Technology Autobiography

Hello! My name is Kathleen and I am currently a part-time student enrolled in the MAT (Masters of Art in Teaching) program at the University of Louisville. My goal is to become certified to teach high school chemistry. I am also working full-time managing a lab in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology department at the University of Louisville. Most of my work involves the purification and characterization of proteins collected from Salamanders (pretty cool stuff, really!).

I’m excited that the “Teaching with Technology” course is being offered and that it is a requirement for the program. I say this because I have little knowledge of how much or what kind of technology is available or used in the classroom since I came much later in life to the world of technology. I can still remember in high school learning to master the keyboard on a manual typewriter. The teachers told us that learning to type was an essential skill needed in the workplace or in college. They were right! When I went to college, a student was considered “lucky” if they had an electric typewriter……especially if it had the self-correction feature (and they didn’t have to use white-out all the time). Needless to say, I had no computers, no cell phones, no iPods, etc., when I was in high school.

Nevertheless, I can identify with the importance that technologies play in the workplace as all of my jobs have used some kind of technology in some manner. As a retail manager, I would place orders using hand-held devices that would scan the product bar codes; this information would then be transferred to software on a computer. In my current job as a lab manager, I use a tremendous amount of technology. Many of the instruments that I use in the lab operate through software programs that are loaded on the computers. Research is also a big part of my job. Years ago, I would have had to go to the library and manually search for information. Today, I can use the computer and get instant access to the internet. I also use many features of the computer software applications such as Word, Excel, and Power Point.

Therefore, I think it is essential that students, at some time during their K-12 education, receive as much knowledge/exposure to the different technologies being used in the world today. As educators, we cannot ignore that every aspect of living in today’s world has some connection to technology. From using your television to using a GPS……technology is a part of everything we do! While it is important and essential that we educate students to read and write, it is also necessary that we expose them to as many different technologies as possible. Most jobs now require a technology background.

As an educator, I will welcome the use of technology in my classroom. The subject of chemistry is a difficult concept to understand without the ability to demonstrate those concepts. I would use the computer to access websites, conduct presentations, etc. to facilitate the learning process. I also think that having the technology will be a big time saver that will allow me to spend more time on other areas.

Unfortunately, technology can also be a problem. Most students have cell phones, iPods, etc. and I know that this must be a distraction for them and the teachers! And with access to the internet, I am sure that students can more easily cheat or plagiarize when writing papers, doing projects, etc. Overall, I think the benefits outweigh the cons. But, as educators, we will have to be vigilant to ensure that any problems that arise as a result of cell phones, iPods, computer/internet are addressed in a timely, appropriate manner.