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3rd Grade Internet Use
In 3rd grade we were required to research a country and complete a project. I researched the country of Panama as that is where I lived at the time. I used my computer and internet at home as well as the computer lab at school to complete this project. This is my first vivid memory of using a computer/internet for a school project.
Photo source: cartoonsmix.com -
New Technology in Mom's Car
In 1999, we moved back to the United States from Panama. My mom purchased a new car when we returned. Her car had a CD player. I remember being completely amazed that her car had a CD player. At that time, I did have my own CD player for my bedroom, but the fact that it was in her car was just great!
Photo Source: Car Talk -
AOL Instant Messenger
When I was in the 6th grade, AOL Instant Messenger was the next "it" thing. I even remember my very first screen name: KeroppiMVG. This was really the first social media I was a part of. All of my friends had it too, and we communicated on this regularly.
Photo Source: logos.wikia.com -
Cell Phone
At the age of 15 I received my first cell phone. At the time, I lived in South Korea. The phone was paid with "minutes cards" that I could buy at a local convenience store. When the phone ran out of minutes, the phone was not longer able to be used. Texts used minutes too, so of course at 15 I spent a lot of money on those cards.
Photo Source: arstechnica.com -
Social Media
The first real social media that began to circulate through my age group of friends were LiveJournal and Myspace. I had accounts on both sites. Keeping up with these were of the utmost importance. I did learn how to code a little bit using LiveJournal (streaming music, creating backgrounds, making links, etc).
Photo Source: huffingtonpost.com -
Online Learning System
Upon arriving to Furman University in the fall of 2006, I was introduced to an online learning platform called "Moodle". This was my first experience using a learning platform like this. Professors posted resources on the site. Some used it more than others.
Photo Source: moodle.org -
Skype
In the summer of 2008 I moved to Rome, Italy for the summer. We had wireless internet in our apartment. I used Skype for the first time when I got over there to talk to my parents who were back at home.
Photo Source: community.skype.com -
iPhone
Upon graduation from Furman, I was gifted an Apple iPhone. It was a few years after the iPhone first came out. I had the iPhone 3G. It was pretty amazing to be able to check my email, look at facebook, and look on the internet right on my phone!
Photo Source: imore.com -
BYOD in the Classroom
In the fall of 2013 our school district introduced BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) to the classroom. Students were allowed to bring their device and use them at their discretion during the school day. For me, this was very freeing, as we are not 1-1 so this allowed me to use technology in my classroom with a broader scope. I didn't have to worry as much about having "enough" devices.
Photo Source: cpschools.com -
Skype in the Classroom
Fall of 2016 I brought Skype to my classroom. Our very first Skype session was 60 feet underwater to the Aquarius Reef Base. My students were able to speak to real live aquanauts that were living under the sea. We got to see the research they are conducting, how they live under water at the base, and about some of the plants and animals they encounter. We've done 4 other Skype sessions this year as well.
Photo Source: simplek12.org
