My History of Technology

Many of you, and it looks like I have one follower lol, may not know where I stand with technology or should I say the lack of. I graduated high school in 1983. I will never forget the computer that sat in our chemistry class when I was a junior. I walked around it thinking that it was dropped off by aliens. I also remember saying and I quote, " I will NEVER use one of those things." Yes, that is exactly what I thought. Then I enter into a CAD class at Western Kentucky University. The professor told us to put our hand on the mouse. He said it is not the mouse you think. Well,,, I pretty much liked that class. I mean, ya can't go wrong drawing a straight line on the computer.  I graduated in 1987 and other than that class, I never touched a computer. I could Micro Fish--there that is something that the young people don't have a clue about. "Small little fish?"

My husband bought a computer off of a friend in about...1997ish. He was so amazed at everything you could do. I remember looking up the soap operas Passions and All My Children, but thought that was too much trouble and decided watching them everyday was better than updates on the computer.

I bought our first "new" family computer from Dell in 2001. I was selling Mary Kay and my director said to go online. Honestly, that was the biggest waste of money, Computer and Mary Kay. Great product though. Really, the computer was not a waste, it was the people trying to use it. I was always calling and talking to someone in India because of Dell or Earthlink. Now, have you ever done that and tried so hard to talk to someone from another country? It made me sound even more of a hick than I really am. Ya know, people from Kentucky can talk pretty hickey. I just gave up trying to use a computer. I mean really, when and why was I EVER going to need to use a computer? Really?

Enter into my life spring of 2010. Before, I have been subbing and had a school email, a Facebook account, and a roadrunner email address. If I had lessons that required some sort of technology, I called on a student. Back to spring...I was praying hard and asking for direction as to where I should go career wise. I had some serious talks with God. It was wonderful, because it was not the prayers like...Dear God please if You get me out of this traffic jam I will never...? I was really praying to God and I asked for Him to show me patience and to give me the knowledge to know when He was telling me something. HE DID. I am almost crying as I type this. God answers prayers. He opened and closed doors. One of the doors that opened was Asbury University.

Asbury has a program where if you have a BS degree or 60 hours or more, you can go to school to earn a Licensure in Elementary Education. Hey, I had the BS degree and so I got in no problem. I loved it there. However, my first class was Tech for Ed. I walked out of that first night thinking, "OMGosh, what am I going to do" and my new friends could tell. I looked at them and said, "I will be fine". I was fine, even though I had never sent an attachment before. Yes, never! I learned a lot from that class and did very well. I also had a Human Growth class, an English, and Math class. I earned a 4.0! Never have I ever earned a 4.0 When I was at WKU...I kinda liked beer and bourbon and was told to just get a 2.0 and you will be fine. I did better than a 2.0, but not a 4.0.

I was subbing in January and an aid came in with a student. The aid was one of my kids I had while subbing. He told me about this program. I talked with several principals about their opinion hiring a person with a masters or not having a masters. All said, it depends on the slots giving and the right fit. Master never plays into it. I got excepted conditionally. I had to pass the praxis ll and then be evaluated after my fourth class. See, remember I told you I did better than a 2.0, well I had like a 2.34 and a 4.0 at Asbury. The 4.0 got me into UC. Praxis ll,,,consumed my life. I read and practiced for a month. I took it on my 46th birthday in March and I passed!I felt like the smartest person that walked on earth. Then reality hit me as in school, being a wife, mother, daughter, working, cooking, and the list goes on.

I am doing well in both of my classes. I have a Tech class and a special ed class.I manage my time well and learning a lot!!! Heard the research class can be a pain, but I feel great about school and I love doing well and learning. Going back is so different in your 40's then at 18. Honestly, I don't think I have had a beer or any bourbon since I started. Oops, I  forgot that I am marinating a tenderloin in bourbon. Does that count?

If you seriously read this blah blog entry, please tell me. It is just that we are on spring break and I had the desire to talk to my "Dear Blog". Enjoy your week!!! For me, I am calling Tech at UC. I told Dr. G that I could not bring up comments made to my discussions. She said to contact UC's tech. Dr. G is awesome. She has inspired me to dive into this computer even more. Have ya checked out some of the tutorials on myeducationkit?