My+Digital+Autobiography

My name is Courtney Kimes, and I am 33 years old. My dad is a computer programmer, so growing up, there was always a computer in the house. My earliest memories as a technology user are about a computer called the Commodore 64. This was cutting edge technology in the eighties, and I used it as a source of entertainment. My dad was (and still is) a gamer, so we had shelves full of floppy disks and game cartridges like Jump-Man, Q-bert, and Donkey Kong. In addition to a personal computer, we also had game consoles like Nintendo and Sega Genesis. My sister and brother and I played constantly.

At my elementary school, the computer labs were mostly used for educational games like Oregon Trail and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego. When I got to middle school, my interactions with computers were strictly for word processing and printing papers. Somewhere in between middle and high school, the Internet came along. I can remember gathering around my dad's computer and watching America On-Line dial up and slowly connect. In high school, my friends and I began to utilize the Internet by going to chat rooms. We found entertainment in anonymously chatting with strangers. We would usually make up the most ridiculous stuff just to get reactions. It was kind of like prank calling people, except it was on a computer. There were a few times when my friends and I were invited to private chat rooms and we were smart enough to log off at that point. This is still a big problem today, and I don't think it will ever go away. This best thing we can do is educate our kids about online predators and make sure they know how to use social media responsibly. After awhile we got bored with chat rooms, and the computer was once again used soley for games and word processing.

Since then, technology has advanced to the point where I get anxiety if I leave my house without my cell phone. I go online to find information and answers to any questions I might have about any topic. Instead of using the phrase, "look it up," we now say, "Google it!" If you live in or near a city, WiFi access is available, or you have the option of paying for Internet service. Every business has a webpage, and most people shop online instead of driving to a store. Social media has become so popular, to the point where some people are addicted to it. The digital world has become ingrained in our society, and this is reflected in our schools as well. Most students own cell phones, and many classrooms are using Smart Boards. As a teacher, I want to embrace technology, but also teach kids how to be creative and responsible digital citizens.

As an artist, I frequently use my smartphone to search for images to use as source material. I expect my students will do the same. Programs like Adobe Photoshop can be used to manipulate and edit images. Photoshop is generally not introduced until college, but I would like to expose students to it as early as possible. I think it is important that they understand how a computer program can do essentially the same thing as a pair of scissors and glue. 3-D printers are becoming more affordable for personal use, and the possibilities for creating 3-D art are endless. There are many sketchbook applications for the ipad that allow students to experiment with different ideas, and because digital art can easily be erased or changed, students can work without fear of making a permanent mistake.

These are just a few examples of how technology can be utilized in a classroom. As a teacher, I will also take advantage of things like EdCanvas and Power Point to present lesson plans. YouTube is an amazing resource for demonstrating various art techniques. It is unrealistic to assume that I will be able to teach every art technique in every medium, so I will definitely use YouTube to help students learn things that I am unable to show them. Blogs and Wikispaces are great ways to showcase students' work for family and friends to see.

In conclusion, I think it is important for students to be exposed to technology in school because it may not be available to them at home. As I stated earlier, digital technology is becoming ingrained in our culture, and technology use is a necessary skill, much like reading and writing are necessary skills. The way we communicate is changing, as well as the way we gather and distribute information. As teachers, we need to think creatively about how to make to best use of this awesome thing we call "technology," and more importantly, we need to teach our students to do the same.