Elías 1: When was your first contact with computing?

Juan Esteban: It was at a very young age. As my father is a computer scientist by profession, I was in contact with computers from a very young age. He always tried to show them to me as a useful tool, and not just playful. It is something that I like to teach my students as well.

Elijah 2: what?é is what mores motivated himó of technologyWas he going to direct his university studies towards her?

Juan Esteban: Since I had my first computer (an Amstrad PC 1512) I saw very clearly that I wanted to study Computer Science, and it is something that I am currently happy about. In fact, I've always liked it, I remember designing videogames when I was about 14 or 15 years old, with the limitations of the time, of course (laughs). Despite this, I must say that he also had many other interests. In addition to basketball, I liked and still like to read a lot. I learned to bind books thanks to Juanjo, a family friend, and since I didn't have anything I could use to practice, I dedicated myself to writing my own stories. At first I used an old typewriter but soon after, when I started using Amstrad's word processors, I felt liberated. Little by little, the idea of ​​telling stories and inventing caught me more. Even today I keep those hand-bound books with great care.

Elías 3: What changes have you found throughout these years, both positively and negatively in technology?

Juan Esteban: It's hard to answer that question... I think the turning point is memory improvement. For example, my first computer was about 512Kb, while today, cloud storage is practically unlimited.

The negative part is very evident. Anything in excess is bad and, for example, mobile phones are addictive if you don't know how to use them in a controlled way. In any case, I consider that the devices themselves are neither harmful nor beneficial, but that their advantages or disadvantages are related to the use that each person makes of them.

Elias 4: What has pleasantly surprised you and what has disappointed you about working at this school?

Juan Esteban: I have to admit that many things have surprised me in a positive way. Before working at this school, I had never taught, although teaching was very attractive to me and I believed that I could do it well. I have worked in companies where you spent 8 hours in front of the screen and although I loved that, the daily contact with the students and the exceptional work environment that exists in the school have been very rewarding for me. Another of the things that I liked the most, even on a personal level, is having my son here and seeing him so happy.

On the other hand, when you're passionate about your work, it's easy to get carried away with it. Maybe that's the only negative I can think of. Sometimes, without realizing it, you end up working more hours than you should. In any case, the balance is totally positive.

Elías 5: The Alborán School opted 3 years ago for the use of iPads. Would you make the same bet?

Juan Esteban: In the current social context, I believe that the development of students' digital and technological skills is very important. That is why I will always be in favor of integrating the best devices available to us in the teaching-learning process. It doesn't matter if they are iPads or not. Of course, this integration must go hand in hand with a methodological change. That is something that, from my point of view, has been carried out in Alborán in an impeccable way. Returning to the question, when the school opted for iPads I was one of those who said "yes" even though there were other possibilities, but then these were the best option. If tomorrow there is another better option, we will have to innovate. Never be stuck in any aspect.

Elias 5: Choose an option: never teach again, or never have an internet connection again.

Juan Esteban: I can not escape and not choose any? (Laughter). The downside is that to teach I need the Internet, I can't teach computer technology without the Internet, especially today.

Elias 6: I could using the old encyclopedias (laughter)

Juan Esteban: Since my classes are computer science, since I couldn't take them, I suppose I would choose to stay with the internet and without classes, but only for this. Without internet I could live without any problem (laughs)

Elias 7: So, if you taught another subject, would you choose to be without internet?

Juan Esteban: In that case, I guess so. Although it would be a shame, since the use of technology in the classroom seems fundamental to me, regardless of the subject. For example, I recently did a study on how Latin classes could be taught using the video game Minecraft. Society has evolved and education must adapt to the technological reality in which we live.