EC&I 833 – Introduction Post
*This post has been written as part of my journey as a Ph.D student through University of Regina.
Welcome to all of my peers joining as part of our journey in EC&I 833. My name is Kirsten Thompson and I serve as the divisional Coordinator of ICT for the Mountain View School Division; overseeing technology programming and purchasing for approximately 3000 stakeholders. I am a Microsoft Education Trainer as well as a Level 1 Google Certified Educator with over 200 hours of combined professional development on how to assist educators in the use of these tools.
Prior to this, I was employed as a classroom teacher in the Turtle River School Division for 6 years where I taught a variety of subjects ranging from Grade 7-12. I am currently working under the supervision of Dr. Alec Couros via the University of Regina as I pursue by Ph.D in the area of educational software evaluation.
Technology Memories
My first memories of using technology as a child and then teen include:
- Visiting the school computer lab (in the basement of my elementary school) to work on typing
- I cannot for the life of me find the program in Google searches but I remember needing the large floppy disks and there being a purple dragon
- Classic Windows games such as Pinball and SkiFree
- Feeling personally victimized by Mavis Beacon
- I don’t think I truly honed my typing skills until university
- Hours of time crowded around the family computer as a group of friends while we designed our lives on Sims
- Taking over the family phone line for days at a time to download songs over LimeWire and chat with my friends on MSN
As an elementary student our classroom from Grade 4-6 was adjacent to the computer lab where I have a lot of memories of using MS Word to type out a variety of projects. We did not have any technology directly in our classroom and I don’t necessarily remember any lessons on how to use Word.
When I transitioned into Middle School for Grades 7-8 I don’t even have any memories of that building even having a computer lab. I have zero recollection of ever doing any activities involving technology during that time period.
In High School we had multiple computer labs, including a graphics art lab with Mac Computers and a work space in the library with Sun Computers. I was able to use the Mac lab during my graphic arts classes but our other use of computers was limited to making PowerPoint presentations for science class. Our teaching staff still used overhead projecters and our research for projects was not done online as much as through the books in the school library.
I have been blogging regularly since 2012 and, if you are interested in regular tech tips and educational technology information I would love to have you check out my other posts. I look forward to learning and sharing with all of you!
Hi Kirsten – I remember learning to type on a similar program called “Kid Keys” which was the epitome of early 90s edutainment software (it may or may not have had a purple dragon). We had it on our school computers, and while a bit lame, it beat what I had at home. I remember my parents insisting that I learn to type at a young age using a 1960s typewriting manual on our IBM 386 computer. It taught me early on that endless drilling is effective at two things: building muscle memory and developing a hatred of typing practice. Later on I was pretty lucky that my high school had mac pro workstations were we could video edit and rudimentary animation (it took me a whole semester to master basic walk cycles). I envy the level of tech my students have available now as the creative possibilities of the software and hardware are pretty incredible.
YAS! It was Kid Keys. Thank you for putting a name to that program because I could not place it. I look back at ALL the time I spent attempting video editing in high school and compare it now to the daily videos I make and edit on my phone; it is mind boggling how much it has changed!
Hi Kirsten, your post really spoke to me as I felt I could also relate. I remember going to a computer lab too where we would sit there and type for a class (again, I have no clue what this program was called either). It is crazy to reflect back and see how a lot of our first experiences with technology was typing and an overhead projector. It is sometimes hard for me to immerse myself to relate to students’ lives as technology has come so far. I look forward to learning alongside you!
You are a good asset to this class Kirsten. I appreciate and relate to your post as you have beautifully stated your experiences with technology. Technology is transforming education, changing how, when and where students learn, and empowering them at every stage of their journey. Technology in education and the right devices in students’ hands helps prepare them with the career and technical skills they need to be successful today and in tomorrow’s workforce.
Freakin’ floppy disks Batman!
Let me start by stating how floored I am with your blog and socials presence! Solid stuff.
I often wonder if the students I work with daily look at my tech skills and feel as sorry for me as I did for my teachers growing up. I do think that I have a leg up on those from my past though, simply because of the time that I grew up in – shout out Gen X! Recently I have had this epiphany that any class or PD, heck, even Twitter follow, related to EdTech is worth my investigation if it will help with my ability to transfer digital citizenship skills on to students and help prepare them for a future that we cannot predict.
I am looking forward to your insight this term, and beyond. Thanks Twitter!
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