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I was born in 1990. At that time, my family did not have any cell phones or computers. Having this technology at home was not common at all. Cell phones and computers were still massive and very expensive. People did not see any use for them as they had payphones, landline phones, dictionaries and CRT TVs.
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When I was about 9 years old, my small French countryside elementary school got its first desktop computers. I remember having a short training on typing and using the keyboard. There were two computers for the entire school and we felt very lucky to have access to them!
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I had a Microsoft Windows 1998 desktop computer and a limited access to the Internet when I was about 10 years old.
I remember having to connect the modem to our landline. The modem would then take a couple of minutes to work and it would make this odd dial-up noise. The Internet was still quite slow at that time. I mainly used the computer to play The Sims, a life simulation game which was very popular! -
By the time I was in middle school, access to the Internet became more common as prices went down.
Chat rooms (and online forums) became very popular. I spent a lot of time discussing with people online by using an "Internet Relay Chat" client to join and participate in chat rooms. I ended up learning some HTML in order to develop and write my own IRC script! -
I had my first laptop when I started high school. At that time, I used it to do some research using Google and Yahoo, and write essays. My high school did not have any learning management system and all papers needed to be printed and handed out to the few teachers who accepted non-handwritten papers. I also used my laptop to listen to music, watch some TV series and chat with my friends via MSN (live messenger) and, a couple of years later, Facebook!
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When I turned 18, I moved to Paris and applied online to a preparation course to become a childcare specialist (early childhood education). I selected the courses I wanted and paid online. However; at that time, all materials were mailed to my apartment and the homework needed to be mailed back to the company. I quickly lost my motivation and gave up on this project. ELearning was not popular then.
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When I started my undergraduate degree, I discovered Blackboard; a learning management system. We could not find many courses or materials online as professors were still reluctant to use the platform. However, we did have an email and the teaching assistants were often sharing online resources with us.
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In 2012, I bought a smartphone to be able to access Facebook and Skype and browse the Internet anytime I wanted.
I needed to take the TOEFL and used the Internet to look for the best preparation course I could find online. It was my first real and successful "modern" eLearning experience! I had access to video, online discussion boards and tutors living in the US from the comfort of my own home. -
In 2013, I was preparing to move to the US. I realized that the US schools relied on the Internet far much more than the schools in France. I had to use online university portals, to apply and to fill e-forms. It was very fast but stressful as official forms were rarely completed online in France - it was seen as risky!
Once I moved, I kept in touch with my family and friends through social media (Facebook, Skype, WhatsApp) and relied on my smartphone's data for GPS and translation! -
In 2014, I was enrolled in an English program in the US. We had access to two rooms full of performing flat screen computers and access to different software. The teachers' desktop computer was linked to a projector so they could show us what they were doing live.
I discovered that the Internet was still a luxury in the US as it is much more expensive than in France. It made me wonder how much of an impact it had on low income people and their access to online resources. -
In 2015, I was working on getting my Masters in HR Management. During several consulting assignments, my teammates and I had to find and implement various communication tools in companies. We used our laptops and PowerPoint to convey our ideas. Employees were encouraged to use group chat applications (Slack, HangOuts) on their smartphone in order to improve communication within their company. Technology had become a necessary tool to improve companies' work environment.
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After graduating, I managed a company that offered online services to international students. I used technology on a daily basis to contact partners, reach out and communicate with clients. I learned (with some help) to build a website via a Content Management System and to advertise on social media by creating videos like this one.
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Unfortunately, I had to stop working for this company. I was sad but quickly decided to focus on teaching, a passion I discovered while working! By that time, I used technology to teach all the time. I used a laptop and PowerPoint to design my lessons, Kahoot to quiz my students, I used and was trained to use Canvas, a learning management system. I also relied on YouTube to find videos that could help my students.
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Because I was using my laptop and smartphone extensively for work and school, I did not feel the need to use any technology when I had some free time, nor did I feel the need to purchase any other technological item to stay current with technology. The only exception I made was to upgrade my smartphone and buy one that came with a good camera to take photos of places I visit or friends I hang out with.
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Technology is everywhere in my life but I still try to restrict my usage of it. My apartment is connected to a "Smart House" application, which allows me to control the lock, lights and AC through my phone. I need my phone and laptop as well as a good Internet connection to work and watch my favorite TV series. I also have a Switch to play with.
I try to "disconnect" as much as possible whenever I have some free time but it is really hard to do in today's world.
