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My name is Ed Campos Jr. I have been a high school math teacher in Central California for 8 years. I also teach adult CSET Prep Math classes to teachers who need to pass the California Subject Matter competency tests in Mathematics. I relish my role as a teacher and mentor to the youth I have the privilege of working with every day. I have also had a unique experience of teaching a Life Skills program called "Reconnecting Youth" to at-risk teens. This experience has made me a better teacher, and I've become more understanding to the diverse needs of students from various backgrounds. My hobbies include playing basketball, golfing, sports, spending time with my family, and traveling around the world. My goal is to teach is to someday teach mathematics at a junior college or community college, and with the budget cuts and increased demand for math classes I know that being skilled at delivering curriculum online will be a huge boost to me attaining that goal.
I spent 3 years as a Computer Programmer before I began teaching so I have always tried to incorporate technology into my teaching and stress the importance of digital literacy skills to my students. I have always been a teacher on campus that wore many hats and one of them is being tech support for staff at any school site I have ever worked. I am very competent technology wise and admit I that in the past, I may not have incorporated the right technology tools into my classroom with the focus placed on my students. However, participating in the Fresno Pacific University "Innovative Educator Advanced Studies Certificate" program has taught me to focus on the pedagogy rather than the technology tool. I've realized that to be an effective online teacher, I must design my courses to provide an interactive and engaging online experience. I also need to choose the appropriate Web 2.0 tools and assessments when designing my courses. I am confident that the experience that the IEASC program has provided me, along with my newfound connectedness to PLNs on Twitter, Google+, and within Computer Using Educators, I am ready to begin a career as an online educator.
I believe that any student can achieve anything if we provide the right environment, equip them with the right tools, and provide opportunities for them to grow. I believe strongly that if we are not teaching them the digital literacy skills they need to be successful in college and the workforce that we are doing them a dis-service. I'm a testament that learning math and technology levels the playing field regardless of race or socioeconomic status. I've been able to travel all over the world because of my education and encourage my students to do the same. I know that getting students to think globally is a huge part of their vision for their future and I'm excited about the global nature and possibilities that an online education makes possible. One of my favorite moments as an educator was being able to take a group of at risk students on a field trip and then changing the field trip destination when we realized most of them had never been to the beach. Taking those students to the beach was one of the most fulfilling moments I've ever had and I think there are parallels with the opportunity I have now to bring students into an online classroom for their first time and instill in them a love for online learning.
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