche Chartered Accountants. I am very interested in 'experimenting' with various social media tools. In particular I am interested in Tips and Traps involved with the various tools**.**======

**Archived Introductions from January 2011**

 * Gisele Gignac** - Hi, I'm a Manager with Pronto Airways, we fly into northern Saskatchewan locations and into Baker Lake/Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. I'd like to learn more about social media and how it could apply to our regional airline business. There have been many changes in the whole area of social media in the last few years and I'd like to be able to be much more knowledgeable of such a growing trend.


 * Nancy Smale -** Hello all - I am Business Systems Manager for West Wind Aviation. I would like to be able to help the Marketing Department (along with others in our organization) become familiar with all of the advantages of emerging technologies.


 * Gladys Neufeld** - Good Day, I'm the Marketing Coordinator at Saskatchewan Blue Cross. We will begin communicating with Saskatchewan residents via social media in the near future and I am hoping to learn a lot, particularly how to avoid the pitfalls. Looking forward to Saturday!


 * Carla Roy** - Hello, I am a Paramedic and one of the Crew Trainer's/educators at MD Ambulance in Saskatoon. We are starting to use more online interactions/training for our staff and I'm hoping to learn some new tools to use for that.


 * Owen Einsiedler -** Hi, I'm the Marketing Manager of the Sask. W. Central Tourism Region. My job involves marketing more than 250 regional tourism members within Saskatchewan and Alberta. I am hoping to identify new opportunies on social networking and social media sites that will benefit my members.


 * Karen Kobussen** - Hi everyone! I am the Marketing and Public Relations Director at Parkville Manor, Saskatoon's Premiere Retirement Community. The 'Boomers' and the 'Zoomers' are the fastest growing population segment of internet users... and they are my market! I need to increase our online presence to include social media and this class will provide me with the knowledge and tools to make the most effective use of social media for marketing.


 * Judith Gidluck** - Hi everyone! I work half time at the Saskatoon Public Library in the Outreach Services Department and on the side I am an avid quilter who would like to have an online presence. In my work world I can see the face of the library having to change rapidly to keep up to the boomers and zoomers and the younger set who are totally engaged with the social media world. The quilting world has already embraced the electronic world and I would like to find out how to become more engaged in that environment.


 * Leah Shipley** - I work at Saskatchewan Blue Cross as a Training Specialist for Customer Service. Our new hires are often Millenials who are used to learning through technology, and I hope to be able to incorporate social media into my training programs to further engage this group.


 * Lindsay Arnott** - Hi, I am the Marketing Assistant at Saskatchewan Blue Cross. We have been researching the use of Social Media and technologies as a marketing tool for our organization. I hope to gain some insight into the benefits and challenges of this as well as increase my knowledge of how to use these tools effectively.


 * Germaine Riou** - Hello, I am an International Student Advisor at the University. I am working with groups of current students who help in the settlement process of newly arriving international students. I am looking for a tool that will help them connect with each other here and prior to coming to Canada.


 * Tara Oliver** - Hey everyone. I am also a paramedic and Crew Trainer/educator with MD Ambulance. We have a rapidly growing company and are exploring new technologies through e-learning and multimedia to encorporate into our fast paced industry. I hope to become more comfortable with different tools (and do so without cursing!)

I also work with the millenia group that Leah refers to as a casual Instructor at Siast.I believe that Social Media needs to be incorporated into training programs. Currently I don't know how!!!
 * Angela Graham** - Hi All! Well it looks like I might be the last one to sign in. I am currently spending the majority of my days looking after my 7 1/2 month old baby. When not on a maternity leave I am a paramedic with MD Ambulance. I have had opportunity to work within the Professional Development Department at MD Ambulance and hope to continue. I have been looking forward to this course. (Not just because I really need out of the house!)


 * Melissa Kelsey** - I am a citizen of Saskatoon and work for the Saskatoon Health Region at the Leslie and Irene Dube Centre for Mental Health as the Adult Acute Care Senior Social Worker. I am interested in social networking tools to enhance our services with regards to providing education and support to our clients and families and to reduce discrimination and stigma around mental illness and the promote mindfulness around the meaning of mental health. As well, I have a personal goal to develop an online presence that reflects some of my passions in writing, art, and roof top gardening. I have several friends that work in the Film and multi-media sectors and who live and travel abroad - I'd like to expand my social network while strengthening my multi-cultural competencies and stay connected to them. Looking forward to learning from one another.


 * Annette Beaulieu-** Just doing this as we sit in our workshop. I am a Adult Basic Education Instructor at SIAST Woodland Campus. I hope to use my learning from Emerging Technologies to find another tool to connect with my students.


 * Jackie Eaton** - I am the Sexual and Reproductive Health Coordinator the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute. We are wanting to learn more about social networking and e-learning to reach a broader audience to share our educational resources.


 * Tracy Stephensen** - I am a program coordinator at Business & Leadership Programs, UofS. Looking forwarding to learning about social networking for application to education and marketing initiatives.


 * Donnita Derbyshire**- Hello. I am a Paramedic with MD Ambulance and I work with the training department. We are always looking for new ways to facilitate learning for our staff and new ways to stay current with technology so I am looking forward to this workshop.


 * Karen Mosier -** I am a Research Facilitator with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. I am very interested in learning how to use networking to facilitate new research collaboratives.