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Jeff Hodson

Jeff Hodson

Texas OnCourse

Career Roadmap

Jeff's work combines: Education, Technology, and Problem Solving

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Day In The Life

Instructional Designer

I create engaging, effective instructional learning experiences using technology, learning theories, and data

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

    Idaho Falls High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Human Development and Family Studies, General

    University of Utah

  • Graduate Degree

    Educational Psychology

    University of Utah

Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Instructional Coordinators:

Bachelor's Degree: Comparative Psychology

Graduate Degree: Educational/Instructional Technology

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life took a while to figure out

  • 1.

    After high school graduation, I spent some time abroad doing volunteer work. I gained an appreciation for learning about culture, language, and history.

  • 2.

    After my volunteer work, I worked at a credit union during the day and a restaurant at night to save up enough money to pay for my first year of college.

  • 3.

    After graduating college, I took a job at a small private school as a teacher's aide to get some experience. I was promoted to be a teacher that same year. I waited tables at night to make ends meet.

  • 4.

    I applied to grad school and was accepted for educational psychology. I got a full-time job as a credit counselor to pay the bills and relied on student loans to bridge the gap.

  • 5.

    I applied to doctoral programs and was accepted to UT for the instructional technologies program. I moved to Texas with my wife, and we had our first child about a year later.

  • 6.

    My wife and I decided

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Myself:

    You're not good enough, you don't have the experience, and you won't succeed.

  • How I responded:

    When my inner critic starts to make a lot noise and tells me I can't do something, I learned to try anyway. The only true failure in life is not trying at all. If something matters that much to you, you'll figure out a way to be successful.

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

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  • I didn't have the money to pay for college, so I worked 60 hours a week for almost a year to build up my savings. I also worked as a waiter throughout college to pay my bills and minimize student loans.