Please Introduce yourself to the group

[Alan Lutz]

We are growing daily, still, and this is GREAT. I know who most of you are since I invited you. But I doubt you know many others on the list. I encourage you to upload a picture of yourself and also give us a brief intro of who you are, where your ministry is at the current time, and what you would like to add or receive from our discussions. THANKS for your participation! Alan

[Alan Lutz]

OK, I'll start. I have been teaching in this district since way back when it was still called the Southern California District and the District office was on Pomona Blvd in L.A. In fact, I went there for my new teacher orientation in 1973 conducted by Herman Meyerhoff who was the education exec then. So I'm old as dirt. But my interest in technology really got going strong in 1982 when I got my first Apple II+ (48K) for my school at the time which was First Lutheran, Van Nuys (RIP). We paid $1700 for that computer which came with ONE 5.25" floppy drive and a Green monochrome monitor. Wow. BASIC was built in and you could write and save your own programs. Next I moved up to Big Blue: IBM PC is what they called it. This is where the A and B drives came in. Two built in floppy drives. A for programs and B for data. Hard drive? What's that? My first HD was 10 or 20 MB and held all the DOS programs you could ever need.
Fast forward to the present: I am now for the last 8 years, anyway, the Technology Coordinator for St. Paul's Lutheran School in Orange, CA. I oversee 150 PCs on my campus and 25 more units on the Preschool and church campuses 2 blocks away, all connected by wireless networking. We have 27 homerooms here K-8 so lots of Technology in Education to encourage, promote, etc.
Since even before 1984 when we founded UGLE, The Users Group of Lutheran Educators, I have been committed to helping as many in our district with technology. Most of my time with UGLE I maintained an annual license with MECC and copied 10,000s of floppy 5.25" and 3.5" disks for schools' use all over our district with Apple, Mac, and PC machines. That group has now morphed into STAT. Rachel Klitzing had a LOT to do with getting us going again and in the right direction of helping reach out to all of you in Lutheran schools in our district who need help. Besides hosting the annual Tech Workshop each October, we maintain a presence on the District web site where there are some technology guidelines, links, and so on.
There have been many occasions where members of STAT have helped schools with little in the way of computers on campus to get second hand hardware and volunteer labor to get them set up their campus. Most recently I refurbished, delivered, and set up 10 computers for our Learning Center on the former Bethany Hollywood campus. Principal there, Aleta Williams, is most grateful for the help of this STAT member. My next project is to do the same for St. John’s Montebello.
We also maintain and encourage use of The Lutheran Portal. I am one of the district administrators for it so if you need any corrections, additions about your school that your School Portal Administrator can't handle, I'm the guy you can ask for help. Cathy Lenhart in the DO is the other MAIN portal administrator for PSD.
And finally there is the STAT News email which I and anyone else on the list can contribute to and from whose membership I sent invitations to join THIS Group on NING called the WWW.PSDSTAT.NING page.
OK, it wasn’t a brief introduction but I bet you learned a few things about me you didn’t know before. I look forward to reading each and every other introduction when you post it on our site. For those of you who are still reading this on STAT News and haven’t logged in yet please go to the web page I mentioned in the last paragraph and join up. See you online.

Thanks,
Alan Lutz
STAT Chairman

[Tim Young]

I was nine when I touched my first computer an Apple II in my Elementary School lab. It was love at first sight. It would take two years of nagging my parents to get my own computer a Texas Instruments TI-994/a. It is with this machine that I would learn how to program, communicate with others with a modem, and type all my school reports. I would spend the better part of my childhood, teens, and early 20’s working on various computers of the day (Commodore C64, Amiga 500, Macintosh, 286-486 PC's).

I wouldn’t officially start my career with computers until I took a job with Allstate Insurance working on the Computer Help Desk and then later a field trainer going to agents’ offices and training them on the company computer system. When Allstate closed their main office in California I took a job with Electronic and Computer Specialties fixing computers and installing small business networks. Eventually I took all three A+ technician certification tests and several Printer Repair Certification tests and landed a job with CompUSA eventually becoming a Computer Repair Depot Manager. In the late 90’s I became a Certified Novell Administrator and a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator and worked for an outfit in Pasadena installing and administering corporate networks. These jobs all had one thing in common; long hours, too much time away from family and not much self reward.

In 2000 Deryl Maxwell the principal of Christ Lutheran Brea hired me on to maintain the Church Server and keep the small network of 6 computers working. Eventually I was asked to teach some introductory computer classes to the middle school kids part time. Somehow that grew into teaching K-8 computer science classes and advanced workshops. I believe that God has led me to Christ Lutheran. Here I have found true joy sharing what I know with the students as well witnessing the work of our Lord.

Our little network has grown to 3 servers and 75 computers. We have two campuses that are connected with a VPN and both have Wireless Internet available to the staff. Our lab has 25 computers equipped with multiple scanners, color printers, digital and movie cameras and various desktop and other media publishing software. In the lab I teach Basic Computing Skills, Keyboarding, Introduction to MS Office, Internet Research Skill and Technology and Ethics. We produce both the School Yearbook and School Newspaper out of the lab during our Newsroom Workshop. In 2007 we won a Best Buy Teach Award for our Newsroom Class.

I'm always looking for new ideas and new ways to present technology to the kids. I truly look forward to reading what others are doing in their schools.

Sharing God’s glory,

Tim Young
Technology Coordinator - Christ Lutheran Brea

[Rene Drevlow]

Hi! I'm Rene Drevlow, an old member of UGLE and a member of STAT. Currently, I am semi-retired after 33 years of teaching, enjoying 5 day weekends, and teaching only 2 days during the week at Zion Lutheran School in Anaheim. Most of my years as a teacher were spent as a Technology Coordinator. Even though I'm retired, I still find myself very interested in technology and the latest gadgets. I am a faithful Macintosh fan and enjoy using the video iPod as well as the iTouch. I was thrilled to read in the latest Fortune magazine that Apple was selected as the number
one "most admired company." I remember a time in the 80's when Zion received its first Apple computer in the Apple give-away program. I was the one who stepped forward to open the box, learn and teach Logo, and introduce the "Oregon Trail" software to the students. Like Alan, I also remember the good old "MECC software" and "UGLE" days. It was great fun to share some of our new technology bits and bytes with other users. I also remember the days of NetDay '96 when Zion first became wired for the Internet. My father, brother, husband and friends helped us run the wire into all of the classrooms at Zion so we could reach out on the Internet and go where only a few schools had gone before. That was the beginning of a new adventure for many of us.
I just returned from CUE 2008 and I must admit, educational technology is still very exciting, even to a semi-retired Technology Coordinator. There is so much to learn and so much to share with the students who are just entering our schools.

[Larry D. Wooster]

My first hint of computers in classrooms was in an intro to education class in 1980 at Concordia - Ann Arbor when the professor told us to take computer classes as they would revolutionize teaching. That summer I worked for IBM's General Products Division as a Systems Reference Librarian and was very frustrated that they had tons of software for the PC Jr that they were waiting to release until the timing was "right." Most of that was never released and the PC Jr died.

I took a Basic programming course at Concordia - Seward. When the congregation at my first call (Albuquerque, NM - 1982) found out I had some computer background I became the computer coordinator. During my 9 years there we went from Timex Sinclair 1000s (1k ram) through TI 99/4as (16k ram) to Apple //cs (128k ram). I was able to get a fellowship grant that allowed me to do a study with computers, math manipulatives, simulation software, and problem solving. In Iowa I was again made computer coordinator (I could plug it in and turn it on). We used our Apple //c and early Mac machines and eventually participated in the statewide network and the NASA programs. When I landed in Lancaster in 1997 the computer program consisted of piles of old machines that no one knew how to use. The previous computer guy left and no one had a clue what he had done with the kids. We defined the program, set up a technology plan, contracted with FutureKids, and got new machines. We now have just about 50 machines on campus, all networked and online. We still are working towards full curricular integration, but the teachers all know the program and are capable of running it themselves (although some still lack in confidence).

I have just completed my PhD in Computing Technology in Education (special thanks to those music teachers who were able to help me out at the last minute!). If anyone tells you they are an expert they are either a blatant liar or are fooling themselves. Things change much too fast! I am convinced that the cutting edge is people like the Lutheran teachers in the PSD who are looking for new ways to effectively use computers to reach their curricular goals. We can help each other out by sharing in forums like this!

I am especially interested in how Lutheran teachers are using web 2.0 tools (video blogs, pod casting, etc). We have some ideas, and have done some simple things, but nothing of any substance. I look forward to all the wonderful ideas teachers on this forum have.

May God continue to richly bless our use of technology as we spread His Word among His children!

With you in His service,
Larry D. Wooster, PhD
Grace - Lancaster

[Alan Lutz]

Dr. Larry,

I enjoyed reading your chronology of computers in education from your point of view. Jumping to your last question, check out what Dennis Grice has to say on his blog (link is on the blog comment wrote on our Main page). He got very much into Web 2 tools since last summer.
One of the Web 2 gurus I saw this weekend at CUE was Steve Hargadon. I read his excellent blog which was posted on the Technology and Learning web site titled Web 2.0 Is the Future of Education.
It is a good read for those of us who are interested in leading in this area. In fact, to answer the other questions posed today, "Where do you get your teaching ideas?" I highly recommend this whole web site: The web presence for Technology and Learning Magazine.Personally I "only" teach 7th grade computer basics while I'm busy leading the rest of the school in technology so I'll pass on how I am integrating it so far. I know Deryl Maxwell tried getting student blogging last year but one of the obstacles was the site we were using that had that dreaded "Next Blog" link at the end. Who knows what is going to turn up when one clicks that. Rather than turn off the link (there is a way to edit it out) , we moved on to something else at the time.
If you read Steve's article some of the many comments at the end from his adoring fans shed light on how hard it is to get the concept across that our kids need to be content contributors and not just content consumers! Some Bd of Ed types were puzzled why teachers were moving in this direction. ;-Q

[Larry D. Wooster]

Thanks Alan!

It'll take me a little while to work through these - on first glance they look great. Technology and Learning consistently has good resources. Of course, I'd still like to know what we are doing with these tools in Lutheran schools - and especially at the elementary/middle school level.
By the way, my name is still Larry!

[Dennis Holmes]

Larry, I am the “computer guy” that left Grace Lancaster back in 1995. The picture that you paint of what you found when you got there in 1997 is not as accurate as you were led to believe. Grace was going through some (how do I put this nicely) administration problems. (I will not use names to protect the guilty.) Between 1994 and 1996 the Principal (good guy) that had been there for many years and several teachers that had also been there for many years left. This may explain why many of the teachers that were there when you got there didn’t know what the “computer guy” had been doing. Many of the other teachers just wanted drill and kill software and I was trying to teach computers on a higher level. Mary was the one constant at Grace and understood where I was trying to take the school. The school didn’t want to put out the money for new computers. (E.g. I went to the PTL, which at that time was who would buy computers for us. I found two store “demo” computers at a great price and asked them if they wouldn’t purchase them for the school. The answer was no; because they had already bought ONE for the year.) Everything that was there I got from begging for it on my bloody knees. (I even heard that they told people that I had taken everything with me when I left. How can you take things that never existed? Also there was a Computer Curriculum in place. It was part of the accreditation. Apparently no one showed you that.) If it hadn’t been for UGLE we would have had no software. I helped start UGLE! When I saw what others had, such as Alan and Rene I left in frustration from hitting my head up against the wall. Because I left it showed them that they needed to do something and it opened the door for the next person to show them the error of their ways. One problem at that time is that they made the computer room way too small. As I recall, I was told by more than one person that the “computer room” had been turned into storage after I left, so I’m not responsible for its condition when they brought you on.
Since leaving Grace I have built two more computer labs and curriculums at two other Lutheran Schools before ending up at Faith in Las Vegas as the Computer Science Department Chairman.

[Larry D. Wooster]

Dennis,
I have no doubt that what you did at Grace was good - I saw some snippets and it looked great. In many ways what you did made my job easier. I don't know that the computer lab was a storeroom when I arrived, but it was definitely a mess. They kept getting donations of old computers, primarily from governmental sources, and just piled them in the lab. Of course, since they were discarded for a reason, they were, for the most part, not useful. The UGLE MECC software was still used on the Macs (and a few of the Apples) until about 3 years ago. I still struggle to get leadership, and even some teachers, to recognize the value of team teaching the computer classes with me and the value of the monthly computer classes for the teachers. If they team teach they will be more likely to integrate computers into their classroom activities and no one can say, "but I don't know what the computer guy did"! I am very grateful for your work in pioneering the computer program at Grace (and to Art Barckholtz for his work with the music program). You definitely made my job easier and when I said the same things you had it seemed more credible because more than one educator had said the same things! By the way, we now have digital projectors mounted on the ceiling in grade 3 and 5-8. Grade 4 is in process. Not only that, they are being used!

[Dennis Holmes]

Along with Alan, Rene and a few other teachers I helped start UGLE (I even served as chairman for a few years). So that makes me one of the “old-timers” -- before hard drives and networking, etc. I got started when our school got its first Apple ][+ (I even boosted it to 64K!) I typed in my own BASIC programs to start with. I personally had gone with a Commodore 64 then moved to a Commodore 125 boosting it to 512K! I then went back to school taking classes to really get into teaching computers. At that time we were using Apple and IBM computers (pre-Winblows). I was then introduce to the Macintosh and have been a Mac Guy stuck in a PC world ever since. I have owned 5 desktops and 3 laptops. (I even owned one of the first PowerBook 100’s.)
I physically helped build three computer labs and set curriculum for three Lutheran Schools - one in Southern CA, one in Northern CA, and one in Wisconsin. I am now serving Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High School in Las Vegas, NV as Computer Science Department Chairman. I work with two other Computer Teachers in my department. We also have an IT guy that watches over the computers and network, and we will be adding a new position next year -- Educational Technology Coordinator.
I have been a CUE member on and off for years. (Not as long as Alan!) I am also an ISTE member.
I could go on and on and tell all the details like Alan, but he said to keep it short……..

[Dennis Wetjen]

Dennis Wetjen
I teach science grades 4-7, grade 8 U.S. History, and computers 1-8 at Christ, La Mesa. Currently we are building a new school and plan on moving in either Thanksgiving or Christmas. Our "lab" at this time consists of 11 computers + four old machines that run Windows 2000. I have not had official tech training but have had enough experience to make me the expert. Thanks to the District workshops and CUE of San Diego workshop, I manage to more or less stay current.

[Carol Potter]

OK Alan. Will do...
I'm Carol Potter and I used to teach in Lutheran Schools until I started working on my credential. At that point, I decided to work with the children in my own neighborhood school. 'Talk about a ministry!

Anyway, I've always been the person who took charge of technology at whatever school I've been in and about 7 years ago landed the computer lab teaching position at Washington. It was full time until last year, when I was pulled out for a third of my day to teach math and science to a group of children who could only be described as "extremely needy," both academically and emotionally. I'm in the same situation this year and I can tell you that trying to juggle the technological needs of a school with an enrollment of over 800 low income, minority students as well as teach two hours of "standards-based curriculum" to students who are pretty much at 1st grade level in the 4th grade is a real challenge.

[Melanie Rascon]

Hello! My name is Melanie Rascon. I have been teaching for the last six years. This is my second year at Mt. Calvary Lutheran school in Diamond Bar. I am the Algebra 2 teacher and computer teacher. I am also the IT administrator for the school.

I am married and I have two step-daughters. My husband and I have been married for two years. He is working at getting his school psychology degree.

I have my bachelor's degree in Computer Information system, I have a double master's degree in Information system management and Project management. I am working on certifications in Microsoft and cisco, too. I like to working on computers, but my love is for crafts, too.