A+Little+About+Me

An Introduction to Susan Nishimura

 My current teaching assignment and school in Coquitlam is core teacher of grade 6/7 students at Minnekhada Middle School.

My previous teaching experience includes working at Summit Middle School as a grade 6/7 teacher and a student services teacher. I was also an adult educator in the Vancouver School District for roughly seven years. In the latter position, I worked as a teacher assistant (i.e. one-one tutoring) in a learning centre.

The total number of years that I have been teaching in BC is eight as a qualified teacher and seven as a teacher assistant. I have not worked in any other provinces.

Here are the ways in which technology has figured in my life so far: I began learning about computers in my Computer Science 11 class in 1984. It was programming DOS and I didn’t like it. I avoided computers for a long time after that. It wasn’t until 1989, and I had almost completed my B.A. in Psychology that I began using them again. After I graduated, I got a job as a research assistant in the Psychology Department at UBC. We scored many tests and had to put the results of huge studies on the computer. It was tedious work, but I sure got used to the Comodore 64s. After that, I used computers solely for word processing until I became a T.A. at South Hill Education Centre in 1993. I started out assisting students with pen and paper assignments and moved on to being a computer proctor! We taught basic ESL courses using audio-visual software. Throughout those years as a TA, I experimented with the internet, but mostly just used it to look up articles and to use email. When I did my Bachelor of Music Therapy and Bachelor of Education Degrees I was introduced to many different types of technology. I learned about MIDI and how to use that to write songs. I learned how technology is used with the disabled to assist them with reading, writing, singing, playing music etc. In my Education classes, I also learned how to use PowerPoint and to post lessons online. That learning curve was huge, but it broke down a lot of barriers for me. Now as a teacher, I endeavour to use technology in my classes, but I know I could be doing more. My students use computers to do research and word process. I have videotaped classes in the past. I also take pictures of my students, put them on the flash drive and then post them on my website. I enrolled in the LTT program hoping to gain more information about technology of all kinds in this day and age. Students are wondering if they can do PowerPoint presentations and show podcasts in class and I feel so out of touch. I tell them that by all means they can bring technology into the class, but they cannot rely on me to set up the Computer on Wheels or download the pod cast etc. I need to become aware of what is available, what capabilities my school has and how I can facilitate learning with the aid of technology.

Other things you should know about me are: Essentially I am a life long learner. Heck, I have three Bachelor degrees plus many other credits that didn’t quite fit into those degrees. I just love to learn. So, although I am behind in terms of bringing technology into the classroom, it’s not because I’m unwilling to learn how to do that. In some respects, it has to do with the availability of technology in our school and the amount of time and money I’ve been able to put into computers and gadgets of my own. Right now I do not own a laptop, but I hope to get one soon. I know this will assist me greatly over the next two years. Finally, in two years, my son, Nathan, will be starting school and a whole new world of technology will be opening up to him. I hope I will be able to keep up with this ever-changing world of technology so that I can also assist Nathan with his studies.