Week 1

The internet and my smartphone are two things I could not live without.  I use the internet for school.  "Modern, high-speed computers and telecommunications have facilitated the rapid movement of financial resources, goods and services, and have created an interdependence among the world's economies" (Molnar, 1997, p. 1).  I conduct most of my financial business online.  In addition, I shop online and keep in contact with out-of-state family members, as well as follow world news online.  I never leave home without my laptop, my tablet or my phone.  I usually have one of the three or at the very least my smartphone.  The great thing about my smartphone is that if I can't access WiFi, I can still access the internet through 4G.  Also, I can program reminders for important activities in my phone so that I can stay on top of my appointments.  Without these technologies and technology tools, I would be greatly limited in completing tasks in a timely fashion due to my busy work and school schedule.  It would be hard to keep in contact with out-of-state family members and friends.  I wouldn't be able to go to school online.

My dependency on technology is heavily based on my experiences. Today, I use technology in every aspect of my life. I am currently an online learner and I work in a school rich in technology. Technology and learning go hand-in-hand. "Increasingly, many concepts and ideas cannot be taught without the aid of technology to represent and manipulate them." (Molnar, 1997, p. 3) Can you remember the last time you ran into an encyclopedia salesman? When was the last time you looked up anything in a book? The internet is convenient and it's quick. In this class alone, I learned, through my resources online, that in 1959 computers in education was first introduced in a large scale project. I also learned that "in 1963, John Kimeny and Thomas Kurtz transformed the role of computers in education from primarily a research activity to an academic one." (Molnar, 1997, p. 3) You can look up millions of pieces information in one place in a matter of moments but it does require some skill. Computers are a must in education to properly prepare students for the 21st century. "Broadly speaking, the two major functions of education are to transmit the culture, values and lessons of the past to the current generation; and to prepare our children for the world in which they live" (Molnar, 1997, p. 1) What better way to prepare our kids be successful in today's schools and tomorrow's workforce than through computer proficiency. Computer literacy is no longer enough.

References

Molnar, A. (1997). Computers in education: A brief history. T.H.E. Journal, 24(11), 63-68.