...and so do teachers. Creating a Web Page has been a real learning process and continues to be an opportunity to learn, to try new things, and to better communicate with parents.
This page was created because my daughter, Kristin, decided in 1997 that her mother needed a web page for school. While majoring in chemical engineering at Georgia Tech, she found that everyone seemed to be creating their own personal web page. She taught herself the basics and created a personal web page, but eventually figured it would be more worthwhile and beneficial to make one for her mother's second grade class. I had been following some of the projects hosted by Susan Silverman. Participating in her projects and getting ideas for my own second grade was really exciting, and so I was thrilled with the idea of having my own web site.
Kristin is still my main problem solver, but I have tried to teach myself more about creating web pages and have taken over some of the creation. My husband, Roger, has been patient (most of the time) with helping me keep my files in order and giving up the home computer during my endless hours of creating and researching. Two of the other second grade pages that I constantly watch for new ideas, projects, and just ways to improve are Lanise Jacoby and Janice Baker. Thanks to all of you for your help, time spent, and many creative ideas that I have incorporated through the years.
Mrs. Dennison's History With Computers From a
Yes, I am a "teacher at heart," but as I look back, computers in one form or another, have been a part of my life for many years. My husband, Roger, has a master's degree in computer science (information systems), but in 1971 not many schools offered a master's degree in that NEW area. He worked as a programmer with Pratt & Whitney, and unable to find a teaching job when we moved to Connecticut, I was also hired by Pratt & Whitney. Those were the days of trying to get women in fields that were once reserved for men, and they were willing to train me in computer aided design and manufacturing using a programming language called APT. It was a way of programming tool and die machines in the factory where aircraft engine parts were being made. Now if you would ask anyone about my ability to read a map, you would wonder as I do, how I lasted in that factory environment. I guess it was my patience (an important teacher quality), excitement about the use of computers, and ability to use my teaching skills to help those very experienced tool and die makers accept the new computers that had recently been introduced to their factory environment. I did learn something about computers in those days of Fortran, programs on mylar tape, BIG main frames, and punch cards.
In 1980 I did research on computer aided instruction for a graduate course that I was taking. It was a very new field and seemed to be used mainly for struggling students. In 1986-1987 I enjoyed volunteering in a tiny closet at Flower Mound Elementary where a few Commodore computers were available for teachers who wanted to send a small group of students for games or extra help. There was even a way to write some very simple programs saved on tapes in a tape recorder hooked up to the computer. In addition to following some of the early classroom web pages, I can remember making good use of some of those personal web pages at Georgia Tech to read about the guy my daughter was dating while away at college far from home.
It is so exciting to think about the changes that have taken place in such a short time, but as a teacher it has been an opportunity for me to see how difficult and challenging it is to learn new things. When I wonder why a student is not getting some information that I have presented many times and in many ways, I think of how many times I have had to reread, redo, and practice again some of the things I do with computers. Learning is a life long process with so much more waiting to be discovered. I know my students will be the ones leading the way in some of those great discoveries.