SANTA ANA : For Nun, 80, All of It Computes

The 19 first-graders scattered around Sister Conna Conway’s classroom Tuesday concentrated intently on the computer screen, not daring to sneak a peek at their hands.

Those who faltered got a sharp command of “eyes up” from Conway, who sits at the front of the room, constantly on guard against improper hand placement, two-finger typing and, of course, peeking.

Conway, 80, has brought her time-tested teaching techniques to computer classes at Immaculate Heart of Mary Elementary School in Santa Ana since 1985. She started when the school received its first computer, and she has taught pupils in kindergarten through third grade ever since.

But before teaching the basics of computers to youngsters, Conway needed to learn herself. Studying just fast enough in the early days to stay a few jumps ahead of her charges, Conway taught herself from a slim pamphlet provided by the computer manufacturer.

“I wasn’t too sharp or as fast as the youngsters there,” Conway said. “But I kept up.”

With just one computer for the entire school, Conway had her students learn proper keyboarding techniques by practicing on donated typewriters. When they had mastered typing, they took turns on the computer.

By the spring of 1986 Conway had scraped together an additional five computers, and in 1988 the school received a $20,000 grant from Writing to Read to expand the program. She also expanded her knowledge by taking three six-week courses at an IBM facility in Rochester, Minn.

Conway didn’t set out to become a computer teacher when she moved to California from Minnesota 20 years ago. She had already spent 43 years teaching and had retired from the profession, intending to move on to social work among low-income Latino families. But when her parish, Immaculate Heart, received the computer, Conway’s curiosity got the better of her, and she had to take a look.

“I told the principal I can learn and teach computers,” Conway said. While Conway can’t think of many nuns her age who have learned to use a computer, she doesn’t think it’s odd that she did. “They think I’m a genius, but I’m not. It’s not difficult to learn if you don’t let fear get in the way.”

The proof is in the children, she adds. They learn quickly in part because they have no fear of computers and are eager to use them.

Sister Roseanne McGrath, the principal at Immaculate Heart, credits Conway with nurturing the fledgling program and with sparking the interest of the school’s youngest pupils.

“Sister Conna believes, and I agree, that the sooner students learn the basics, the sooner they can learn the finer points of computers.”