As far as I can remember, my elementary school always had computers, although I don't remember specifically when I first was able to use them. When I did eventually gain access to them, the computers were used for several different things: accelerated reader tests, typing lessons (from about 3rd grade on), and various other projects such as creating word documents and PowerPoint projects. We would go to the library once a week with our classes, but I also went during silent reading time to take my accelerated reading tests, which lead to points and prizes. More than anything else, I remember my school's librarian snapping her polish-clad talons and saying, "File, print, save!" whenever class time came to a close. Later in my education, computers were available on carts that were delivered to classrooms and were used to work on papers, research, and group projects. Like in elementary school, though, my most vivid memories regard the inconveniently short battery life of the computers more so than what we actually did with them.
From what I recall, my family always has had a computer. In the 90's, my dad was very interested in the up-coming technology and eventually went on to start a career in computers, so my house was usually pretty much on top of the technology bubble as I was growing up. I remember playing CD-ROM computer games before using the Internet, but as I got older, the Internet took center stage, especially because of the higher demand in my classes. I would probably estimate that I spent at least three hours every week doing some school-related task on the family computer, so regardless of whether or not computers had been present in my schools, I probably would have still emerge from public education as a computer literate individual. This is especially true in the sense that I am a member of the Facebook generation - my upbringing would have had to be drastically different for me to not be knowledgeable about computers.
While reading your post, I kept on having “light bulb” moments. I also did the accelerated reader tests and typing lessons. The carts of laptops that went from classroom to classroom were always unreliable at my school. Students and teachers would fail to plug the laptops in when they were not using them and sometimes we couldn’t use them because they were too low on battery. Classes during junior high and high school made it impossible to not be on the internet at least once a week if not more for homework. I remember when I started writing a research paper at home and my mom was amazed that I could find so much without going to the library. I never even realized that my mom did not have the internet when she did research papers during her school years.
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