Autobiography

Currently, I work as an instructional designer/librarian for Colorado Community Colleges Online. In my position at CCCOnline, I’ve had the opportunity to learn about metadata and learning objects, as well as how to enhance courses with rich media including audio lectures, flash exercises and video. One of my very big interests is information literacy and how we can help prepare our students for the ever-changing world of information made possible by the Internet. Before working as an instructional designer, I was a college writing instructor for 13 years.  I’ve taught essays, research papers and developmental English courses in the regular classroom and online. As a perpetual student, I have a Masters in Library Science from Southern Connecticut State University, an MA in English Studies from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and BAs in Journalism and Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado, plus quite a few business courses here and there.  My latest educational adventure was to take an Intro to Programming course online. – bottom line on that one - might be a better idea to stick to web designing, research and teaching English! Click here to see my Resume.

Personally, I live in at 8300 feet above the Denver metro area – between Conifer and Bailey.  We live in Elk Falls Ranch, right next door to the developing Staunton State Park. I'm the mother of twin girls who are now in high school and very involved in marching band; my husband and I are now experienced marching band competition groupies with rain capes, umbrellas, hats, blankets, warm Conifer High School Marching Band hoodies and more.  Our first year into this, the CHS Lobos were the Colorado 3A Champions, so I’m sure that really colored our experience!  I love libraries and bookstores and love reading. When we lived down the hill  in the Denver Metro area, I was lucky to have both an herb and vegetable garden and that cultivated an interest in growing and learning about herbs and aromatherapy.  These days, we pretty much live on a rock with weather that changes daily, so I’ve had to cut back on gardening.  We’ve had a small greenhouse for the past two years, and my second year was much more successful than the first.  If I could figure out how to cure my life of aphids, I would be truly happy!  Last year I grew tomatoes and herbs – haven’t decided what to grow this year. 

Probably the most huge experience in my life was to become deaf in my left ear around 9 years ago.  These days, I’ll tell you I’m SSD, but my life has been greatly improved by the BAHA (bone anchored hearing aid).  I had a BAHA post implant in November 2006, got my BAHA processor Feb. 23 2007, and how great it is now to hear when I couldn’t before!

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Last Updated March 9, 2008, by Mary L. Cash