My name is Kaitlin Clark and though I have moved around a lot in my life, I would consider myself a California native. I was born in Riverside, CA and then moved to Visalia, CA when I was 2 years old. I only lived there until I was 4 though, because then my family and I moved to Olympia, Washington. In Olympia was where I attended 2 different elementary schools (Peter G. Schmitt Elementary for kindergarten and MClane Elementary for 1st and part of 5th grade). Then I moved to Vista, CA for my last half of 5th grade. I have remained in Vista until now, so I attended Guajome Park Academy charter school for middle school and high school, then got my A.A at Palomar, and now I'm currently a senior at CSUSM.
I would definitely say that I have been using different types of technology my whole life. I am PC person at present, but after this semester I might convert :) Thankfully the middle school and high school that I had was very unique in that they offered a lot of technology classes as electives and we had various computer labs on campus that we could use. It was in middle school and high school that I learned to use Powerpoint very proficiently and other office programs semi-proficiently haha. Currently I am using the newest edition of Microsoft Office at my house, but I really don't care which one I use. Lastly, I would consider myself a person who is pretty dependent on technology. For example, I will not leave my house without my cell phone, even if it makes me 5 minutes late to class, I will turn the car around and drive back to get it. Oh and I also love to play wii, dvr my favorite shows and mess around on facebook, so yes I would say that I like technology.
After reading the CSUSM/COE Mission Statement, the part that stands out to me the most is the promotion of life-long learning. I think that this is frequently neglected or overlooked in schools; teachers often encourage their students to just complete "busy" work without persuading them to learn for enjoyment. Students need to see the value of learning in order to enjoy doing it. In order for that to happen, I firmly believe that teachers have to have a personal love of learning themselves before they can expect their students to do so. Learning is therefore an ongoing process in which both students and teachers are exchanging knowledge and disseminating information, instead of just a figure head at the front of the classroom lecturing to students about what they "need" to know. I believe that lifelong learning is promoted when teachers are the instigators of discussion instead of the sole lecturer of "essential" information. So I think I will enjoy entering the CSUSM credential program in which this type of life long learning is promoted.
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"For example, I will not leave my house without my cell phone, even if it makes me 5 minutes late to class, I will turn the car around and drive back to get it."
ReplyDeletehahaha! I'm the exact same way! I even did that last semester. I really mean it when I say my phone is my life.
-Jodie
Hi Kaitlin,
ReplyDeleteI too went to Palomar for my A.A. and I think after this class I will convert to Mac as well! :)
btw I think i've seen u in the writing center and u helped me with a paper, that's nice to have u in same class :))
I forgot to put in my intro letter, kinda what you said, that I also have a wii, love to dvr shows, and am on facebook quite a bit! I like what you said about teachers having to have a love of learning before their students can, and I totally agree. I love to learn, especially about history, and I want to communicate that to my students. Like you said, I don't want to just stand in front of the class and go on about so-called "important information." I want to show how learning is relevant and interesting to my students' lives.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way with my cell phone. I wasn't one of those kids that got a cell when I was 10 or anything. I didn't get one, until I got a job and could pay for my own bill which was 18. And I never cared that I didn't have one even though all my friends did. It didn't rule my life at all. NOW I have no idea what to do when I don't have it on me. It's like ridiculous how much we need that dumb thing attached to us at all times these days! But I AM sad to say, I am the exact same as everyone else. ( In a love affair with a little ringing piece of plastic)
ReplyDeleteHi Kaitlin,
ReplyDeleteyea it's kind of interesting thinking about not experiencing the eight grade... the school system at least for the private school I went to was different than the schools here. It was a school made from k-11 and we would have to switch classroom to use computers. The writing methods were strict like you had to write punctuations and Capital letters with a Red Pen, I had to practice writing neatly in a notebook composed of cubes. The math is pretty advanced compared to what I took here and seemed more complicated. There I learned to read and hand write like in kinder garden. There's other things too like uniform for PE and swimming and some different ethical values like sharing and you can easily get kiked out of the school for complaining for something, they made you hang out with your own class peers, was tough but I got through and was a learning experience for learning what things to avoid and better in teaching techniques.
oh yea and they made you buy you own text books like in college. Learning English was required.. if u have more question feel free to ask maybe ill remember lol its been a while i've thought about my experience there.
ReplyDeleteHi Kaitlin,
ReplyDeleteI had to turn around for my cell phone today lol. So like yourself I can not go without me cell phone:) . I also have a facebook, you should add me. Oh and congrats on being a senior, you have made it a long way.
Kaitlin!
ReplyDeleteGlad we met and sit next to each other in class now! Hopefully we become great friends being fellow literature majors. Washington, do you like the rain? I despise the rain! I'm spoiled living in San Diego where the Beach, Snow, and Desert are only a short drive away. I too also love my cell phone and most definitely would turn around to retrieve it!
-Journee