First and Second Thoughts

My first thoughts of this course were how it might help me teach history better. As most of you know, the better a student learns, the better he/she is prepared for the world in which they will be engaged in their future. Their future will undoubtedly involve the use of computers.
Karl Fisch’s video was a real eye opener. Reviewing it, yet again, just blows me away with the responsibility teachers have to engage the learner in some kind of computer networking skills. The modern generation is flexible enough to learn, unlearn, and relearn methods and applications. I remember the IBM monitor and keyboard (we only had one) in our high school that was connected to the massive computer at the University of Maine. A code was needed to boot it up, and all us nerdy kids had access. We only used it for games.

When I started work, (in the early 80’s) I learned how to log on to an IBM computer, access my files and write up reports. When the company switched over to Apple computers I had to relearn how to boot up the Apple II, file documents, run the screen, etc. Then they upgraded to Mac’s, which wasn’t much of a relearn, but I still had to learn how to set up spreadsheets, and run a database. The memory of those PC’s didn’t allow for much more than documents, spreadsheets, and a database. I wasn’t lucky enough to get email. I stuck with my Mac through the 90’s until its memory crashed. Then I had to get a cheap Brother PC that lacked the capabilities of the Mac but was functional. Yet another relearn, because the Brother PC’s didn’t have a mouse, just arrows, and a bunch of command codes.
The real break through was in 2002 when we got our first computer with Microsoft Windows (98 with upgrades) that had email Outlook. Wow, another relearn. And, email came easy because I had recently worked with it for a company that had Windows 98 and 2000. Communication barriers came crashing down, even if it was dial-up.
I know students who actually resist this. Their socio-economic background opposes internet use. As crazy as it may seem, I live in a backward pocket of modern American society where in some situations, internet use is looked down upon. As a matter of fact, the town I live in opposed the installation of cable 30 years ago. Now, the only internet connection is slow dial-up. I’m lucky enough to live along the main highway where cable was installed. High speed cable is soooo nice.
I don’t think we ever unlearn the computer systems of the past. I picked up an old operational Mac, once that still ran like new. It was amazing how I remembered how to run the thing. But, its capabilities were limited for what I had progressed to. It was nice, but I eventually boxed it up. I eventually passed it on to a youngster that thinks it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. He’ll, one day, upgrade and the unlearning and relearning process will come around again. Just wait till he gets to a computer class in high school, or college. He’ll have lots of fun when he discovers blogging and social networking.