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Diana Stinson
Information Technology Instructor, Southwest Virginia Community College
Master Instructor
"If it's out there, I want to learn it!" With this simple motto, Diana Stinson is always finding ways to take her knowledge and skills to the next level. Even with her years of experience as an information technology (IT) instructor at Southwest Virginia Community College (SVCC), Stinson recognizes the value of further validating her skills and teaching experience with Microsoft® Office Specialist Master Instructor certification. The industry benchmark serves not only as an indicator of her teaching ability but also enhances her skills and career options.
"It's one thing to be able to use the Office programs and quite another thing to have the patience and skills to teach these programs to others," says Stinson. "By requiring evidence of both technical and teaching skills, Master Instructor certification proves to students, employers, and colleagues that you have the combination of skills necessary to be successful as an instructor of Microsoft Office, and that's what I wanted to prove."
While proving her existing technical and teaching skills may have been her main purpose in pursuing Master Instructor certification, Stinson remarks that certification also improved her abilities in both these areas.
"Due to the extra practice and preparation I went through to pass each certification exam, I greatly increased my Microsoft Office knowledge and skill level," she says. "As a direct result, my teaching techniques have been refined. For example, I've noticed that I can explain more clearly how the programs work and respond faster to students' questions than before, which means my students need much less facilitation."
Douglas Boyce, SVCC Dean of Instruction, has also taken notice of Stinson's rise to Master Instructor certification and increased skills by promoting her to be the coordinator of SVCC's new Computer Learning Center. "Diana's gone above and beyond with Master Instructor certification," he says. "When we recently opened the Computer Learning Center to meet the demand for computer training in this area, we needed an effective teacher. With her Master Instructor certification and dedication to learning, we knew Diana could handle the job."
SVCC invests in all its employees by covering the cost of Microsoft Office Specialist exams. "In terms of dollars, the certification is a modest investment," Dean Boyce explains. "Especially when you consider that it gives us a better-qualified staff and provides our employees the opportunity to excel professionally."
With such a supportive work environment, it's easy to understand why Stinson enjoys teaching at SVCC and why, despite the increased job opportunities Microsoft Office Specialist certification affords her, she has no intentions of leaving any time soon.
"I've already received several offers to provide training and private tutoring since earning Master Instructor status and, if I chose to, I could increase my salary by more than 60 percent," she says. "While the security of additional career options is reassuring, I'm happy with the opportunities and teaching experience at SVCC."
Not one to rest on past achievements, Stinson plans to continue her learning and certification by becoming a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) and pursuing a Ph.D. program in community college leadership.
"The best part of achieving Master Instructor certification," Stinson says, "is that it has increased my skills and confidence and will help me to continue to succeed as an instructor."
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