I would describe myself as a “one who is seeking a hidden
treasure”.
Coming from a small rural town and attending a small rural
high school where technology was few and far between; I was not introduced into
a technological society until my first semester of college and needless to say
the transition was a struggle. I had come from a paper and pencil society and
way of life and now everything was being submitted by a thing known as “uploading”.
I had my own “folders” and “links” for each class I was enrolled in and with
that also came the online testing labs and on snow days, online lectures. I was
overwhelmed and most of the time stressed to the max over whether I had
actually submitted an assignment correctly. Each assignment submission was
usually followed by an e-mail to the professor asking them to please notify me immediately
if there was a problem with how I submitted the assignment; or if I even
submitted it. It took that first semester to break me in… and just when I thought
I would never be technologically inclined or reliant; it happened.
As I progressed into the field of studying education, I soon
became almost obsessed with technology and learning the new skills and programs
that could possibly make the stresses of teaching a little easier. Soon after
that, I was assigned a Digital Story assignment that sparked an abundance of
lesson ideas and classroom activities that could be integrated using Digital
Story telling.
Since that assignment I have found myself on a constant
search to find and integrate new pieces of technology into my life, as well as,
my classroom. Today’s society is ever changing and technology goes hand in hand
with the change. Students and teachers must keep up to date to ensure
preparation and full societal participation. The power of technology is endless
and can be abundant in numerous ways in the real world and the classroom.
Students should be taught and enlightened of these skills inside so they can embark
on their technological journeys and experiences outside as well.
