"Discuss how you have witnessed the evolution of technology integration in society and in the classroom during your lifetime – from the when you were a student in elementary school to present."
It is obvious that technology is ever-changing. I have witnessed, in my own life and educational career, many technological changes that have improved the way humans live and learn. At home, I listened to cassette tapes and as the years continued, I more often used CDs to listen to music. I believe that I first used and listened to cassette tapes because they were cheaper than their competitor, the CD-Rom, and my mother had quite a collection of tapes that were available to use at my disposal. Televisions also grew in number in my home as their price decreased. We had TVs of all sizes located in our family room, kitchen, parent's room, basement, garage, and my dad's office. I also used a personal computer at home to play computer games such as Nancy Drew, Barbie Detective, Carmen Sandiego, Freddie the Fish, and others. I even used the computer to type school work and play around with the Paint application. I also used computers at school. I recall typing and creating pictures in elementary school and first learning how to properly type in 6th grade during my computers class. Something I found interesting in Chapter 3's reading was that "students who learn to type improve their reading and writing skills." I can witness to this statement as I believe I became a better speller and writer as I learned to type and put my rapid thoughts on a page. I also recall taking placement and state mathematics and reading tests in the computer lab in middle school.
Over the years, computers became more compact and able to process information at a quicker rate. In 8th grade and high school, I remember using laptops, which came on a laptop cart to my classrooms. My class used computers to research information, visit interactive websites, and take standardized tests. From middle school to high school, my handheld calculator became smaller and better able to do complex computations. We also used a computer lab in my high school Spanish class to talk with friends using webcams, microphones, and headsets. In every classroom that I have been a student, some type, and if not many types, of technology has been used by the teachers and students. Technology has truly transformed society and the educational setting.
Andrea,
ReplyDeleteI love that you brought up cassette tapes. As I was writing my blog post, there were a lot of pieces of technology that came to mind but a lot that I also forgot. Cassettes were definitely something I used and I remember them especially for books on tape. I always loved these and so when you said that it brought it to mind. Now of course you can listen to all of those on your phone or ipod, but back then cassettes were the hit. I also forgot about computer games. I absolutely loved these. I always played Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Rollercoaster Tycoon, and Barbie as well. Furthermore, the paint app on the computer was always so much fun to me. I remember spending hours on that and thinking it was so cool. Today, they have much more advanced apps to color and paint on the computer but back then that was always the most fun. I like then how you brought up middle school and high school and noticing changes in just a few years. Computers have definitely advanced since elementary school. I remember they used to be so big and bulky. Now, they are compact, like you said, with flat screens and are portable. Laptops are huge now and keep advancing with what you can do on them. From touch screens to writing directly on the screen with a stylus, the options keep growing. Technology sure has advanced since our childhood and it is cool to stop and take a minute to realize it.
Melissa