I really jumped into computers with the AppleIIGS. It was a nifty little computer that you could network with phone-net connectors. It was sort of orphaned when the Macs came out. I was teaching the fifth grade and I could pick up a used GS for $100. I ended up with 15 in my classroom and began a weekly classroom newspaper as a writing project.
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Then I got the itch to build my own computer. That meant the PC world and I never went back. A new junior high was opening and I interviewed for the technology job, teaching computer applications in a brand new computer lab. I struck a deal with the principal to help his budget. I'd build thirty-five computers, video editing capable with a cool Matrox break out box to convert analog video to digital. This saved him a lot of moeny at the time. I built a prototype and he was sold. Another fifth grade computer nut wanted to learn how to build computers and we built all of them together in a week in my old classroom right before I moved out.
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I never had to call anyone at the district office with a computer problem as there was nothing I could not handle on my own. Of course all of this took a maverick principal. Just how maverick? Check out this story.
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