Colorado Tech Online Faculty
Meet Kimberly Pate
School of Information Technology
Colorado Tech Online instructor Kimberly Pate has a great deal of empathy for students in the online learning environment. "I earned my degrees online after being out of school for 20 years. I know how difficult it can be to return to school and adjust to using the latest technologies in education. I also know how I can make it easier for students to adjust to online learning."
Kimberly earned an Associate degree in Business Management, a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology and a Master of Science in Information Technology with a concentration in Internet Security through American InterContinental University. She is currently working on Doctorate degree in Management. She teaches an academic strategies course through Kaplan University in addition to the web portfolio publishing course that she facilitates through Colorado Tech Online. Kimberly brings a great deal of professional experience to her virtual classrooms. She has accumulated over six years of hands-on web site design experience through her work with various organizations and her consulting business. She has designed web sites for colleges, universities, the Red Cross and the Nebraska Department of Tourism.
According to Kimberly, however, "the most valuable experience that I can pass on to my students is what I learned from being an online student. I know how it felt to be told that I was too old to return to school. I know what it is like to learn through new technologies as well as from textbooks and discussion. I learned what educational methods and tools worked best for me and saw that what worked for me may not work for others. I remember the instructors that inspired me and the feeling of pride I experienced after receiving my first 'A.' I learned that communication is the key to success in an online learning environment. I chose to teach online because I want to give what I learned back to my students."
Kimberly remains steadfast in her belief that communication is the key to success in education and that is reflected in her educational philosophy. She feels, moreover, that the Virtual Campus at Colorado Tech Online provides all the tools that are necessary to facilitate communication and create an effective learning environment for students. "I am a communicator by nature and I feel that the Virtual Campus provides all the tools I need to reach every student. I use the whiteboard and PowerPoint™ presentations as visual aids, I post instructor files and textbook guides as written aids, and I facilitate discussions in the live chats as auditory aids. But most importantly, I make myself available to students for individual chat sessions in which I can assess their learning needs and apply the methods and tools that I think will work best for that individual. I would move heaven and earth to help students learn, but thanks to the educational tools at my disposal it's a little easier than that."
Although instructing is a passion for Kimberly, the convenience and flexibility of online learning allows her to spend time with her family and time doing other things she enjoys. "I am an avid golfer and NASCAR fan. I also love photography. Both my husband and I teach online, so we can adjust our schedules in order to spend quality time together. My short term goal, of course, is to complete my Doctorate in Management and get my research published. But in the long term, I want to be able to focus solely on education and help students at Colorado Tech Online understand that although your success is ultimately up to you, I am here to help."
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