JagNation’s Artemas Jones: ‘My daily hope is to get better at my job so others can do theirs’

Where is your spot in the JagNation?

I am an instructional systems analyst in the Division of Information Technology. I am assigned to the College of Science and Mathematics, where I provide instructional technology assistance through training, troubleshooting and resolving issues with our instructional systems. These systems include Box (cloud collaboration solution), Desire2Learn (D2L — learning management system), Echo360 (lecture capture), WebEx (video conferencing) and Microsoft Teams (chat and collaboration).

How long have you been a part of JagNation? 

Since June 1993 (as a student and staff).

Most interesting thing about your job?

Learning from faculty what they want to impart to their students with instructional technology, and how we can collectively achieve their academic vision with their students in mind. Whether it’s academic administrators, educators or learners, my daily hope is to get better at my job so others can do theirs, from what academic lenses they can better view and use instructional technology. Since technology is a creative tool, we need to enjoy using it with a fundamental understanding that technology must not replace our humanity.

Favorite thing about JagNation?

Not forgetting those who took the time to invest in me and paved a way for me to help others internal and external to our institution.

Family: 

Wife, Davina Jones.

Hobbies:

Learning how to play the guitar, mentoring, reading, writing poetry, being my wife’s sous chef, and spending quiet time with Jesus and Davina.

Something the JagNation does not know about you?

My wife and I travel to Guatemala each summer with a Christian medical missions team, where I serve as an optometric assistant. However, because of COVID-19, we had to cancel our trip for this year. I love Jesus, and I like impersonating cartoon characters.

How has COVID-19 changed/affected your job?

While undergoing these changes with social distancing, the challenge is not to become personally and professionally distant. When instructors and students are frustrated and overwhelmed with online teaching and delivery, we learn to use emotional intelligence to attack their problems with solutions and not them.