Created by:

Jessica Bentz

Digital Impact

I can remember a time without technology. As a child, the coolest gadget we had at home was a Nintendo.

Eventually, my dad brought home a real game changer – a PC. A desktop computer at home changed the course of how technology would effect my life. My dad showed my sisters and I how to use the computer to play games and to type in a word processor.

Technology’s Lasting Impression

In middle school, there was a computer lab for students to use. I had an email address and IM. I was using Microsoft Word and PowerPoint on a weekly basis to type stories and reports and to create presentations. In high school, I had my own cell phone where I could be in constant contact with my friends and family by just touching a few buttons.

Within a few years, my life had drastically changed in the way I learned and presented information.

Technology’s Lasting Impression

I can’t imagine my personal and professional life without technology. I own a laptop, an iPhone, and 2 iPads. At work, I have a desktop and a laptop. My world is constantly connected through technology. I can no longer imagine going more than 24 hours without using one or more of my devices.

Daily Implications

• We are educating a generation of children who have always had technology. Two year olds know how to swipe and unlock an iPhone. Fourth graders have cell phones and Snapchat accounts. Children of all ages have their own tablets. They are completely connected to a mobile world. It is our job to incorporate technology into their learning environments.

How do we keep up?

• As educators, we have undeniably chosen to be life long learners. We have a responsibility to equip students with the ability to be creative, collaborative, communicative, and critical thinkers. According to the NMC Horizon Report (2015), teachers need to teach students “to use digital tools that foster creativity” (p. 14).

• One way for teachers to learn about these digital tools is to become a member of a Personal Learning Network.

How do we keep up?

• A personal learning network, or PLN, is a tool for educators (or any professional) to connect, communicate, and collaborate via social media or technology. PLNs are a great way to gather information and share ideas on the net. I am a member of TCEA (Texas Computer Educator Association) and edweb.net, and I use Edutopia, Pinterest, and Twitter to find out what other educators are doing in their classrooms with technology. I’ve gained a number of ideas for integrating core curriculum in my technology applications classroom.

Personal Learning Networks

• Johnson, L., Adams Becker, S., Estrada, V., and Freeman, A. (2015). NMC Horizon Report: 2015 K-12 Edition. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium.

• All photos used are tagged with the Creative Commons license.

References