This digital portfolio provide examples of the work I've completed while in the TATC program this year. It is evidence of what I've learned as well as of areas in which I will continue to learn and develop skills.

The major components and navigation of my portfolio are presented on the left, at the top under the banner and at the bottom of the page. The following components comprise my navigation and portfolio framework:

• TATC Portfolio Home - An introduction of myself including my Resume and my technology life history.
• Goals - A brief statement of the goals I have set for myself concerning technology and teaching.
• Observation - A reflective statement concerning my overall thoughts about my Observation experiences.
• Reflection - A reflective statement concerning my thoughts about the overall program of study.
• Standards I-XI - All of the Technology Applications (8-12) Standards and their artifacts are listed on one page with a link provided to each individual standard. Each standard has one or more captioned artifacts linked to it. Note that when you view an artifact representing any standard, a separate window will open for the artifact. When you finish viewing the artifact you can close the window.
  • I, II, III, IV, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI - Links to direct access of each individual standard and its captioned artifacts.
• Standard's Matrix - A matrix diagramming the relationship between the TA Standards and each of the associated indicators with my portfolio artifacts.
  

A Little About Me / Personal Background / Significant Events / Reasons / Preparing / Resume

A Little About Me

• Email: nortja@mansfieldisd.org
• Favorite things to do:
  • Get togethers with family or friends
  • Go to movies
  • Create digital videos
• Hobbies:
  Reading
  Some of my favorite authors: Johnathan Kellerman, Lisa Scottoline, James Patterson,
  
  After I saw the first Harry Potter movie, I read all the books in paperback at that time. I was surprised that I really enjoyed the books, and I love the movies! Meet J.K. Rowling.

Although the choices I've made about my life and career have been my own, my family, beliefs and experiences have greatly influenced my decision to become a teacher and the person that I am today. I love to learn new things and figure out how they can be applicable to me in real life.

Personal Background

I grew up (mostly) in Lompoc, California, a small town 50 miles north of Santa Barbara. I have one sister. I'm lucky that my extended family lives in or near the metroplex. The high school I attended didn't seem that big, I think my graduating class was around 100-200 students. I was in band as a freshman, but soon decided that I loved singing better. I joined the choir and also tried out for, and then toured with, a small madrigal choir until I graduated. I was very involved in my church youth group, and sang in a small group there. If you are my age, you may remember guitars and folk music! My friends and my social life were very important to me, and I graduated mid-term of my senior year because I wanted to go to college to be with my friends!

I went to a local junior college, Allan Hancock College, in the nearby town of Santa Maria. I sang in the choir there, and we toured Romania for three weeks with the Ambassador for Friendship program. After a year and a half, I transferred to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo as a Home Economics Major. In 1976, my dad and mom moved to Arlington, Texas, and my sister and I followed. I worked a year, and then returned to school at (then) North Texas University. I became a Vocational Home Economics major, and at that time decided to become a teacher. As a teenager I had many adults that offered guidance and encouragement, and opportunities to grow and develop. In college I believed that, as a teacher, I could be a positive influence in a teenager's life.

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Significant Personal and Technology Events in My Life

In the spring before I graduated I saw my first Apple computer in a presentation at Texas Tech. I thought it was neat, but it seemed expensive for a college student and I didn't think I'd ever have one. The only experience I'd had with computers before that was COBOL programming and terminals hooked up to mainframes and I wasn't the least bit interested.

My first teaching job was in Ozona, Texas as their Home Economics teacher. I was introduced to computers again in 1981 using an Apple to produce class handouts, tests, etc. I "cussed and fussed" everytime I had to print, because it wasn't as easy as point and click, at that time. I enjoyed using the computer because I could create things faster, and errors were easy to correct, but I didn't have a clue about the future of computers. In 1989 my husband went back to graduate school in Commerce, Texas, and I taught in a small school that needed a computer literacy teacher. I was game to try! I studied and took a test to become certified. I also took a graduate course that was the equivalent of computer literacy. One of the nicest compliments I've ever had was told to me by a student at that school. He said that I had made it easy to learn how to use a computer! After teaching computer literacy for two years, I wanted a job where I could use the computer instead of teaching students to use it. We moved to Arlington, and I went to work for a large oil company in their records department. I had the opportunity to use PCs, network printers, relational databases and take classes in software applications. I did a lot of desktop publishing for the department, and also got involved in department training, and later, company training. I loved teaching, and I found that I loved teaching adults. While there I was promoted to the technology information center (corporate library), and worked with people doing technical research. We got the Internet, using Mosaic as a browser, in 1994, and I was amazed at the information that could be found. I began using email at that point too. I had the opportunity to go to UT Austin, and take Internet training to learn more about researching on the Net. The classes were for librarians, so I learned a lot of good research techniques. I was definitely seeing the benefit of desktop computers, presentation software and electronic communciation.

In 1995, I had the chance to return to education, as a computer literacy teacher, at TA Howard Middle School in Mansfield ISD. I walked into a lab full of MAC 520s. It had been a while since I'd used a MAC, so I learned a lot, and tried to stay a step ahead of the students. We used Clarisworks, Hyperstudio. I taught keyboarding using Professor AWHFE guidelines. The fun part was planning projects that let the students have some choice in what they did, and seeing them use their creativity. I taught summer classes for teachers to help them learn to use the computer to do their work. We didn't have the Internet or gradebook programs yet, so it was mostly learning the software, and applying it to what teachers create for classes. I went to presentations about the Internet, and its educational application. In 1997 I developed an elective class for 8th graders -- Internet Research and Web Page Design. We also got new IBM PCs in the lab, and I learned a new operating system AND software to teach the students. We didn't have a network for the first 6 weeks of school, but we used Netscape Composer and began creating web pages using HTML. I went to the library every week and found books on the Internet, research and web page design so that I could teach the students. The creative side of me loved the design part, the teacher side of me loved the look on student's faces when they showed what they had created! I loved using computers to create, I loved teaching students software that could be used in all areas of their student career. Our district began to have "lead technology teachers" on campuses and provided training for them. I was lucky enough to get to do this! I enjoyed learning new things, but I really loved teaching teachers. As the idea of integration came along, I have to admit that I was reluctant. I thought that I would lose my job as a computer teacher. I couldn't see the importance of moving out of the lab and into the classroom at that time. It is ironic, because I now work with teachers to help them integrate technology, and I see the value it has for students. I went to Tech Academy at ESC Region 11 in 1997 which helped me with the new class I was teaching and gave me resources for training teachers. I guess all this is just to say that I found myself at a point that I knew I wanted to teach teachers to use technology. I got that opportunity in May of 2000.

I began working in MISD's technology department as the district technology trainer. That chance opened up a whole new technology world to me! I provided teacher, administrative and community technology training. I was also the district distance learning coordinator so I learned about that world! My ideas about teaching, and the use of technology by teachers and students has changed because of my experiences in my job. I know I would be a better teacher if I returned to the classroom because of what I've learned about technology integration. My job has changed every year that I've been here. I've gotten to do TIF training in our district, work with campus technologists, administrators and district technology training, as well as learn much more about hardware, software and networks. This year I'll be coordinating district training with a focus on middle school math.

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Reasons for Wanting to be a Technology Applications Teacher

I love helping people learn to do something that they need for school, work, or life! The look of pride in their achievement, and their success is worth a lot to me, whether they are student or adult learners! I've had a lot of good teachers in my life...my mom, my dad, professors, co-workers and bosses. Not everyone learns in the same way, or in the same amount of time.

I've learned to look for different ways to teach, make learning applicable to the students, have patience with learners, and provide the support & encouragement they need for success. I have always enjoyed teaching real, practical, applicable skills. Students will need technology skills to function in the world, and do their jobs. In my current position, I'm not in the classroom; however, I want to be able to lead the the teachers in my district as they teach with technology. TATC has given me the knowledge, skills and experience to do this.

Preparing to Teach

Not all learners will be experts in learning and using technology, but technology encompasses skills required to live in today's world, and it is important that they have those skills. Using technology, learners are able to achieve unlimited success. As I teach, or lead teachers in my district, I use technology to engage learners, to facilitate learning, and to make learning applicable to life.

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Resume