10 Years of GEC Computers in the Classroom
Ten years ago this month, marked the first ever edition of an online newsletter for Greater Essex County educators. The newsletter wasn't called GEC Computers in the Classroom at the time. The first edition was entitled "Doug and Grover Online".
The new District School Board was formed by the amalgamation of the Essex County Board of Education and Board of Education for the City of Windsor and had begun its journey to what it is today. The intent of the newsletter always has and continues to be an online reference point for tips and tricks for using computers effectively in the classroom. While after school workshop are always available, they aren't always available to everyone and so having this resource is another option.
With the exception of the few months that I spent in the IT Department, the newsletter appears on the webserver on or about the first of every month, September to May. Over the years, many different people have contributed content to the newsletter and, certainly daily, inspiration and ideas come from throughout the District.
Looking back at the first issue, gives an indication of how far design has come. The very first edition was created using Netscape's composer. The graphics appear to have been made with Paint or something and probably done in the dark.
What were we thinking?
Looks like gradients were limited to 16 colours in 1998. I guess I can blame my old partner Grover for that one. Maybe things got much better in September when I did the newsletter by myself. Ah, maybe not so much.
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Well, people don't come for the graphic design anyway. It's the content.
From the first issue, the opening page has always been a statement on the lay of the land in technology from the previous month. Whether it's kudos or the opposite, it was a blog post before blogging became in vogue. The best part was that there wasn't a way to respond <grin>.
Communication and using web resources has always been a major focus of the newsletter. A FirstClass tip has always been prominent. Electronic communication is important in a large system. Even though Wildcat! BBS software was something that pre-dated it, by itself, FirstClass has become one of the huge success stories and brings us all a little closer together. It's not the email part though; it's the sense of community that has been built. FirstClass is something that has certainly evolved as well. Take a look at the "tips" of the day and just think about how these have now been adopted as your way of doing business.
In 1998, we focused on the use of technology to make things better. The focus remains the same, but the techniques certainly have changed. Mapquest was a major breakthrough and we were all agast at how a computer could tell you where to drive. Now, we think of the various mapping services as crucial to any trip and when you get into your car, more and more we're seeing GPS units.
Yes, it's fun to look back and see how amateurish the design was. The content and intention has always been the important part though. Working with Grover at the time was enlightening. The goal always has been to provide the best possible environment for students to achieve with the assistance of computer and internet technologies. That focus remains issue after issue.
Every website that was mentioned or reviewed is available online and categorized by subject area. They've all been personally visited and checked for the educational value at the time.
I hope that some of this nostalgia brings a smile and that you continue to be inspired by all the resources and research that we know about what value computer and internet technology brings to the classroom.
So, happy 10th anniversary to all of us as we celebrate with a bit of tin and aluminum.
