Hello everyone, this is my first time creating a blog. I wanted to post something to make sure that I am able to post it correctly and that others are able to comment on my blog. I got the idea from our classmate, Stephanie. I hope to learn a lot from everyone in this course!
Desirae,
ReplyDeleteI came from the era when computers where just getting started in the school setting and I have watched it changed steadily over time. I’ve taught long enough to remember how excited everyone was when Apple (Wikipedia, 2017) put all those computers in schools and teachers where scrambling to learn how to use them. Many teachers felt they were just a passing fancy that would soon fizz out. Boy where they wrong! I always embraced technology, but it was hard for me to master Word Processing because I came from a background of old fashion keyboarding. I took every workshop and class that was offered in the late 70’s and early 80’s and still I got left behind. Computer cost was so high and I could not afford one on a teacher’s salary. Then we also had limited access in the district where I lived at the time because they only let math teachers have those “golden” computers, such advancement that mere normal teachers did not have the mental ability or aptitude to learn or even have as a part of their class. Later they realized that students needed some keyboard skills and then started putting computers as a part of the typing classes. Yet, only special teachers got them who had been teaching a lot longer them me or the principles favorite.
It’s funny how things worked for me. When they first began putting computers in the schools I was teaching typing and no computers where accessible. Later I re-educated myself and started teaching science and missed out as they began using computers in the typing class. I seemed to be constantly “a day late and a dollar short.” It did not stop me from getting all the training I could so that I could learn. But I fell into a “deep fear” that I would not master this technology. But I was determined even if I did not have ready access. I learned how to Word Process in the late 80’s but still did not have enough usage to feel entirely comfortable with computers.
While I was going through this metamorphosis, the digital age was rapidly taking hold. But I was determined not to be left behind totally. I relocated to another city and school district. There they not only had more computer usage but I was able to get first hand experiences using the devices. I had one in my classroom just for me to use. I started using them more and more to do all manner of things within the classroom. Without even knowing of the six characteristics of IDT: 1. Instructional design is student centered. 2. Instructional design is goal oriented. 3. Instructional design focuses on meaningful performance. 4. Instructional design assumes outcomes can be measured in a reliable and valid way. 5. Instructional design is empirical, iterative, and self- correcting. 6. Instructional design typically is a team effort. (Reiser, 2012). I began to learn and thrive. My school district required that all teachers become certified computer literate. If forced me to do exactly what I needed “face my fear” head on. Since that period I’ve never looked back even though I have had several hiccups along the way.
References
Reiser, R. A. (2012). What Field Did You Say You Were In? In R. A. Reiser, & J. V. Dempsey, Trends and issues in instructional design and technbology (pp. 1-6). Boston: Pearson.
Wikipedia. (2017, June 07). Computers in the classroom. Retrieved from Wekipedia.org: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computers_in_the_classroom
Nona,
ReplyDeleteYou have had quite a journey! I think it is fantastic that you kept pushing yourself to learn about technology regardless of the hiccups along the way. You could have easily given up since you had so many missed opportunities, but instead you chose to work hard to keep up with technology. It is a field that is constantly changing so in order to keep up with it you have to continuously learn.