Technology Throughout My Years by Brooklynn

Technology Throughout My Years by Brooklynn - January 2020 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my school career, I have watched technology grow within the classroom to expand my learning experience. I watched as computers evolved and chromebooks were invented. I was born at the turn of the century when technology rapidly unfolded and matured into what it is now. However, everything was still experimental when I was in grade school so we got all the hand-me-down technology from the high schools and middle schools in our town. We weren’t complaining though, we were just happy for computer-day every Tuesday. We played games that tricked us into learning and read online books that developed our love of technology and our little minds.
First grade is when Mrs. Murray took us to the computer lab to play on “Study Island” and “Cool math 4 Kids” for 45 minutes every Tuesday. We took this as a chance to get away from learning and be normal kids that don’t have to work. Looking back, I realize that it was a forward-thinking move from my teacher to start us off young with computers so we know how to properly use them in this fast pace world. Not only did it exercise a new part of our brains but it taught us important life skills that I still use to this day.
For years, my school provided a computer lab for us to use until I entered middle school in sixth grade. My grade was apart of an experimental “Chromebook” program where they tested how kids would treat the mini laptops. We kept the chromebooks in the classroom and my teacher taught us how to plug them in properly and how we should hold them to prevent damage or accidents. Luckily, my fellow sixth grade class did such a wonderful job, my district invested in Chromebooks for the entire student body in Burleson, with the exception of elementaries.
The most important year of technology was when ninth grade came around and we were provided with our own personal Chromebooks that we can take home! This was life changing for me and the class of 2020. We were given a sense of responsibility to take care of a laptop that was not our own property. For some of us, it made us feel empowered and respected by our elders. Others abused the power and got their computer taken away. However, over all, not only were Chromebooks incorporated into our daily lessons in class but our homework assignments were posted on them as well.
My district shares a Google Classroom for all of the students to stay in touch with their teachers and to know what assignments are due. This feature has made my schooling so much easier because it gives us the opportunity to use the world wide web responsibly and expand upon our knowledge.