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First Encounter with Technology in Education (Kindergarten)
The first time I became aware of the role of technology in daily life would have been when I was five years old, in 2003. I was taken to the computer lab in my elementary school to work on an activity and I remember struggling with the login as a young reader. However, this was also what introduced me to the chance to play games on the computer, which would become a pastime on the family computer at home later. -
First Cellphone with Internet Access
The first time I became aware of how widespread the internet was is when I received my first cell phone with internet access. At the time, nobody used their cell phones for internet yet, as it was extremely expensive, but I remember how mind-blowing it was to be able to use the internet while on the go. Image Source: Creative Commons License via WikiMedia. Image Source URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Samsung_Flip.jpg -
First Cellphone I Was Allowed to Use Internet On
2012 was the first year that I received a smartphone where I was able to use the internet. Being able to look up information while away from home Wi-Fi or public Wi-Fi networks was a staggering achievement to me. It also allowed me to use other internet services, like YouTube, without the need to find a computer when I wanted to use them. Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Samsung_Galaxy_S_II_in_hand.jpg -
Personal Chromebooks Used in School
The next major moment that I can recall being important to my understanding of how technology was changing was the introduction of personal laptops at school. In my ninth grade class, we received Chromebooks. It was the first time I had ever had a personal computer that traveled with me for school assignments, which felt revolutionary at the time, as I had never had a personal computer before.
Image URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dell_chromebook_11_backcorner2_%2825957541752%29.jpg -
First Use of Video Call for Class
The next big jump in my understanding of technological advancements coincided with COVID. While I was aware of the potential for video calls, I had never really video called anyone before. During COVID, I began to use Zoom to speak and see classmates instantly, rather than watching pre-recorded lectures or being present in a classroom with live teaching. Image URL: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/zoom-video-conference-video-call-6569295/ -
Personal Computers Phased out of Schools
The final major technological shift that I have experienced is the shift away from personal computers in classrooms. When I began doing clinicals at Marshall University, I noticed in classrooms that some schools have started to move away from personal computers, instead putting iPads or other tablets into classrooms. The shift away from computers and the lack of computer literacy seems to me to be the first time in my life that I have seen a technology from my childhood become obsolete.
