On Being A Digital Hero

I love thoughtful sci-fi movies. Most of all, I love the Matrix.  What could be better than secret underground heroes hacking their minds into an evil digital world to free the minds of people from a life of slavery. I am drawn to the notion of a regular computer geek, like Neo, being transformed by knowledge into an invincible hero.  While I'm probably not quite a computer geek or an invincible hero, my goal in life is to free minds as my mind has been freed.

Digital Birth
My technological awakening began when my father brought home  one of the first Macintosh computers in the early 80's.  I was fascinated by the technology and spent hours putting in floppy disks to use MacPaint, MacWrite, and Zork.  We went through a couple generations of Macs before I went off to college with a Mac Classic, but I never lost interest in learning about technology.

Digital Education
In a small Christian college called The Master's College, I was introduced to the world of Windows. I soon jumped on board the bandwagon and purchased my first Windows 95 computer.  It wasn't exactly the earth-liberating software that it promised to be, but I did learn a tremendous amount about fixing hardware and software problems.  Windows 98 provided me a similar experience, and I learned amazing new lessons about saving my own digital life by keeping the computer running. At the same time I was getting a backdoor education in computer technology, I was learning to become an educator. While initially headed towards a church educational setting, I redirected my career towards schools and earned my California Teaching Credential.

Digital Bent
After working a few years as a third grade teacher at Friends Christian School, I soon became every teacher's personal IT guy when they had a technology problem. I think I was even called a hero on occasion. At that point, I decided to further my education again, and began taking classes at Riverside Community College. My continuing education equipped me with some cool new tools: HTML, MS Office proficiency, system repair and trouble-shooting, and network knowledge. When baby Faith was born, our world was turned upside down. My wife quit teaching to stay home and mother full time. Desperately needing to save our little family from financial disaster, I launched Computer Boot Camp by renting the school computer lab in the summer. During the camps, I ran students through an educational and fun technology program for three to four weeks every summer. That was my technology proving ground.  In that setting, I flourished and grew stronger until I finally believed the truth about myself.  Like Neo in the Matrix, I realized that I was gifted and capable of much more.

Digital Calling
At that point I started my dream job of teaching computers at Corona Fundamental Intermediate School.  Ironically, like every hero should, I teach underground in what used to be a bomb shelter during the WWII era.   When I arrived at CFIS, I was handed a key to the computer lab, but no curriculum. So, like I did in Computer Boot Camp, I created a dynamic and design-oriented curriculum from scratch.  Yearly, I've improved the program until it has become a valuable training program that helps children see their own potential in the digital world. 
As far as my fellow teachers are concerned, they have been in need of rescuing as well.  Given the opportunity through a technology grant to be  technology coach, I've passed on my knowledge and assistance on a district and schoolwide level. 

Digital Future
As I look into the future, I am not really sure what path I will take or what changes lurk over the horizon.  I can say that technology is advancing upon the world at an alarming rate, and our current education system is in danger of loosing it's relevance to children.  The schools need me and other instructional designers to rescue them from the impending chaos.  Of course I can't do it alone, but I have the skills, knowledge, and motivation to help.  Earning a masters in educational technology has just been the crucial training I needed to make me fit for the task. Maybe someday I will also be one of those secret underground heroes, freeing minds with every lesson.