Introduction

My name is Dylan Boggs and I am currently in my first semester at California State University, San Marcos. I previously attended California State University, Northridge, where I graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in history in May 2008. I have returned to the state university system to pursue a single-subject teaching credential so that I can teach high school history. This semester I am taking the pre-requisite education courses EDUC 350, 364 and 422 before being formally admitted into the credential program.

Yes. One of these. (Image from http://www.productsthathateyou.com)

I have used technology avidly since my family got our first computer in 1989. While the machine was limited to word processing and basic DOS games but it laid the framework for my future interest in technology. We had that computer until 1998. Remember 5 1/4-inch floppy disks? I do. Remember when computers didn't even have mice? What a world that was. I use computer technology often now, and I am grateful for the advances which technology has made since those days when a computer's power was measured in kilobytes. My favorite use of technology, beyond providing entertainment in the form of television, movies and video games, is the spreadsheet. I love using Microsoft Excel to organize and calculate things whenever I have an excuse to do so.

This did not actually happen.

I am seeking a single-subject credential so that I can teach high school history. I would also be open to teaching high school civics or middle school history, though I have not thoroughly investigated those options yet. I have always loved history, starting with reading books on World War II, the Norse people and the Ottoman Empire in elementary school. I have since become more interested in other times and locations including some forgotten eras like Sub-Roman Britain and many others. I hope that I can pass that interest in history onto some of my students, because the study of history is vital to understanding our civilization and who we are.

I consider myself to be very good with technology but I am by no means an expert. There are still many things about computers which stump me. As a result of my journalism training at Northridge, my style of writing and research may be slightly different from other students who are accustomed to a more conventional method of communicating ideas. I am also familiar with recording and editing video and audio clips.

In my personal life I have a number of varied interests. I sometimes play video games but I prefer older games and retro-style games like La-Mulana. I follow the news closely and keep up on events in places which most people have not even heard of, just because it interests me. I am involved in online community which develops and plays forum-based nationsims drawn from historical events and figures. I am interested in sports but not universally. I closely follow the Angels and the sports teams of Cal State Northridge. During my time here I will likely develop a following of the Cal State San Marcos athletic program. I will also watch the United States national team in any sport (mostly soccer). My favorite movies are "Red Dawn" and "The Big Lebowski," and my favorite bands are Rush and They Might Be Giants.

Thank you for reading my blog and feel free to leave your comment below.