Poynor Expects
Well-Targeted Personal Efforts
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If Hugh Poynor had not fallen in love with computers in 1963, he might have tried a career in stand-up comedy. Underneath the ready smile and easy humor is a very serious man. Forget what you may have heard.
"Real satisfaction," Poynor says, "comes from giving an activity your best effort—-whether it's writing a program, playing tennis, woodworking, or maintaining a marriage. Best of all is the satisfaction earned through a well-planned, well-targeted effort. I expect students to aspire to that kind of personal satisfaction every time they complete assignments or take tests in one of my classes."
In the professional world, of course, effort alone does not guarantee success. Accordingly, Dr. Poynor has very high standards for the quality of his students' work in MIS 373 Web Design and Authoring and MIS333K. He is concerned with educating his students, "...teaching them MIS principles for their career lives, not just for their first jobs." He hopes to send people out of his Web and K classes with much more than a time-limited toolbox.
Real-world experience has convinced Hugh that MIS professionals need to know how to learn, how to analyze problems and use resources, how to develop and maintain effective work habits, and how to interact with clients and co-workers. "If I can teach those skills--and hopefully model some of these principles--I can make a difference in students' lives. That's what my teaching is all about."
From time to time, he offers students his reflections on the world of work. He notes that, "These days, with the shrinking job market, MIS jobs are competitive and salaries are running much lower. Even if you are lucky enough to land a position in software development, you will almost certainly have to ask for arrays."
