Week 4 - How Much do I use Technology?

• I take notes on paper, then compose online to save time. I guess I still feel more comfortable doing things in longhand and then typing.
• I put most things on a paper calendar, which must be on my desk at work because it is not with me now. At work, I put events on a large calendar, but will be using the online calendar with reminders, due to the fact that I forget to look at the calendar on paper. The online calendar saved me when it reminded me that I had a librarian's meeting that day that I had forgotten all about. I need to use the calendar on my phone that my husband says is there.
• I do not bring a PDA (I don't own one) or a laptop to meetings. I would have to unplug the speakers and pack up the laptop as I use the laptop and a projector everyday during the school year. I still bring my notepad to our meetings. Most everyone else does also, even though three librarians have IPhones and one has a blackberry. I have the lowly LG Shine, which I do not recommend due to not being able to see the screen in the sun and it does not have a keyboard.
• I am usually constantly connected. I always have my cell phone with me and the Internet is up at work and at home.
• I can engage in a few activities at one time, but if too many people are talking, like my son seems to be, I don't do things very well. At home, I find myseld watching TV, reading e-mails, reading a magazine and a book at the same time. There is so much down time on TV that I need to do something else when viewing. I e-mail, answer questions and teach classes simultaneously.
• I do not play video or computer games.
• I am at the beginning of the generation Xers, but just barely as I was born in 1966.

There are definitely things we need to do to change for the Net Gen students. We need to be technology savvy and always be updating our skills and learning new things to pass on. We should use digital media and graphics, anything visual for these visual learners. We should use team and discovery learning whenever possible. The needs of disadvantaged and non-traditional students shoudl be addressed to even the playing field so they get more time with technology. Maybe grants for disadvantaged students to get computors and the Internet at home might be a start.