I have had technology in my life as long as I can remember, and consider myself to be fairly comfortable with technology. I can figure out how to work unfamiliar technology and am a person that other people come to for help with technology. I am pretty good at problem solving and have even built my own computer. All of it started with video games, and I feel grateful that my family let me spend so much time getting comfortable with technology and that they fully immersed me in our digital world.

I got my first computer from my dad. I begged him to get me one because I had been playing on the PlayStation 2 with him for years playing Madden 2006, but really wanted to play Minecraft. He got me a MacBook, which of course is to anyone who knows technology knows it for being the worst computer for video games, but it was okay. I made it work, and it functioned well enough for what I needed it to do. I used that laptop all the way up until college. I also got a desktop computer in high school that I loved. I played tons of video games on that desktop.

The major use of technology in my life was definitely video games. I bonded with my friends by playing video games when we got home from school. We talked about games at school. All of my free time was spent in the basement playing games on my desktop computer. I had no problems using technology as it was needed of me growing up. I also used technology at Chick-Fil-A, where I worked in high school. We had to clock in and take orders on their computers through a POS system. I was definitely someone that teachers and students alike asked for help when something was malfunctioning. I did take computer classes in school, however most of my skills were self-taught. My motivation for taking the classes was that for a long time I was pretty sure that I wanted to study computer science. Once I got to coding, however, I realized that I was completely wrong. I hated coding. Instead, I decided that I would go into math.

My teachers used games in class sometimes, which was always my favorite. They also used projectors for guided notes. I definitely incorporated that into my class. My lessons are guided with Powerpoint and I use Desmos to create resources and exercises for my students. I also often create video models and reviews to hand out to my students. Some of my fellow Teach For America teachers have also had me make them worksheets through Desmos. My school gave me a computer and that is the one I use in class.

I don’t have much trouble integrating technology into my classroom. Since Rancho provides a computer and projector, and the students are given computers, it is pretty easy to set up Canvas and help students access the materials that they need to succeed in my class. I imagine it can be more difficult in elementary school, where students do not yet have basic computer skills. I think computers are fairly crucial to being able to teach and I don’t know how a teacher could teach without a computer. I also think my projector is necessary for my lessons. I will say that I do not use the smart board in my classroom. Personally, I have always had a computer at my disposal and I have always known how to use Excel. I definitely don’t use the minimal coding that I learned in high school. I still remember how to do some of it, but I never got into it and don’t particularly enjoy it.

I think basic math skills are needed for teaching. It can help to be able to tell a student which assignments are most important and can help their grade the most, if a student wants to know. I think teachers should be able to make a coherent power point presentation and should be able to print worksheets and make copies. I think they should understand the difference between formative and summative assessments and be able to balance their grade book to best demonstrate what students have learned. I definitely have noticed a digital gap between my students and myself despite being not even ten years older than them. The biggest thing that I have noticed is that students view technology as a thing to observe rather than a thing to use. They don’t know how to use the technology given to them but do know how to scroll Instagram. They don’t know about the settings that are possible, though, even on apps that they are familiar with. They don’t know how word processing software works, and their knowledge of technology is very surface level–almost as if technology were magic.

In general, I think that I am incredibly immersed in the digital world of modern society. I am proficient with computers and common computer programs. I think video games set me on my technological path and are to thank for my interest in all things digital. I am excited to see what other tools I can add to my skill set from this course.