I believe my first experiences with the internet were in grade school. However, I can't remember any of the specific games or activities that we did. At home, I was lucky enough to have a computer and internet quite early. I would log onto AOL, using dial-up of course, and chat with kids from all over the world that were my age. I can remember my mom sitting next me and getting frustrated because I was typing too slowly. At that time, we were charged based on minutes spent online. I cringe at the thought of using dial-up now.
My first educational experiences that I remember were in sixth grade. We had to do a report on a famous person and used the internet to do research. We also played many educational games and used an online version of Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. At that time, the internet was still a novelty.
As I began college, I was consumed with the internet and all its possibilities. I had a Smart phone with internet access and carried a laptop with me to class. I used the internet to answer all my questions. I used it for social networking, research, and downloading music (when it was still legal and free). The thought of going to a library to find an article in an academic journal was overwhelming. I would much rather find the information needed in the comfort of my own home.
The internet has been around since I was born. Today, I spend close to ten hours on it throughout the day. I am constantly checking emails and status updates, watching and showing YouTube clips, reading online books, and posting on my blog and other forums. My teaching and classroom and management techniques come from an online source called wholebrainteaching.com. Here I spend hours each week watching webcasts and collaborating with other teachers. I couldn't imagine my life without the internet at my fingertips.
No comments:
Post a Comment