In The Dark Ages I Am

{Note:  This is not intended to be my first assignment...I am just mentioning thoughts I had while reading the first 2 pages of the text book.}

 While reading chapter 1 of our text book I couldn't help but reminisce about my childhood experience with technology in school.  I went to Elem School in the 80's.  Technology is in fact continually changing as the book says!  I remember the big clunky overhead projector that the teacher used.  I LOVED it!  She would sometimes let us use it to make shadows on the chalkboard to trace our outlines during indoor recess.  I remember the computer lab with big tan desk top computers and the floppy disk we used to play the beloved "Oregon Trails" game.  I was in school way before all the amazing, at your finger tips technology that kids have today.  We didn't have the internet, email, cell phones, tablets or anything else that kids these days have access too.  I graduated from college in 2000.  Even then I only used a desk top computer for the sole purpose of typing papers.  I was not ever allowed to or encouraged to research the internet for information to use in research papers or assignments.  I THINK I had an email address...but it was not used like it is now.  In fact, instead of telling my kids that I walked to school uphill both ways in the snow with no shoes, I think I will have to tell them that I once had to use a dial up modem to connect to the internet, sometimes have to wait for a connection if I got a busy signal, if I was able to connect, I would have to listen to an awful noise, and once connected, pray no one in the house picked up the phone or else the connection would be lost. Kids today, they don’t know the hardships of yesteryear.  I did not have access to teachers through the internet, nor my classmates.  I did not even have a cell phone!  We used land line phones to call classmates and professors.  We used the card catalog at the library to look up information in books.  So much has changed.

I have 4 kids.  My oldest is in 6th grade and my second oldest is in Kindergarten.   I home schooled my 6th grader for two years.  During that time I hardly allowed him to use the computer as a tool.  I had this old fashioned idea in my head that kids do not need all this technology...they need to learn to look up information in books the way that I did.  {I'm only 36...and I like to think my husband and I are modern for our age. Ha!}  We actually have a lot of technology in our house.  We have 3 laptops 3 smartphones, game systems that connect to the internet, Wifi, etc.  My husband was a Signal officer and loves all things technology.  We have i pads, Kindle and a nook.  But for some reason I was not allowing my kids to use them for school.  I looked at it wrong.  Like it was only a toy or a game device I guess.  It seems like most kids use it for social media and gaming.  At least that is what I have observed.  For example at church, my son is one of few 6th graders who doesn't bring an I phone to Sunday School.  When I asked the reasoning behind their having an Iphone in class...he stated that it was used to play apps while the teacher spoke.  This would seem ok if it was used to read the Bible or to research a topic that goes along with the lesson in SS.  But it seems like more of a distraction.  This is where my "fear" of technology comes from.  Kids not being taught to use it for it's productive purpose.

And yes, I use Facebook.  My husband and I both do.  I also am on Twitter, Feedly, Instagram, Pinterest and I have blogged before.  But it's used purposefully and not used maliciously.  My son's school has had issues with bullying.  And part of it was cyber.  I feel like kids are using technology inappropriately at times.  I didn't want my kids to get sucked into that way of thinking.  I think kids are beginning to loose social skills.  They don't communicate the way we did as kids and that has worried me.  I'm only confessing my concerns about some types of technology used these days.  And "fear" is a very strong word.  I am admitting that I would love to integrate technology into my classroom and home in a healthy, productive way.

After reading chaper 1 I was convicted about my view or my "fear" if you will, of my kids using technology.  True:  Technology is always changing.  There was a section in the chapter that talked about employers being surveyed and reporting that most high schools need technology skills to become successful in their careers.  They said that most high school students are deficient in this area.  It also talked about how most jobs and careers will and do thrive on this knowledge of how to use technology properly for success.  This really convicted me and my eyes are now open to another view that I hadn't thought of before.  Technology is never leaving.  And having skills in it is essential.

As a successful teacher and mother, I need to be able to teach my children and students how to use technology properly. Duh!  I think that I have seen it used poorly so much, that I had a fear of my children using it.  But if they are taught how to use it properly by an adult and teachers, then it becomes a tool for their future and really it is an absolutely necessary skill for them!  I regret not using it more when I had him at home for two years.  And I regret that he uses my tablet and nook mostly for "apps" and gaming.  Of course, I only allow educational apps...but still.  I need to encourage him to research information and how to determine good information on the internet from the bad.  I need to teach my kids and future students the good and usefulness of this remarkable technology that we have been given.  And furthermore, how to act properly and ethically while online or while using technology.  It can and is used wrongly a lot but it doesn't have to be.  This is our future.  Technology is not leaving, it is only progressing.  So I look forward to this class and all that I about to learn.  I look forward to integrating technology into my lesson plans in the future and presently with my children.  This is an exciting opportunity!