Living During A Revolution

Many thoughts ran through my mind while reading an article entitled “Critical Issue: Technology: A Catalyst for Teaching and Learning in the Classroom,” written by Gilbert Valdez, PhD. First, I could not help to notice a reoccurring theme being addressed from the beginning of the article. The use of technology in almost every aspect of human life. Having spent the larger portion of my life dominated by technology from video games, social networking sites, sites that allow you to illegally download favorite songs to your mp3 player, then to an iPod. It was not very long before one simple tool was created that allowed users to access all the above instantaneously. All the information one could ever ask for a simple click, push, or slide away on any number of brands of smart phones or tablets. As I am writing this, I am swiping my fingers all across my Mac, researching everything from vital information needed for my EDTC 5010 class, created supply and demand graphs for my Economics class (in fact, both classes are online), following the terror attacks in Norway, and following just about everything Philadelphia on Twitter. I am only 25 years old I have bore witness to the most exponentially expansive time in human history. I have watched the world rapidly speed up and I, too, have tried my best to keep up. I am still trying to keep up. Immanuel Kant wrote about Education, saying that it was up to generations to expand beyond their preceding generations. I absolutely believe this to be true and I feel a sense of pride for the legacy my generation is going to leave. But this legacy is in currently under question as many educators are balking at the total integration of technology into the high school classroom. If technology is assisting us in everything else in life, why the hindrance in the field of education?

This article was a great read following my current participation in EDTC 5010 Computers and Education course at East Carolina University. Throughout this course, I have been introduced to new resources that will undoubtedly make my career as an educator much easier. I often wonder how much slower and inefficient my life would be without the technology around me. During the course of this summer, more specifically the five weeks spent keeping up with this class, I have constantly reflected on how technology will continue to run my life. I currently keep all my financial records and important passwords on my laptop via spreadsheets, iTunes houses all my songs and play lists, I watch my favorite videos on Youtube, record important dates, see new pictures of my family, and apply for jobs. Now, thanks to this class, I have acquired key skills that will allow me to utilize these resources to help educate young people in innovative ways. I am excited to help lead the next generation into a world I can only begin to imagine.