My Technology Timeline

The Oregon Trail

1992

My first experience ever with a computer was in elementary school. We were allowed to sit 2 or 3 to a computer and play The Oregon Trail game. I can remember these computers being big and boxy, and without a mouse. While there were few colors on the screen, the images were very pixelated and all controlling was done with the keyboard. Nevertheless, as with computer games today, as a kid I was hooked! (image from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Oregon_Trail_(video_game))

First computer in our home

1993

When I was in third or fourth grade, my parents purchased our first computer for our home. This was pre-internet days for us, and the computer was mainly used as a replacement for the word processor for typing and printing schoolwork. We did have a one or two games on the computer that had to be purchased and downloaded through a floppy disk. (image from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_disk)

Internet in our home

Jun 1, 1998

The summer after my freshman year of high school my parents purchased a new computer that allowed us to have Internet connection in our home. This opened up a whole new world for both education and entertainment purposes. It made such an impression on me, I can remember specifics like it was a DELL computer and that sound of the dial-up modem connecting. (image from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell)

AOL Instant Messenger

2000

One of the first ways I used a computer for entertainment purposes was to messages friends via AOL's Instant Messenger. Even though I was required to take keyboarding classes in high school, the time spent on IM was far greater in building my typing skills. Pre-texting on phones, this was the way we communicated without actually picking up a phone to call each other. (image from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM_(software))

First Email Address

2001

I received my first email address when I entered Clemson in 2001. I was one of the last classes that were not required to have a computer. Most students still made use of the computer labs on campus when computers were needed. Even though the college assigned emails, rarely were they used to convey messages. Many professors still posted notes on doors to cancel classes, an unheard of now!

iPhones

2012

My first purchase of an iPhone was the first time I was able to carry the Internet around in my pocket. This was such a game changer as it enabled me to be completely connected, at all times, no matter where I was. (image from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone_4)

iPads in the classroom

2013

I began teaching in 2006 and while I did have a desktop and a laptop in my classroom, student computers were limited. In 2013, our district went 1:1 with iPads in high school and middle schools. At the elementary level we were given 1 class set per grade level for sharing purposes. This changed the game in education, allowing students new and different ways to take charge of their learning while also pushing me to be creative with the change. (image from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad_2)

Distance Learning Student

2018

In January of this year I began working towards a SLMS degree as a distance learning student at Marshall. This experience has been night and day compared to my last experience at a university. When at Clemson in the early 2000s, computers were used but not necessarily a necessity. Now as I work towards my masters degree, everything I do is online and a computer is an integral part! (image from https://mymu.marshall.edu/Pages/default.aspx)