Things have advanced so much in the past twenty years. It amazes me sometimes.
This morning, Diana () called after she dropped the kids off at school this morning, and asked me whether I knew that Taron was able to play with a computer while at school. I did know this, and I know that he enjoys doing so–I saw him shove a girl out of the chair so that he could continue his turn (needless to say, he got a stern lecture–as stern a lecture that a three-year old can understand anyway). They have an old iMac in one corner of the classroom, where the kids can play various interactive and educational games, while learning the basic concepts of using a computer–keyboarding, using a mouse, etc.
It’s just a little, I don’t know, weird, I guess, to see my three-year old son using a computer, when I hadn’t had my first encounter until the fourth grade. My encounters weren’t all that different from what he is accomplishing now. Well, perhaps a bit different. We did do the gaming thing, mainly Super Munchers, Oregon Trail, and Dr. Quandary. We also took advantage of using a word processor and spreadsheets. Obviously document handling is a bit advanced for him (like by maybe two years).
It’s just amazing.
I’ve been intending to put an old computer in Taron’s room, for him to play with, but haven’t yet. (His behavior has been keeping me from doing so–in fact his behavior has been causing him to lose privileges.) I fear that he really won’t like the thing, either, since he has gotten used to the comforts and features of a more modern computer. The computer I have saved back for him is an old PCjr.
Talk about being worlds apart. He’s been playing with one of the first iMacs, and I want to give him a PCjr… I’m sure he’ll hate it.
I had acquired the PCjr a couple of years ago. Someone asked me whether I wanted it, and I thought hey, that’d be a great first computer for Taron–it’s practically indestructible! So, I took it, played with it, (to make sure it still worked) tested the cartridges, and tracked down all of my old software, then put the mess into storage, to await for the day in which it would be placed in Taron’s room. Well, I think I should dig the sucker out soon (and track down a 5¼ drive for this computer so I can create a few more program disks). It won’t be long before Taron will need access to a modern PC, and I’ll need to show him a bit more on the use of a computer before he gets a hold of our notebooks or this desktop. Indestructible PCjr. with the funky chicklet keys to the rescue!
…in other technology and education news…
Students are using Palms in classrooms. And I’m not meaning in larger cities, I’m meaning here, in Cynthiana. I didn’t know this. From what information I have read, there are five elementary school classrooms that are using Palm Pilots. Wow! Third-graders are learning how to use a data assistant, tracking their assignments, and syncing information between their Palms and the PCs at school. I was just beginning to learn cursive handwriting, and these kids are mastering graffiti!
Another interesting thing that’s going on in Harrison County is that all of the teachers are blogging. Each teacher has an account through WordPress, where they give announcements on events, assignments, and what-not for parents and students to review. What a great tool! Not only are the teachers blogging, but the administration is blogging as well. I have subscribed to the feeds of three of these administrative blogs, so that I can be in the know of what’s going on within the Board of Education.
It’s just, I dunno, wow! Amazing!
And I can’t help but to sit and wonder what other advances will occur in the next few years, as Taron and Nivea leave the HeadStart programs, and enter into the regular school system. How will technology effect them? Will they soon be blogging as well? It’s not a far-fetched idea. I found a video on TeacherTube, where an instructor in New Zealand created a video explaining why students there are blogging:
I also wonder why I feel so shocked and amazed by this. I had foreseen this when I was a student, as did many teachers. We had all expected technology to enter the classroom, and that there would be a greater connection to the world in years to come. I guess that’s it. I wasn’t expecting those years to pass by so fast. I wasn’t expecting to see my son playing on a computer in daycare, before he had the chance to do so at home. I wasn’t expecting any of this to happen so soon. And it amazes me.
For the first time in my life, I feel old.
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