Technology Autobiography

 

        I was born in a country where access to technology was very limited. The little technology available was under my parents’ control. I only had access to a radio cassette, typewriter, television, telephone, and camera; surprisingly, every use of any of them has to be allowed and supervised by an adult or simply said under a microscope, even my conversations. It was very frustrating! This frustration has followed me to my adult life, as technology becomes more and more integrated in the world. The domination has now switched side; it’s the new generation that has the skills to do it.

         In my era, technology was not popular as it is today. Our modest family was not so literate to develop a close relationship with technology and yet not dependent of the use of it. I remember how excited we were - my brothers and sisters- when my father granted us permission to watch a show in our black and white TV from the only national TV channel station. I was not fortunate enough like my children to be born in the digital age neither raised in such country where access to technology is unlimited. I cannot stop smiling to see how my children are so attached to their digital gadgets, games and computer. What a difference! This is so true that, now, my generation is finding themselves at the mercy of the younger generation. If I was under my parents’ management to use technology devices, now, the younger world has taken over. In my experiences as a mother and a student, I found myself, sometimes, asking my own children help with certain technology. The feelings of infuriation are back, and I feel like my generation is condemned to be dependent.

       Basically, there are no major differences between the sixties, seventies and eighties when technology is concerned. However, as of the nineties, technology has reached an exponential growth. It has evolved so fast, and has so much to grasp, that I am always struggling. The overwhelming and rapid integration of technology in schools has forced me to use it as a student and as a future teacher for my professional development.

        As I grew up, there are three powerful pieces of technology that I really enjoyed and favored. I use them in a daily basis. They are: television, laptop, and CD player. They have impacted me in such a positive way! I have to confide that I am not so” high- tech” but I am working on mastering the tool at least my proficiency. However, as a visual medium, the TV was always attractive to me, perhaps because of the images of motion pictures stimulating my interest. From the time I was a little girl, I have always finished all my chores and homework so that I can be allowed to watch TV. When I came to the U.S., I watched a variety of learning channels to assist me with learning and understanding English. TV was like my companion. I have really learned a lot from watching it.

          My second significant technology piece is my computer, which has made available to me access to internet as a wide source of world information. It becomes my primary tool to communicate with the world and especially my friends and family in my originate country. Besides of that, I am fascinated with all possibilities it offers: storing music videos, songs, TV shows, and pictures etc… This is one device that I think is fantastic, phenomenal, and convenient as it contains an array of uses for my enjoyment. And last, not least but, my third favorite is my CD player. It can be surprising as it is not the more advanced device with better features than the other. I have to confide that our relationship is so special because it was the first personal technology device gift I received in my early age. Even with my laptop around and which I use every day, I still more acquainted to my CD player- radio. Just because it is easier to manage, I guess.

       After watching Olivia’s story and Learning to change…, my view of teaching with technology has changed automatically. Technology is so integrated in those student’s lives that we have to continue to provide them opportunities to use it to enhance learning. If Olivia was in my class for example, I would try to incorporate as much technology as possible in the learning. Because she already spent a big chunk of her time on the computer, which has been incorporated so much in the school. I would question or reconsider the traditional methods of teaching. By that, I mean changing textbooks ‘format, school materials etc. into technological devices. I am pretty sure that learning will be more interesting with it. Technology makes our lives easier, but it is also time consuming. As teachers, it is our duty to make good of a world that the youngsters have engrossed in, and by the same token, have better control over it.