Roots of an Open Mindset!

From DOS to AI-Driven Classrooms: Embracing Change in Education

In 1989, I came home to find a massive box sitting in my foyer. Taped to the top was a note from my dad that read: "Learn this — your kids are going to need to know it." Inside was a DOS 4.1 computer. I didn’t know it then, but that box marked the start of a lifelong journey — not just learning technology, but helping others learn it too.

Back then, learning DOS meant diving into command lines, cryptic codes, and floppy disks — lots of floppy disks. But I stuck with it, determined to figure it out. A year later, during March Madness, that same computer started acting up. My dad and my husband were watching basketball, while I sat in the corner with the manual in my hand, flipping desperately through the pages.

“It’s no use,” my dad said, “You’re going to have to wipe the whole thing.”

But there — buried in the manual — I’d read about a repair tool. I wasn’t sure how it worked, but I believed it could fix the problem without reformatting everything. Before I could try, my dad walked over, hit the reformat button, and said: "Well, now you'll learn how to set up a computer from scratch." Then he went right back to watching the game.

That was back when DOS was installed on many floppy disks and WordPerfect needed close to twenty if I recall. It took me a week to get everything back to normal — but I did it. And that experience set me on a path I never expected.

Teaching Technology Through Every Era of Change

That lesson in persistence and problem-solving stayed with me. I became the “tech translator” — helping others face their own learning curves. My first official role was teaching teachers how to use email and preparing our school’s computers for Y2K. When COVID hit years later, that same mindset kicked in. In just five days, we had our entire school online — a feat that took other schools weeks or months. We didn’t stop there — we pioneered a hybrid learning model that kept students engaged both in-person and remotely when many schools were still scrambling with Zoom.

Today, I'm guiding educators as they integrate AI-driven tools into their classrooms. From Magic School AI to Flint and Diffit, I’ve seen firsthand how these innovations can transform learning — but only when teachers feel empowered to embrace the unknown. Over the years, I've taught over 100 teachers how to use new tools, guided countless students, and continually adapted to the ever-changing tech landscape. Whether it’s AI in the classroom, 3D printing with maker's Empire, or using virtual makerspaces like Qweebi & Tinkercad Circuits & Code blocks, I’ve learned that the key to success isn’t just mastering technology — it’s keeping an open mind, embracing uncertainty, and never shutting the door on change.

Teach, Try, and Stay Open

That DOS computer in 1989 didn’t just teach me about technology — it taught me resilience. It showed me that progress doesn’t come from being an expert — it comes from being willing to try, fail, and figure things out as you go.

So, teach someone what you know. Share your skills. And when you face a new challenge — whether it’s a complicated system, a new piece of software, or an unexpected life twist — remember that box in my foyer. Don’t be afraid to dive in, press the button, and learn as you go. Because sometimes, the best way forward is simply to stay open — open to learning, open to failing, and open to the possibilities you haven’t imagined yet.

Come learn with me as I head back to my hometown Cleveland! Sigh Up for my workshop when you register "Inclusive Computer Science in 3D with Tinkercad Codeblocks and Circuits"

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