My name is Kristin Bjerke, and I was born and raised in Oceanside, CA. I went to Empresa Elementary, Roosevelt Middle School, and Vista High School. From there I went to Palomar for my American Sign Language interpreting certificate, and when the interpreting didn't work the way I thought it would, I switched to Liberal Arts and transferred to Cal State Fullerton (Go Titans!) where I received my B.A. in Communications, along with a minor in Human Communications.My experience with technology isn't all that exciting. I grew up with change - I remember my walkman becoming a CD player; my VCR becoming a DVD player; and my cell phone, which was originally for emergencies while driving, is now attached to me at all times. Our computer was slow and now it's fast(er). I am a PC person, always have been. I've always used a computer for school and work, so I'm generally a quick learner when it comes to technology - when I want to be that is. I don't spend a lot on technology, my most recent purchase was a laptop in Spring of 2008, which I made sure had XP not Vista. I'm using Microsoft Office version 2007 and although it's a little annoying to have to remember to save things in compatibility mode, I like the way it's set up better than 2003.
The part of the CSUSM/COE Mission Statement that speaks to me most is the part that says "our practices demonstrate a commitment to student-centered education". This part stands out to me because not all schools think that way, and even fewer act that way. It's great to know that a school cares about the students and the education they're getting. The Mission Statement wasn't really a factor in my decision to apply to CSUSM; more it was the research I did into their program, the helpfulness of the people in the Education department, the proximity to my house and some reviews that my friends gave me of the school and its teachers. I've just always talked about being a teacher, and now that I found a good school for my credential I'm finally going to do it!
