Personal Technology Reflection

           

 As a teacher candidate, I am required to be able to teach and equip my students for their generation. This includes the subjects of language and arts, mathematics, and even technology. I was born in the 90’s, at the beginning of the technology era. I can remember back to the day that my dad brought home a cell phone. My teenage brother begged my dad to let him take to school with him, to show it off. We were some of the first families in the neighborhood to own such a contraption. But, that could barely beat the morning of Christmas and the house was silent as my brothers and I ripped the red and green wrapping paper off to reveal a gray machine, known as the computer. I received my first child’s computer game when I was four years old, and I was amazed at the fact that I could touch a “mouse” and the screen would correspond to the touch. As I grew up, my love for my cell phone, macbook, and iPod was much like any other teenage girl’s, but my knowledge stopped shortly there.
            Sure, I know how to send a text within 5 seconds, edit pictures on my macbook, and google what the latest Amanda Bynes mishap is at lightning speed, but I am not equipped to teach my students the technology knowledge that they will be counting on me to learn. I can barely make a halfway decent powerpoint, much less discover how to even begin a Prezi or a spreadsheet. I count myself lucky that I know how to change the font on Microsoft Word and adjust the size. But, even with Microsoft, I do not even know all that it is capable of. I want to learn how to use the apps and programs that will be efficient as a Early Childhood teacher, the simple things that will make managing and teaching a K-5 classroom run more efficient and smoothly. I believe some of those things will be using certain apps to make calendars, syllabi, and formats for crafts and simple tests. I would love to learn how to make iMovies and slideshows with effects so that I can document my student’s achievements and success throughout the year.
            I count myself blessed that I can be attending a university that will equip me adequately for the field that I am studying. I know that this class will better prepare me to be builders of knowledge (specifically technology) and values in my Early Childhood classroom someday. 

(Using technology while hiking. "OMG it's like me and a waterfall thing! HASHTAG LOL!"