Journal #1

Since my first day in Kindergarten, technology has been an essential aspect of my educational experience. I have never lived in a world without computers or the internet; my generation is considered a digital native for the exact same reason. Being a digital native is about the kind of lifestyle my generation has, it is the perfect term to describe us versus our parents and older relatives who have had to learn and adapt to this new digital era. We grew up in a time where there was rapidly developing technology every few months, whether that was in medicine, commercial, or personal use, it doesn't matter, the past 20 years has revolutionized the way in which the people interact with the world, and each other. 

In school it was endlessly frustrating watching teachers struggle to full screen a video, make the projector work, or work a Power Point, especially when we could get it working in a few seconds, even if we had never seen how to do it before. Even now I don't know how to describe the primal rage I seem to feel when I watch a Youtube video auto-play in class, when that option can be turned off, or just click the massive cancel at the bottom of the video screen. My teachers have all been digital immigrants, even the younger ones didn't have quite the integration I had, or especially that my younger niece has. They had to learn this technology when their brains weren't as plastic as my generation's were, they had to change their way of life to include this new technology that has basically always been a part of mine. 

Watching my niece grow up has even shown me, how my transitional generation differs from this one. While I was growing up new technologies where being introduced that I learned, and I gained adaptable skills that I am able to apply to the new technology; but she was born into this technology obsessed world. She was raised by an IPad more than her parents, she grew up with a video screen always within arms reach, and the world using them with skill, and she has never known a life outside of that. She is part of the generation I will teach; In fact, I will be teaching her grade when I graduate. I will most likely be that embarrassing teacher who struggles with technology, although hopefully much less than my own teachers did. I expect for my students to be able to have ease when working with technology and not need much guidance in that sense, and just in content. I also expect for my classroom to work through technology more than paper, it is likely I could be in a paperless classroom. 

The ISTE standards are extremely useful for organizing the thoughts and goals of teachers into manageable sections that quantify good and effective teaching. A very meaningful standard to me is collaboration. Education is a two way street, and I could teach for 50 years and still be learning better ways to teach depending on the needs of my students.Each student is an individual with unique experiences and ways of learning that I will want to work with as much as I can in a class with other students and other needs. One standard I think I may struggle with is Designer or Analyst because even if I have the data, I worry about my ability to apply that and change, or develop better programs to improve student performance. 

Teachers and students are influenced by the rest of the world in their use of technology. Currently life is so centered around technology from our phones, watches, computers, cars, and especially our classes. Districts usually now mandate use of certain websites, or programs to assist in learning, teaching, and communication between the two. With digital natives now becoming teachers to more digital natives technology will be even more involved as both parties will have a high skill level in it. Technology is more interactive and hands on, while also being visual, or auditory working with all learning types.

Technology is education is crucial, and beneficial to all involved, and the new generations of teachers and students will most likely not see a classroom without it.