Why Educational Technology?

 I love Technology! My first technology course was in 1980 (yes, they did have computers in 1980!).  It was love at first “BYTE”! I had an AG Professor who was forced to teach a BASIC programming language course to a bunch of teacher trainees. He had no idea what he was doing, so he sent us to the lab where we learned to depend on each others ideas and create BASIC programs on our own. I had two small children and my husband worked nights, so the girls played and ate under the computer lab table at Fresno State University while I tried to figure out what I was doing. That was the beginning of a love affair with technology, it’s intriguing, logical, enlightening and ever-changing, making it exciting! At that time it was text-based Internet access using a phone coupler and programing on punch cards, but it didn’t stop me.

I have always desired to obtain my Masters in Educational Technology, but until recently, very few colleges and universities offered Educational Technology courses that were based on classroom integration ideas, techniques and strategies. When I heard that Bernie Dodge was going to head up the COMET program, I jumped with joy.

When I became a district Technology Coach seven years ago, and now as the district Instructional Technology Coordinator, my greatest desire is to bring the latest classroom technologies and advances to the teachers in Madera Unified.  

I truly believe that technology engages students in the learning process. Using a computer is easy, integrating it into your daily lessons with your students is the hard part. In my job I have the opportunity to help teachers do that every day. I want to share the best educational technologies, techniques, strategies and classroom “best practices” while helping move teachers into a technology-rich learning environment.