Professional Background:
My name is Tricia Tidswell. I am a student at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and will graduate in April 2003 with a Bachelors of Arts degree. My major is in Early childhood with minors in Science and Social Studies. 

Learning Environment:
I am currently doing my student teaching with Mrs. Stirling’s first grade class at Keeler Elementary in Redford, Michigan. Keeler Elementary is part of the Redford Union School District, which consists of 3 other elementary schools, 1 middle school and 1 high school. There are 25 students in the classroom who are from working class, middle- income families. They are racially mixed with diverse backgrounds. About one-third of our children come from single parent homes and many of our students qualify for Title-One services. They are open to new adventures and are receptive to variations in the classroom. 

Technological Environment:
At the beginning of my student teaching, I used the CEO Forum’s Interactive School Technology and Readiness Chart (StaR chart) to assess Keeler Schools curricular technology integration. Overall, I have found Keeler to be at Mid Tech level. This was the breakdown in five specific areas:
Hardware: Target Tech
Connectivity: Low Tech
Content: Mid Tech
Professional Development: Mid Tech
Integration and use: Mid Tech

Within each classroom there are two computers both with Internet access, a printer, and a connection to a television with a VCR, mounted from the ceiling above the computers. In addition, there is also a computer lab housing thirty computers, not including one linked to a television monitor, 2 printers, and a scanner. Every computer that has Internet access has filters enabling the students to browse the Internet safely. There are also digital cameras, video cameras, VCRs, projection devices, and calculators available to the students and teachers at Keeler Elementary School.