Blog #2: Technology Experience and Digital Natives

✰    When it comes to MS Word, I feel like I have used this program for the majority of my educational career. I was introduced to Word around 6th grade, which is as far I can remember using it. Before middle school, we did lots of writing on pen and paper, but I feel like the more assignments I did on Word, it helped me understand how to manage around the settings in Word. I like using Word when I use it for papers or write stories when I have downtime (as a college-kid working a job, that is not usually the case). I have familiarized myself with the tools and skills that most students know how to use when writing a paper. Whenever I go on a different word-processing program, like Google Docs, it isn't as nicely formatted as it is with Word; I also feel uncomfortable using Google Docs because I rarely use it.

✰     In our EME 2040 class this week, we talked about how teachers incorporate technology with their educational and professional networks. We talked about the organization known as the International Society for Technology in Education, also known as ISTE, which has several standards for Educators to students. The standards are Learner, Leader, Citizen,  Collaborator, Designer, Facilitator, and Analyst. I feel that I connect to the Learner and Leader standards the most, because I want to grow and learn, but also as an educator, I want to lead my student to success in the classroom. I think these standards are important because an educator needs to improve and grow from mistakes, but also be able to change and be malleable with their teaching material. 

✰    We also discussed the term 'Digital Native' for today's generation. Digital natives can be defined as someone born in the beginning/middle of a digital age, and they understand the use of technology easily. I feel that I am a Digital Native because I grasp technology early on when I was younger, and I feel proficient using the technology that I own (ex: my Mac laptop, iPhone, my video game consoles, etc.). Compared to my teachers, I feel that my generation grasped it much quicker since our access to technology started when we were younger, while the adults are still slowly learning. When my mom needs help finding something on the computer, I am quick to move on the browser and my mom gets mad at me for moving too fast because she could not find what she needed at the same speed. We see this technology confusion with teachers especially during the pandemic as we used Zoom for virtual classes and there is so much to the program to learn from. I anticipate that when I become a teacher, my students will have an average level of technology skills like present me, and I will be able to guide them effectively because we are on the same level of skills.