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This web site is a one-woman show at the moment, so please forgive its crudeness and simplicity. Despite its obvious lack of HTML bells and whistles and fancy graphics, I hope that you will find the information on this site useful to you.
Mary Teschner, Computer Educator
I love my job, and let me tell you why. There's just something about kids and computers. Even the most apathetic and disinterested student seems to come alive when put in front of a monitor and keyboard. Teaching computers has to be the most fun subject to teach, because in my experience, it's a rare kid that whines or groans about having to go to the computer class or lab!
Managing a computer classroom presents its own set of challenges, though. In order to make computer learning effective, you will have to know what to expect and plan ahead. The Internet is a dangerous, sometimes scary place. There are lots of things we don't want our kids getting into while they are on it. Computers can be like kids too... sometimes they do what you want, sometimes they don't. Some are more responsive than others. Even in a computer lab full of the same type of computers, made by the same manufacturer, with all the same software, you will find that each computer has its own unique "personality." You will have to learn a whole new level of patience to accomodate these things, and you will have to teach patience and respect for this to your students as well. Despite this, the rewards for the computer educator are many... although wealth is not one of them! ;-)
Take a look at some of the activity ideas that integrate subject-based curriculum with computer learning. As a computer teacher, I feel that imparting basic computer skills and knowledge is only half the job. I strive to accomplish three goals at once -- teaching basic computer skills while supporting subject-based studies... and in this way not only do the students learn computer skills and their subject material, but they also learn to recognize the value of a computer as a learning tool. This recognition motivates students to apply themselves to exploring and learning new things about what their computer can do for them.
If your school is one of the many striving to respond to The President's Educational Technology Initiative, you might be a teacher under pressure from administration to integrate technology into your curriculum. Do not fear! Although integrating technology into your teaching might seem daunting at first (especially if you know very little about computers to begin with), the resources available to you are boundless! This site will be a great place to start. You can also look at some of the links that I've collected to help you in your journey.
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