Positive/Negative Experiences with Technology

Christina was lucky enough to have a positive experience with technology. Her positive experience allowed her to plan a vacation completely online. Back in the day, vacations were planned via travel agent or making phone calls. Whereas, now she was able to use the Internet to book her flight and make a reservation at a hotel. She was able to search the web for the most affordable resorts and all-inclusive packages. Another important aspect was that she was able to to research each resort by viewing their websites which included; picture, virtual tours and ratings.

Andrea shared her negative experience with technology that actually occur ed this past semester here at Towson. She was working on a group project to collaboratively teach a lesson to the class. the lesson consisted of going on a virtual field trip. Her and her group mates found a video that lead a tour through the Baltimore Zoo. When it was time to present this lesson the technology was not cooperating. She explained how difficult it was to be in front of the entire class and not have cooperating technology. This entire lesson was based about this source of technology which ended up to be completely unreliable. She was frustrated to be in a classroom atmosphere where her resources were limited. As a result, Andrea was very disappointed with her lesson outcome and would have wished for better circumstances, but she had to make do with what she had.

Positive and Negative Experiences w/ Technology

Positive: One positive experience we all shared was the availability to technology in the classroom. With the availability of computers and other things we were able to become familiar with many programs. We were able to use computers for many different assignments at an early age and learn as a group with guidance from our teachers. We feel because we were exposed at an early age we feel more inclined to use technology now.

Negative: When we all were in elementary school we had to do the program "Type to Learn," we all thought it was annoying and did not enjoy it. The program was geared to help us with our typing skills and become familiar with the keyboard. We all became frustrated with it and cheated. Also, our hands were so little that we couldn't really do it. One negative thing from a teachers perspective is that he/she could not monitor all of the children.

Masters Group Positive and Negative Experiences

Alex shared with our group an example of how the convenience of technology can be crucial in certain situations. In one particular instance, he realized that he had forgotten to pay an important bill until the day that it was due. Being Sunday, however, the post office was closed and he was unable to mail the payment that day. Fortunately, technology now enables us to handle situations like this easily online. Alex was able to log in to his account on his credit card company's website and pay the bill electronically before the end of the day. Being able to do this saved him a trip to the post office and also the late fees that he would have acquired. This is a good example that I think most of us can relate with of how new technology has made everyday tasks easier to a great extent. However, our group also found that in certain situations, relying on technology can put a person in a hairy situation when the technology that the need fails.
Adam experienced this last semester on the day that he was supposed to present his 15-day lesson plan to his Curriculum and Assessment class. For his presentation, Adam had prepared some material that he was going to show to the class using the ELMO projector. When he went to use the projector, however, it failed to work, putting him in a terrible position. Furtunately, Adam had the materials on a "jump" drive and was able to improvise, but many of his classmates who were planning to use the ELMO were not as lucky.

Group 3 Positive and Negative Experiences with Technology

Lauren told us her positive experience with technology was that in elementary school she was able to use the internet to complete a project. She was given a research assignment about Manatees and considering there were very few books about these animals in the school library, the internet really helped her. She was able to find pictures, video clips and information for her research project.

Megan informed us of her negative experience with technology when she entered college and her professors heavily relied on using power points in class. She was so worried about copying every word on the slide that she didn't even begin to grasp the material that was being presented. Then when it came time to study for a test, she felt stressed and unprepared. She thought there was too much information on the slides instead of just key points that could have easily been explained.

Group 2- Positive and Negative Experiences with Technology

Caitlin explained that in high school she used to rent movie versions of books in order to better comprehend the plots. Some may think this is taking the easy way out, but after reading the book, and then watching the movie afterwards, she realized that technology truly helped her in English.

Jamie, as well as the rest of us, feel that our negative experience in learning with technology is trying to figure out all of these blogs, wikis, and other accounts for this class. We are often confused about whether or not we are posting things correctly, and this can be stressful when it has to do with our grades. We agree that many of these things can be useful, however, we wish that we had more practice using them.

Positive/Negative Experiences with Technology from Group 1

When our group discussed our experiences with technology, we all had very different positive experiences, but pretty similar negative experiences. Gina told us how a cassette helped her enjoy reading more. When she was younger, she hated hearing herself read out loud, and got easily bored with it. Her mom brought home a cassette tape of the book she was reading, so she could listen along as she read. It was fun for her and totally changed her attitude towards reading for school.
Chelsea made a great point when she explained her negative experiences with technology. She mentioned the fact that when we depend on technology and it fails, we're left in the dark. It can be as simple as not having the internet for a while, or as risky as having your phone die when you're stranded. We're so used to having so much at our fingertips now that when something doesn't work, it's incredibly frustrating.

Technobiography

If I look at my life as a whole, I don't think I really got into technology until I was in highschool; even then I was not that interested. Throughout my life there was not too much technology in my home. My parents were very down to earth and the new technologies did not interest them. Therefore, they did not bring them into our home. When I was growing up I spent a lot of time outside, reading, playing games, going to the park, keeping myself entertained with my imagination.
When we finally got a computer, we all used it for homework and that was it. I didn't really like to aimlessly search the internet; I thought it was boring. I got my cell phone my freshman year of highschool, I was attached to it for a few months and then it got overrated. Then, when my parents gave in to my brothers to get a game system I was a senior and I wasn't into the racing and killing games.
It was not until I got to college that I have really grown to be some-what attatched to technology. I am constantly on the go using technology to get things done the fastest. I use my e-mail often, depend on the internet for homework and definately get the use out of my laptop. I'll occasionally use my ipod, and love my camera when I actually remember to get it. I don't really get into tv and I think that is a good thing. However, there is currently a blackberry on route to my house in the mail, I might be in trouble when I get that. I might actually have an attachment to something. However, there are still times when I like to go outside and just turn everything off. Sometimes, technology is just annoying.

tech biography Christina Creegan

My biography of technology hasn't been much. There was one computer that all of my siblings shared. We had a TV, VCR and a Nintendo 64. We slowly got the newer and more updated technology. We first got cable when I was in middle school, I got my first cell phone in 8th grade, and got my own computer in 12th grade. I had my first computer class my sophomore year in college. I now have my own TV, desktop computer, laptop, and an iphone. I now try to stay up on the new technology that comes out.

Brett Leppert's Technobiography

All things considered, I would say that I grew up somewhat behind the technology curve. Ussually, my family would get whatever was out there about 8 months after it had come out and all my friends were allready bored with it, or when something else had come out to replace it. I grew up with a tv and a vhs player in my living room that me and my older brother watched Fraggle Rock videos on when we weren't wearing out the batteries in our Teddy Ruxpin. I got introduced to the computer sometime when I was in elementary school when my dad brought home one of those Macintosh 128ks in the late 90s, about ten years after it had come out. It was one of those computers that you could play the floppy disk games like Oregon Trail, Number Munchers, or Leisure Suit Larry if your parents weren't paying attention. We upgraded computers a few times; whenever someone we knew was getting a new one, we'd buy their old one that would almost always be too slow to even enjoy using. I found out about AOL and AIM when the internet got big and I played around with those until facebook came out. I did eventually get a laptop of my own, but not until I was going away to college so, having to share the family computer growing up, I didn't spend as much time on it as other people may have.
I grew up with a few toys and gadgets, but typically played with the same ones most of the time. When Home Alone II came out, my brother got one of those Talkboys and we used that nonstop until it broke. An older cousin gave me his old Nintendo when I was probably 10 and I still play it today, although I just got the Wii system so it may get boxed up for a while. Aside from the Wii, I have been making progress in terms of new technology the past few months. I just got a flipcamera, which is the first camera that I've owned. I bought an Ipod, but it got stolen so it will be awhile before I get another. And I'm considering upgrading from my go-phone to maybe a Razer, or something like that.

Chris Sneeringer's Technobiography

Computers and technology have been a part of my life since I was young. I can recall having a computer in my household. It had those big flat discs. I had games like Math Blaster and other similar educational games.

I can remember when I got a bit older and video game systems began to get popular. I didn't have a game system off the bat but I do remember playing Nintendo at a friend's house. Then I remember when Super Nintendo came out and how excited we all were. I then got into Sega and Sonic the Hedgehog. Soon after that my parents got me and my sisters a Sega Genesis. From there I've never looked back. It took a few years to convince my parents to get me a Nintendo 64 but I remember it fondly. I can remember when The Legend of Zelda The Ocarina of Time came out my best friend and I were glued to it. It likely made me the gamer I am today.

When I got into 5th grade I got an old laptop from my sister. It was actually running on whatever Windows came right before Windows 95. I then can remember when we finally got a house computer that ran on Windows 95 how exciting it was. Shortly after America Online came out and it changed everything for me. While I didn't understand the scope of the internet, it was a world changing moment. Classmates would argue about who had AOL 4.0 or 3.0. That was a big deal back then. I still have an old AOL account that was named after my love for Sonic the Hedgehog from way back. The internet also made for an interesting component in gaming. I started playing the EA Sport's NHL games. It was incredible gaining the ability to update your rosters.

Technology became less important to me as I began to get older. I lost interest in video games following the disappointment of The Gamecube and my reluctance to get a Microsoft system. The internet also became less important to me when I lived out on my own because it was just an extra expense. I could walk to campus and use it easily.

I did eventually fall in love with the Xbox 360. It is by far one of the greatest purchases I've ever made. I use it daily. My wife and I have cable and the Netflix program is outstanding for my daughter. It gives her limitless possibilities on what to watch, but we can still control it.

My wife and I were looking for a nice Blu Ray player and she ultimately decided on a Playstation 3. It is my first Sony system but I've enjoyed it thus far. Blu Ray has been a nice change from DVDs. I forgot to mention that earlier but I remember when DVDs got big. My friend bought an old DVD player at a pawn shop. It was a big clunky box but we loved what we could do with it.

On that note I also remember when CD's began to get big. I can recall buying my first CD in the Towson Town Mall. It was the soundtrack for the film That Thing You Do. I liked it because it had that retro sound to it. I couldn't even tell you where that CD went.

My wife and I also made the transition to Apple within the last few months. I bought an iPod Touch after my iPod had been stolen. My wife and I both loved the Wi Fi on the Touch and the way it processed. We knew the computer would be different, but the idea intrigued us. I love our MacBook and my old Desktop just collects dust in the basement now. It does not work all that well any way. I will probably never buy anything but Mac for the rest of my life.

Technologies' roll on my life has been pretty huge. I spend a considerable amount online everyday posting in message boards and emailing. I've gone through periods of my adult life without technology, but I love it just the same. I'm a gamer and I love being connected to my old college friends for a few rounds of Halo every now and again. They are on the other side of the country too.

My Life with Technology: Stephanie Powell

From the time I can remember there has been technology in my life. I always loved to watch T.V., and I would consider that technology. I still to this day love T.V. and that plays an impact on my life. As far as using a computer and the internet, I don't remember using them as much when I was younger. We always have had computers at my house, but I was never really drawn to use them. I always watched my dad work on them. In school, my class would go to the computer lab, once in a blue moon, to play games like Reader Rabbit and Oregon Trail. As I began to grow older I needed to use the computer more often. It started with needing to type up my papers and/or do research. Now computers have become a part of my every day life. In my apartment I share with my boyfriend, we have 3 computers, 2 Macs and 1 PC. It has gone so far that we hook up the computer to the TV and use a wireless keyboard and type papers while laying on the couch watching the big screen. If I am not at home using my computer, I am constantly using my Iphone. Technology has even taken over my car. I feel there is not escaping technology, so I am just trying to keep up.

Technobiography Jennifer Barton

Technology has been a part of my life ever sine I was little. I remember my parents having an older style computer when I was little. I also remember having a large, bulky television in our living room and a basic CD player. My parents finally bought themselves cell phones in case of emergencies.

When I was in Elementary school, I only used the computer for a few assignments. My parents bought cordlass house phones. I also got my first portable CD player with headphones. When I was going into middle school, my parents bought me a cell phone to use for emergencies. We also got a different computer that had internet service.

It was not until high school, when I got my first laptop computer. I needed to complete many of my school assignments on the computer. I aslo got an upgraded cell phone that had texting. We bought a DVD player and a fax machine. Later in high school, I got my first ipod.

When I started college, we bought all flat screen televisions and I had an ipod adaptor installed in my car. Today, I have a flat screen desktop computer and a laptop computer with wireless internet service. I have a touch screen cell phone with unlimited texting and internet services. I have a flat screen television with a blue ray disc player and a DVR. I also have a new ipod and a GPS. I have used smart boards and Elmos in the classroom as well. Technology is and always will be improving with time.

Technobiography by: Travis Knox

Technology has been apart of my life since the day I was born. When I was born, I got hooked up to a few machines for them to run some tests. Once I was was home and saw this beautiful thing they call a T.V., I was hooked for life. I got my first personal T.V. when I was 6 years old, I also received a Nintendo game console. I played it almost everyday with my friends and brothers. When I was about 10, we bought our first computer. I was then hooked on AIM; every night I would get on and talk to my friends(whenever good sports were not on T.V.). That same year, we got a Sega Genesis for Christmas. When I was about 12 or 13, my brother bought the single best game system ever- the N64. We played that day in and day out, come to think of it, around that same time, I stopped doing my homework. My life was revolving around school and technology. If I wasn't in school, I was either playing video games, on the computer, or watching T.V. Once I was in high school I rediscovered some older technology, the stop watch. I ran track and cross-country in high school, so it became very valuable to me. When I turned 15, I got my first MP3 player. There was nothing else new until I was 19 when I got a PS2. Then when I was 21, I got a laptop. That is where it ends for now but who knows what is next.

Technobiography - Jamie Whalen

Ever since I was a very young child, technology has been part of my life. I remember as a toddler using my VTech "laptop" that helped me learn to read. Around age 7, I was introduced to the real computer and made my very own screenname to chat on Instant Messenger with my friends. I can remember sitting and waiting for, what seems like forever now, for the dial-up internet to connect. Also around this age, I used to find fun in recording different messages on my parents answering machine.

Eventually around middle school, the computer became a huge part of my life. I had to be online every night at a certain time in order to talk to all my friends. We would create AOL profiles and design homepages as ways of expressing our creativity. In eighth grade I got my own cell phone "in case of emergencies," which eventually led to begging my parents to purchase a text messaging plan. Once when my computer was broken, I insisted on going on Instant Messenger on my phone, leading to a very high phone bill and unhappy parents. Technology was becoming something I could not live without for even short periods of time.

Today, on a daily basis I use my laptop, cell phone, and TV. Very often I use my digital camera, DVD player, iPod, and GPS. Sometimes I wonder how I lived without these devices. Before I bought my GPS, I was either driving off the road trying to read directions or just lost with no idea how to get where I needed to be. Before having an iPod, someone couldn't pay me to actually go to the gym. Even while writing this short essay, I have probably logged into Facebook at least three times. Technology has taken over my life completely, and for the most part, I don't think I mind.

Technobiography Meghan Grammer

As like many others my age, technology began at a young age and has continued to be influential in my life ever since. As a young child I was exposed to a television with remote and watching VHS movies with my family. Video camera’s were used to document my first steps, my first birthday and some of my first words. 

It wasn’t until early in Elementary school that I was first introduced to a computer. My class at school would go to the computer lab once a week and that was our chance to practice typing and learn the basics of the computer. In the fourth grade, my parents bought a family computer, mostly used by my mom for work purposes in the beginning. As I became more familiar with the computer, I played educational games often. In the sixth grade, I got my first cell phone. Wow was that a day I won’t ever forget. I sat around the house for hours putting my friends numbers into the phone. There was texting then but it wasn’t popular - in fact the phone I had gotten didn’t even offer it. 

By the time I got to high school, I was a master at using a PC and would do projects and homework on it almost every night. I used my cell phone to text friends and  the radio around the house. In the eleventh grade my boyfriend at the time bought me an Ipod for our anniversary and a connection to use it in my car. This was really when technology began to play a larger role in my life. In 12th grade, I received my own laptop for graduation. We had a family computer and by this time my mother and father both had their own laptops, but this one was mine to take to college. My second year in college I bought myself a Mac and I absolutely love it.

I cannot imagine myself without technology today. I use my cell phone and laptop every single day. I am always interested to see new things come out. Although it wasn’t prevalent early in my life, it became something I rely on and used to make life easier and more enjoyable. I believe advancements will never stop and there will always be a way to improve something and make it better or more efficient.

Gina Albano's Technobiography

As a young girl, I was exposed to technology almost everyday. I would watch videos and television shows. My parents would let me listen to the radio in the car and in the house. We had one house phone while I was growing up. Cell phones were rarely used and my parents both owned beepers. They would have their beeper clipped onto their belt and when someone was trying to contact them, the beeper would make a noise. From there, you could either call the person via a cellphone or use a payphone. Soon after, beepers became outdated and cellphones become increasingly popular.

During elementary school, I remember typing up book reports with a type writer. I absolutely hated using that thing! I would get completely frustrated when I accidently pushed a wrong key and I couldn't backspace. I would have to start my paper all over again. I was obsessed with my disc man in late elementary into middle school. I thought it was the coolest thing having a portable CD player I could take with me everywhere.

When I reached middle school, my family purchased a desktop computer. I started taking computer classes in school and became more comfortable with the programs and typing skills. It wasn't until 9th grade that I was granted the privledge of a cell phone. I had a strict plan with limited minutes and no texting. I was only allowed to use the cellphone for emergencies and when I needed a ride home from practice.

From high school until now; I have upgraded my cellphone, stopped using disposable cameras, traded my disc man in for an IPOD, and converted all of our family VHS tapes into DVD's. Once I finally figure out the latest technology, something new usually hits the market. I must say though, I would have an incredibly hard time living without my cellphone and laptop.

Technobiography - Megan Bowie

I've always been surrounded by a lot of technology. When I was little, it meant electronic toys or Disney movies. As I got older, though, it became a lot more complex. As technology evolved in the outside, so did it in our home. We owned several televisions, game systems, and even a computer before twenty-first century.

In the year 2000, however, my family built and moved into a new house across the county. We were able to add a lot of new technological luxuries to the new home. From phone jacks a cable outlets in all the bedrooms to a home theatre system, we immersed ourselves in the new technology at hand. We even added a theatre room all on its own in the basement when we had it finished.

I entered high school and encountered an all new use for technology: independence. I participated in a lot of after school clubs, which I often had to rearrange my ride home for. At first my mom would lend me her cellphone, but that only lasted a few weeks. After that she insisted that I was added onto her cellphone plan and received my own phone. Before I knew it, I was adding texting to my plan, to keep in touch with my friends too. Within a year or so, my family was also adding a car to my list of available technology. Of course, since it was a base model, my older brother seemed to enjoy spoiling me with upgrades. Over the span of several birthdays and Christmases, I watched my car be gutted, rewired, and put back together numerous times. I received a few stereos, automatic windows, automatic locks, automatic mirrors, keyless entry, and much more. Not too long after my license, though, I was given a laptop as a reward for good grades.

Today I use a lot of technology on a daily basis. I own an ipod, a laptop, a car, televisions, dvd players, a Blackberry Storm, an XM radio account, and much more that use every day. If I don't know how to do something with technology, then I try to learn. It's the way my brother works, and the way he has inadvertently taught me. I upgrade my technology when I can, but I also take the time to know exactly what I have access to and how to use it.

Technobiography - Adam Schlenoff

Since the days of the Polaroid Camera, the Walkman, Nintendo (or even Atari), and the green screen computer with lighter green text (no idea what this CPU was called), I've been addicted to technology. Growing up, we seems to be keeping up with the Jones' as new technology appeared. We had the video recorder, the new Apple Macintosh, our first cell phone, and all the games systems we had hoped for.

I can probably track my addiction to technology back to early elementary school in the mid 80's when the Oregon Trail burst onto the technology-gaming scene. I was in fourth grade when "The Wizard" with Fred Savage came out in theaters. Needless to say, I was hooked on video games from the time I walked out of the movie.

Growing up I used to listen to all of my parents vinyl records on the player which somehow made it into my room. The first CD I ever owned was the Beatles Anthology who I had become crazy about after listening to all of my Mom's Beatles records. Over the years I have been a lucky owner of Walkman's, Discman's, and 3 different generations of IPODS.

I consider myself an Apple user but due to lack of funds when my last Macbook broke, I was forced to buy a PC. I have a IPhone which I use almost every minute.

Overall, I have been very lucky to own and use so much technology as I have grown up. I can't wait for the next big thing (not the IPad, its just not that cool).

Colby Gehrig- Technobiography

As far back as I can remember, I have always been exposed to technology. In elementary school, we always had access to to computers. I also always had a computer at home. We would have various assignments to do on the computer and there were also several games on the computer that my parents would buy that were considered to be educational games.

As time went on, the graphics on computer games were better and people eventually moved away from playing computer games to playing playstations and nintendos. Growing up, we always had the latest nintendo games and gameboys. We were very fortunate to be able to have all these new technologies.

Then when high school and college rolled around there were a million new kinds of technologies. Items such as digital cameras, ipods, laptops and videos games were the new in thing. It's hard to keep up with at times. I found that as soon as i purchased "the newest ipod" or the brand new mac, the company was getting ready to come out with a new updated version of it. But i guess that's all part of it's appeal. I find it fascinating that people are constantly finding ways to make computers faster and to make graphics on games appear to be real.

Overall, I think I have been very exposed to technology throughout my life and feel that i can use most technology that is available. However, I know there is a lot that I do not know about technology and hope to learn about.

Amanda Frazier's Technobiography

I wasn't really introduced to technology for quite some time now that I think about it. We didn't have a computer for a while, and the house I lived in still had a rotary telephone that you had to spin to "dial" numbers. It wasn't until we moved into a new home and I attended a new school that I began to discover different elements of technology. When we moved into my step dad's house, it was like I stepped into a completely modern home. He had portable telephones and two computers, and he set me up with my own e-mail. My step dad works with computers for a living (he's a computer technician for an insurance company) so I've been surrounded by technological talk ever since I met him.
We had computer time every week in school and I took a course on Microsoft Word and PowerPoint in 7th grade, the year I received my first cell phone. I took a class on how to use Photoshop in 11th grade and got my own laptop as my 12th grade graduation present. While I've had about five different cell phones, the most technologically advanced phone has only been able to text and take pictures. I've had a video iPod since 12th grade but have never owned any other Apple product, although I used Macs for class in high school. My dad has always been a Windows fan for some reason, so that's a we've ever had in our house. He's also a huge video game fan, though, so we have a Play Station 2, X Box 360, and Wii.
It's been pretty interesting to see all the progress that has been made with technology, but I wouldn't say I'm 100 percent dependent on it. I love my iPod, phone, and laptop, but I don't use them all every day. Even with the experience I've had, I wouldn't say I'm anything close to being an expert.

Andrea Hash's Technobiography

Throughout my life, I have been surrounded by technology. My father is a system administer, so he works with computers. My mother is a manager of an Information Technology (IT) shop for a large government agency. Both my parents have to remain current in the fields of technology so I have really been surrounded by it since birth. We have had computers in our home since I was born. I also have grown up with televison. As a very young child, my favorite thing to do was watch Barney so televison is in my earliest memories. As I got older, I have seen technology improve in many different ways. My family has gone through many computers, each of them even more advanced then the one before. Each member of my family has a laptop and we also have a desktop computer that the whole family uses. The same can be said with our televisions, we have gotten better ones each time. I have also seen our movie collection go from VHS tapes to DVDs and now blueray discs. The same can be said for music, I have seen our family go through tapes to CDs to MP3s. Each member of our family has some type of an IPod.

When I turned 16, I got my first cell phone. It was pretty basic in that it was a flip phone and I could call people. I did not text or take pictures with the phone. Now, I am 21 and I am on my 4th different phone. It is a touch screen and I use it to text, get on the web, and take pictures. In a pretty short time I have went from not knowing much about phones to being pretty confident with my skills. As I have gotten older, technology has made big changes. My family and I have done our best to stay current with technology.

Technobiobraphy Alicia Grau

Technology has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was very young I can remember watching Barney and Disney movies on VHS everyday. I have an older brother and he has the original Nintendo system, but he would never let me play it. But, when I was in elementary school I can remember I got the newer Super Nintendo system and I could play that as much as I wanted. I would come home everyday after school and play it before i did my homework. Later in elementary school, we got our first computer. We had AOL Internet which now looking back took ages to actually connect to the Internet. I can't even imagine if computers still look that long to connect today. Once I knew how to get on the Internet I loved talking on AIM with all of my friends from school and I would get so excited when I signed onto the Internet and heard "You've got mail."

When I was in eighth grade, my Dad bought me a cell phone, so I could call him if i needed to stay after school or I was out with my friends. It was only a pre-paid cell phone so I had to watch how long I talked on it and how many text messages I sent. I found myself having no minutes left on my phone more often than I did have minutes. My Dad would only buy me more minutes once a month, so I had to budget how many I used.

When I got to high school I got a new cell phone with unlimited texting and enough minutes to last me through the month. Also, when I was a senior in high school I got my first laptop. Because I was able to have my own computer in my room, I found myself doing things on the computer more often. I would type more assignments for school, search for things online, as well as chat with my friends. Another piece of technology that came out while I was in high school was the ipod. I got one for Christmas when they were still pretty new and I loved it. It was so much more convenient than carrying around a ton of Cd's. Even today, ipods are still changing and coming out with more designs and sizes to fit with everyone.

Today, I use technology everyday. I am constantly checking my email and facebook to communicate with my friends and family. Also, I always have my phone on me and find myself texting all through out the day. I don't talk on the phone nearly as much as I did when I was in middle and high school because texting is just so much faster. I constantly listen to my ipod with headphones as well as in my car. Technology has come very far in the past twenty years and still continues to develop everyday. Because technology has been in my life ever since I was born, I can't imagine my life without it today.

Danielle Ritchie's Technobiography

I have always used and been surrounded by technology, but I have not been as addicted to modern gadgets as many of my peers. Like most children growing up in the 1990's, my first memories of technology involve boom boxes and VCRs. Throughout my elementary years, I used both Macs (in school) and PCs (at home) for educational purposes. I played some computer games during middle school, but that phase didn't last long. I gained experience with the internet in school, but rarely used it at home until I reached high school and my family traded dial-up for DSL. In ninth grade (2003), I started using the internet for more recreational uses, mostly instant messenger. Around that time, my parents also bought me a cell phone, and I purchased a digital camera. I worked on the newspaper in high school and learned how to use Photoshop, PageMaker, and InDesign. I played video games at friends' homes, but never had a gaming system myself.

Seven years later, I still use similar technology. I did buy a MacBook for college (which I absolutely love), and I have a newer cell phone and camera. I have never owned a mp3 player or smart phone, mainly because I can't imagine I would use either enough to justify its higher price.

I like learning about new technology and keeping up-to-date, but I rarely find a need to upgrade. I know that using technology will be a large part of my future profession and life, and I hope to learn about new changes, programs, and gadgets in this class.

Technobiography-Chelsea Leister

I am a part of the generation that has grown up while watching technology evolve in front of my eyes. Since I was born, my parents have always had the common up-to-date technology present in our home. In 1989, the year I was born, we had some of the technology we have now but it was in the earlier stages of development such as televisions, CDs, and cameras. In the middle to late 1990s, my parents bought their first cell phone and computer. Computers have always been a big part of my life because my mom is an architect and does most of her work on the computer. As my brother and I got older, my parents decided that we needed our own computers for entertainment and educational purposes. My younger brother was the first in our family to buy a laptop and I later received my first and only laptop as a high school graduation present in 2007.
My first favorite technology investment came when my parents bought my brother and I a Super Nintendo. I remember spending countless hours playing Mario Brothers. Even today, I will still go home and hook up the old Super Nintendo so my brother and I can play Mario Brothers for fun. I have many great memories playing Super Nintendo and I believe it brought my family closer because we had many nights where we would all sit and play. Since computers have always been in my house, I remember playing computer games such as Freddie the Fish. My parents were fascinated with my generations love for technology and I always remembered getting the newest technology for my birthday present each year. After Super Nintendo some of my favorite technologies have been digital cameras, touch screen cell phones, HD televisions, Blu-Ray or the PS3, Google, Wii, iPods, and wireless internet.
Technology has always been present in the schools I have attended as well. In elementary school, I remember the “overhead” being used daily. We even had a huge computer lab that my teachers would take our in class in as much as possible. From middle school on, I remember Elmos and Macs which we would use daily. Now interning at many schools my favorite technology I have seen being used is the Smart Board. It gets the children interacting with lessons while having fun as well. I believe integrating technology into today’s classrooms allows teachers to use multiple teaching strategies while catching their students’ interests.
I believe technology is a necessity that I need to get through each day. Daily, I use my cell phone, computer, the Internet, email, digital camera, and even spend countless hours watching television. Technology is a fast, convenient and efficient way of life in today’s world. It will always be a top priority of mine to keep up with the evolving technology so I eventually do not become a “Digital Immigrant.”

Lauren Weeks-Technobiography

Technology has been a pretty important part of my life. My parents have always been up to date with the newest "big thing."  I remember, when I was around 5, that my dad was one of the only parents in my development to have a "car phone" in his truck. I remember this phone being a huge, rectangle box, that screwed into the floor of my dads truck. I also remembered that we rarely every used it. When we did use it, it was pretty expensive. 

When I was in elementary school we went to the computer lab often. My mom always volunteered, and I remember typing papers, and playing educational games. Around the same time, possibly in middle school,  I remember getting the internet at my house. I didn't enjoy it, since it took forever to dial up, and plus I was heavily monitored while on it. Also in middle school, I got my first ipod. It was thick and massive, and broke slightly after a year. In eighth grade I got my first cell phone and digital camera. Since then, I have had numerous phones, digital cameras, and ipods. 

 

Now days, I have a few "necessities" that I couldn't live without. The top of my list would be my cell phone, followed by my MacBook, digital camera, and ipod  touch. While I take my phone everywhere, as of lately I have been trying to become less dependent on technology. I try to check my facebook and the internet less often, and try to enjoy things such as the outdoors more. I feel refreshed when I spend a few days away from the internet and networks. Technology has come a long way since I was a child, and I know it has a long way to go. 

Caitlin Miller : Technobiography

Since I was a baby, I was always around technology. There were always available computers, cameras, televisions, cell phones, house phones, CD players and more in my house. We started out with one computer in our house, until my sisters and I got old enough to know how to work one. Growing up with one computer was hard when you have two other sisters to fight with to use it. So as we each got older, we received one for the holidays / birthdays. Not only did I love going on the computer, but I loved taking pictures even more.

 When my parents thought I was old enough to be responsible for a camera, I was given one as a gift. I received my first digital camera in 9^th grade. Every since 9^th grade, I have been through four different cameras. Now I have Nikon Coolpix touch screen that I could not possibly live without. My grandfather always carried around his huge film camera and was always there to take family pictures. I think that is where my love for taking pictures came from. I do not go anywhere without my camera. Since I have had a digital camera I have probably taken somewhere between 10 and 20,000 pictures. I live for pictures. My friends think I am crazy, but one day they will look back and appreciate all the memories that I have captured over the years.

Other then using a camera, I have always been a creative person. In the past I always used Photoshop and other programs to create slideshows, calendars, movies, and power points. I went to University of Hartford my freshman year of college where I was a graphic design major. Although I really enjoyed working with designs that involved the computer, I did not think the major would get me anywhere in life so I switched to Elementary Education. I consider myself a technology person, and I am pretty good with different devices. I know how to do a lot of things on the computers and use a lot of different programs including most of the Microsoft Office programs. My family tends to come to me for computer help. I know how to work a cell phone, an ipod, a computer, a television, and a radio, so I consider myself set for life. Without those things, I do not think I would be able to accomplish much.

Alex Cardenas' Technobiography

Being born in Peru, I was not exposed to much technology until I moved to the U.S. when I was 6 years old. When I turned 7, my parents bought me my first video game system, an Atari 2600. Even though Nintendo was around at the time, we could not afford it, so the Atari is what I came to know for my first couple of years as a gamer. Upon turning 9, I received a Nintendo for Christmas and instantly fell in love with the Super Mario and Zelda franchises.

As I grew up, I continued to receive new gaming consoles, usually 2 years after they came out, as gifts at Christmas and birthday time. The progression of video game consoles I have owned are as follows: Atari 2600, Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, N64, Nintendo Wii, and XBox360, the latter two, which I currently own.

In terms of other types of technology, I got my first ever television while in middle school. This TV was a Daewoo 13 inch CRT screen TV. I was excited because it was my first ever TV that I could call my own. I remember playing with the Closed Caption feature every minute I could because I thought it was the coolest thing ever!

Other technology I was lucky enough to have growing up include walkmans, CD players, boomboxes, and many other gadgets. I remember when I was about 10 or so, my dad brought home our family's very first computer. It was one that ran strictly on DOS (this was before we could afford one with Windows). The main purpose for which I used the computer was to play simple 2-D analog style games which came installed on it. I was because of this computer that I learned how DOS works and also how many aspects of a typical computer works.

Growing older, working and being able to make and save my own money, I have expanded my technology collection. In the present time, I currently own (on top of the Wii and Xbox 360 mentioned above), 2 desktop computers, one laptop (even though it is rather slow at times), 2 iPods (the original Nano and a new 160GB classic), a Blu-Ray Player, 2 LCD TVs (a 32 and 42 inch), a home entertainment surround sound system, 2 digital cameras (both Sonys), 2 cell phones (a Samsung BlackJack I and a Pantech Duo), as well as many other random peripherals and gadgets that I use on a daily basis.

Looking back at the things I used to have (and not have) as a young boy and at the things I own now as a young adult, I can proudly say that technology has become a major part of my life. As I have grown up, I have used the things I received, either as gifts or bought myself, to learn more about technology. I did this by taking them apart, exploring all the parts they are made out of, and looking up what different things did.

Like any other techno-junkie, I have always wanted the next best thing in technology, and believe I always will. This is probably because I am constantly wanting to know what new kind of technology has come out and how I can use it to my own advantage or own personal pleasure. I believe that I have come a long way from being a 7 year old boy playing Pong on my Atari to now being able to almost tell you how that game was created. I believe this is a result of the influx of technology that has come into my life ever since arriving to this country as a naive 6 year old.

I, do however, continue to have my reservations about the Mac and any other Apple product (aside from the iPod)...but that's another story for another blog...

Welcome

This is the course blog for Ben Smith's ISTC 301. We meet on Mondays at 7:00 PM. Welcome everyone. I am looking forward to a great semester.