Steve Isachsen grew up in Northern California in the heart of Silicon Valley. With his childhood home just a few miles from such computing industry giants as Apple and IBM, computers were a part of everyday life from an early age. In the late 1970s his elementary school classrooms were some of the first in the nation to integrate the Apple II in to the curriculum and afternoons were spent tinkering with early home video game systems from Atari and what went on to become the world's best-selling personal computer model of all time, the Commodore 64.
Interested in ethical, social, and governmental issues surrounding technology and its use, upon graduating from high school in 1989, Steve enrolled at his local community college, West Valley College, with his sights set on transferring to a four year university where he could pursue studies in these areas in more depth. With a passion for the outdoors, including surfing and golf, Steve decided on the University of California, San Diego, and transferred in the fall of 1991. While studying Political Science was his primary focus, he spent as much of his free time as possible on the waves at Black's Beach and on the links at Torrey Pines Golf Course. Graduating with honors, over the next 3 years he went to work in various computer and technology related positions at Franklin Templeton Investments, Foresters, and Financial Profiles. At the same time, on the recommendation of one of his professors, he began teaching in the K-12 system on a substitute basis. Inspired by these experiences, in 1996 he entered graduate school at San Francisco State University with the hope of eventually teaching at a community college where he could blend his interests in the fields of computing, technology, politics, and teaching. After completing his comprehensive exams, Steve taught for four years at the community college and California State University levels as well as worked in a Instructional Technology Services role as an analyst, instructional designer, and trainer at San Diego State University, before being hired in the fall of 2001 as a full time faculty member in the Computer and Information Science Department at MiraCosta College.
As a tenured faculty member now in his 20th year, Steve has found MiraCosta to be a wonderful place to teach and learn. Having spent several years developing the Flexible Learning instructional modality for Computer and Information Science classes, his current focus is creating a comprehensive Computer Applications Program within the Computer Studies Department. In addition to academic computer application course offerings, this program focuses on longer term outcomes such as certificate and degree completion, professional level certification, transfer, and occupational retraining and job preparation. Special emphasis is placed on offering cutting-edge curriculum and pedagogy that encourages a connection between classroom theory and real world skills and techniques so that students are prepared for success in industry. During his time at MiraCosta, Steve has also sought out varied governance assignments that contribute to the overall function of the college. His interest in this area has included work as a Academic Senate Council Representative; Professional Development Committee Member; Lodestar Coordinator; Planning and Budgeting Committee Member; Horticulture, Architecture, and Applied Technologies Department Chair; Faculty Textbook Affordability Committee Chair; District-wide Taskforce on Textbook Affordability Member; Collegial Negotiations Committee Member, Faculty Assembly Member and, as a Member of the Courses and Programs Committee. In addition, Steve holds various Microsoft Office Specialist Certifications. Steve took a sabbatical in the spring 2011 semester to further explore textbook affordability issues; more about his project can be found at this link.
When not on campus, Steve still occasionally gets out in the ocean and on the golf course. Most of his free time, however, is spent with his two children, ages 19 and 20. Looking forward, Steve is excited about the ever changing computing horizon and is especially enthusiastic about developing new Computer Studies Department curriculum in the emerging technology areas of social media; cloud computing; web based Google applications; artificial intelligence, and ethical, social, and cultural issues surrounding technology and society.
