Growing with Technology

    Hello!!!! My name is Khalid Fethi and I'm going to be talking about how technology has impacted my education growing up. For as long as I can remember technology has always been a part of my life and has only grown more and more present. 

    From as far back as kindergarten, technology was already making its way into the classroom. I remember the excitement of seeing two old Apple computers in our class, which we used to play educational games like ABC Mouse. It may sound simple now, but back then, it was a big deal to be able to trace letters on a computer screen. As kids we'd all swarm around whoever was laying and I always felt so cool whenever it was my turn!

    

    By the time I got to middle school, technology took a more prominent role in my learning. At this point computers evolved into laptops and there was enough for everyone in the class! We would use the internet for research or creating powerpoints and our teachers would even assign us some homework that we could only do online. This marked the beginning of a more digital approach to learning.

    While still in middle school, my teachers would make all of us practice our typing skills allll the time. Looking back, I realize they were just preparing us for the future. It was clear to them how much of an impact technology was going to have on our lives as it continued to evolve and they were preparing us with skills that we didn't even know we'd need. 

    In high school, technology became more essential. My school district provided each student with a personal laptop, and most teachers used a platform called Schoology to share assignments and resources. While some teachers still used traditional paper and pencil methods, many integrated technology into their lesson plans, including digital homework and classwork.

    When the pandemic hit during my freshman year in high school technology became our lifeline for learning. I spent the entirety of my sophomore year online which had its pros and cons… mostly cons. On the bright side of things the transition wasn’t too difficult since we were already familiar with Schoology. After returning to in-person learning, we continued to use online platforms, which limited the spread of germs and helped reduce paper waste.

    

    Now in college, online learning remains a core part of my education. Technology is seamlessly woven into the way we access lectures, submit assignments, and collaborate with classmates. It’s clear that the digital methods I grew up with are here to stay, continuing to evolve alongside my education. 

    

    It’s been amazing to witness firsthand how technology has transformed education, and I feel fortunate to have grown up with it. I'm curious to see how today’s elementary students are using technology and how it will continue to impact future generations.