Introductions. . .

Welcome to my blog! My name is Rachel Osborne and I am an Oceanside native. My childhood, adolescent and young adult years were experienced in and around North County. As a result my educational background is not very diverse. I attended Kindergarten through fifth grade at Tri-City Christian School; a private school located in Vista. After building a great educational foundation I transferred to the Oceanside Unified School District for the remainder of my schooling. I attended Lincoln Middle School and eventually graduated from El Camino High School, go Wildcats! Keeping up with the tradition of attending North County schools I received my BS in Business Administration at CSUSM. Being an adventurer at heart, I satisfied my desire to explore new places by spending my college summers teaching conversational English in a camp setting to students in the Czech Republic. It was during those summers that I discovered the joy that teaching brought me.

Technology is an area that continues to amaze me. I remember the days when research was done in a library and with encyclopedias, you had to use a land line to talk with or invite a friend over, the AM/FM radio played a large role in determining the type of the music you listened to, and a Thomas Map Guide was kept in the backseat of the car for those rare occasions you were lost or needed to look up directions. Today my life is dependant on the new forms of technology. Research is done on a computer in the comfort of my own home. Information and answers to any random question I may have – no matter the absurdity of it- are only a click away. Communication with friends and family is no longer limited, I am now available 24/7 via e-mail, skype, and cell phone. My iPod is a constant companion and a garmin accompanies me on road trips.

I have always been a PC user but am interested in learning more about what the Mac has to offer. I use an archaic version of Microsoft Office and have experience with; Excell, Publisher, Access, Power Point and Outlook. I am not a natural when it comes learning how to use new technologies. It usually takes a lot of patience and hands on instructions before I can operate something on a basic level. I know it will take an effort on my part to stay current with this ever changing world.

My desire to be a part of the College of Education (CEO) at CSUSM was influenced by the presence they have in San Diego’s schools and praise reports I have heard from a number of different teachers. The COE’s “commitment to student-centered education, diversity, collaboration, professionalism, and shared governance,” as stated in their mission statement, also increased my interest in the program they offer. When students are the focus and center of every decision and tasks are accomplished in a group effort with a professional mindset allowing open communication, much can be achieved.