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Vanessa Schatz strongly believes thatÌýcollege coursework should directly prepare students for theÌýwork place. ÌýSchatz,ÌýAdjunct Professor in the Department of Communication at CU Boulder, recognizes how important it is for students to build transferable skills in college so that they will become competitive job applicants after graduation. ÌýLast year, Schatz's students nominated her for an ASSETT Outstanding Teaching with Technology Award for her teachingÌýof WRTG 3020, anÌýupper division writing seminar with the theme of travel writing. ÌýStudents wrote in their nominations of Schatz about how sheÌýencouraged them to try new technologies in their final presentations of their writing portfolios: "As a final assignment, we were instructed to give a presentation of all the pieces we had written throughout the semester. Ìý[Schatz] encouraged us to create a slideshow, video, or prezi presentation to show theÌýrest of theÌýclass," one student wrote. ÌýSchatz says she encourages her students to be creative in this endeavor, even uploading videos to Vimeo or YouTube. ÌýSchatzÌýpoints out, "It's good to be able to hyperlink," to video presentations created in college when applying for jobs. ÌýShe says that building connections between the classroom and the real world is most rewarding for her:

It's something I genuinely enjoy ...Ìýmost about teaching. ÌýYou can inspire students. ÌýIt's important to remind themÌýhow these materials relate to life outside of the classroom and how it can help them professionally. ÌýIt makes my experience as a teacher more interesting, too. ÌýIt's reciprocal in nature. ÌýIt shows if you enjoy what you're doing.

Schatz is serious about students succeeding in their professional lives, and keepsÌýin touch with former students:

A lot of [my former students]Ìýhave pursued creative careersÌý... [and]Ìýprofessional careers as writers. ÌýSome [of them] have jobs in journalism. ÌýI think that's exactly what I was trying to do in the classroom--what can you do with your skills ... and your passions?

In students' nomination of Schatz's teaching for the ASSETT Outstanding Teaching with Technology Award, they also wrote that sheÌýwould often begin class with projecting an image onto the board as a source ofÌýinspirationÌýabout a writing topic. ÌýSchatz explains thatÌýsheÌýbelieves in offering students, "Different sources of stimulation to increase students' awareness about what we're doing in class." ÌýRecently, Schatz has also collaborated with course director Jamie Skerski to teach a public speaking courseÌýthat involves students creatingÌý60 second public service announcements that would benefitÌýarea nonprofits and small businesses. Ìý"... Technology is becoming a powerful vessel, a powerful tool in capturing the human experience," SchatzÌýsays. Ìý"That is something I am passionate about ... That's why I think technology is useful--because it can facilitate our differences and commonalities. ÌýLearning about people's lives and their stories can be inspiring."

When asked about students' attitudes about learning to use new technologies for class, Schatz said, "I found that most students were at least curious." ÌýHer students were able to access professional video editing software at ATLAS andÌýconsultÌýOIT staff for help for their final projects. ÌýSchatz thoroughly understands the importance of explaining to students:

By exposing students to use or explore technologies, the biggest success you can have ...Ìý[is realizing that] this is something that's bigger than the classroom. ÌýIf you can create stimulating emotional multimedia video or presentation with visuals and storytelling, ... it can be used in your professional life. Ìý[It's important to explain to students] why ... you [are proposing] these technologies and how ...Ìýthey positively impact their learning styles.

Students' nomination of Schatz for the ASSETT Teaching with Technology Award has made her experience at CU come full circle in a way. ÌýSchatz's 2008 master's research under the direction of Michele Jackson in the CU Department of Communication found opportunities for technology to improve teaching at CU. ÌýThat year, Jackson founded ASSETT, a new part of the College of Arts and ScienceÌýto improve the use of technology in teaching. ÌýSchatz went on toÌýcomplete her masters, and she continues to teach at CU. ÌýWhen sheÌýis not teaching, SchatzÌýconsults with Rosetta Stone in marketing their English Language business software.