Update

My first home computer arrived in sixth grade. I remember it had a “tower,” which my dad had been told was the latest technology. We also had dial-up AOL access, which we thought was incredible. Microsoft applications were pretty basic, grammar check wasn’t even available.

Computers started arriving in my classrooms during pull out sessions in elementary school. I can remember playing Carmen San Diego and writing books for Project Challenge. The first time I remember having a few computers in the classroom was sixth grade, and availability was sporadic after that. When I went to college at Clemson I enrolled in their pilot laptop program, which meant that I could get into select sections of freshman courses that would utilize a laptop and the latest technology.

I think technology can be a great asset to the classroom and a wonderful tool for the teacher. However, it can also make things more difficult, as I experienced in my freshmen laptop calculus course.

I think computers can play a helpful role in any K-12 classroom, as long as they are used appropriately, as necessary and not to the exclusion of other “traditional” skills. I am very excited to utilize my new computer and projector in my lessons next year. So many concepts in my subject are abstract and difficult for students to understand without this kind of technical support.

After taking a class covering how to teach with technology, I wonder how I ever taught without it. I had no idea that so many wonderful educational tools were out there. I struggled through worries of student safety as I began to reseach things that would put work that my students do out for all the world to see. However, now I realize that allowing students to publish their work will help them to see that what they have to say matters and what we do in class is important. I am very excited to introduce my students to the tools I have learned to use this summer. I already have a wiki and survey set up to see where students are on their "technology journey" so I can better help them progress.