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When the first iPhone was released in 2007, it felt like a glimpse into the future. I was still in school back then, and while I didn’t own one myself, I clearly remember how exciting it was. Some students had iPods, and later, a few lucky ones started showing up with iPhones. It wasn’t common in classrooms yet, but just seeing them made everything else feel outdated. It's funny to think about it back then compared to now and how the iphone have changed over the years to when it first released.

When I finally got to use an iPod Touch, it became my favorite piece of tech. I loved how portable it was and how I could download apps, listen to music, and even access the internet all in one device.

What I liked least, though, was how distracting it could be. It was easy to open a game or scroll through something totally unrelated to school, especially during homework time. It took a bit of discipline to actually use it for learning instead of entertainment.

Still, tools like the iPhone or iPod definitely enhanced my learning experience. Having access to educational apps, audiobooks, and even simple tools like a calculator or dictionary in my pocket made learning more flexible and accessible. It made me realize that learning didn’t have to stop when I left the classroom.

Interview: Older Sister

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I grew up in the 1980s, and back then, technology was nothing like it is today. Using a computer wasn’t as easy as just clicking an icon or tapping a screen. First, you had to ring up the modem to connect to anything online which wasn’t really the internet as we know it now. It made this loud, screeching noise, a mix of static and high-pitched beeps, that seemed to go on forever. You just had to sit there and wait, hoping it would actually connect instead of timing out.

The computer screen itself was green text on a black background no color, no fancy graphics. Everything was run through a command line or basic text interface. You had to type out exactly what you wanted the computer to do, and if you got it wrong, you’d have to start over.

We used floppy disks the big, bendy kind at first, and later the smaller, slightly sturdier ones. You’d load one in just to run a single program or save a small file. If the disk was corrupted or the computer couldn't read it, that was it—you were out of luck. There was no cloud backup or USB stick to save you.

The computer was extremely slow. Just booting it up felt like a process. You’d turn it on and go make a sandwich while it loaded. If you were trying to open a program, you’d better be patient. Sometimes it felt like it took longer to get the computer ready than to actually do what you needed it for.

Despite all that, there was something exciting about it. It felt like we were witnessing the beginning of something big. Sure, it was clunky, noisy, and limited—but it was also new and full of possibility. Looking back now, it's hard to believe how far we’ve come but those early days of floppy disks and screeching modems will always be part of my story.

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Back in the day, audio cassettes were a big part of how we learned and listened to things, especially in the 1980s and early '90s. Before the internet, before streaming, and even before CDs became mainstream, cassette tapes were the go-to format for music, educational content, and even language learning.

We used them for more than just entertainment. In school and at home, audio cassettes were a valuable learning tool. There were tapes for just about everything—language lessons, history narrations, science facts, and even full audiobooks. For people like me, who learned better through sound than reading, they were incredibly helpful. Instead of getting lost in pages of text, I could just listen, pause, rewind, and play it again until the information stuck. It made learning feel more natural, especially for those who were auditory learners.

But cassette tapes were also fragile. If you played one too many times, the tape would wear out, and eventually, it could snap or get caught in the player. Sometimes you'd hear that awful warping sound where the audio slowed down or got distorted, and you’d know the tape was starting to go. If it got really bad, you’d have to carefully wind the tape back in with a pencil, hoping it wasn’t ruined. And if it broke? Well, that was the end of it—unless you knew how to splice it back together with a bit of scotch tape, which we sometimes did.

Despite all that, there was something really personal and immersive about learning through cassettes. You'd sit with a Walkman or a little tape player, headphones on, and just focus completely on the sound. No screens, no distractions. It gave learning a kind of rhythm—literally.

Looking back now, it’s easy to laugh at how delicate and manual it all was, but for many of us, audio cassettes opened up a new way of learning, especially for those who didn’t thrive with traditional textbooks. They were a key part of the technology that helped bridge the gap between old-school education and the digital age we know today.

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Back in the day, if you wanted to watch anything specific on the TV—especially something educational—you had to hook up a VCR. There was no Netflix, no YouTube, and definitely no streaming on demand. Everything came on tapes, and if you wanted to watch a particular show or film, you either had to catch it live or have the VHS tape ready to go.

In classrooms, the VCR was a big deal. If the teacher rolled in the big cart with the TV and VCR strapped on, we all knew it was going to be a good day. It usually meant we were watching a documentary, an educational film, or some special program related to what we were learning. Teachers would bring in specific tapes that matched the lesson—like science experiments, historical reenactments, or even old BBC programs for English class.

Hooking it all up wasn’t always smooth, either. You had to manually connect the VCR to the TV, usually with those red, white, and yellow RCA cables. And if something wasn’t plugged in right, the screen would be fuzzy, or you'd get that infamous blue screen with nothing playing. Then came the classic troubleshooting—blowing dust out of the tape slot, rewinding the tape, adjusting the tracking if the picture was jittery.

Still, it worked—and it was pretty amazing at the time. The ability to pause, rewind, or replay parts of a video made it easier to learn at our own pace. Sometimes teachers would stop the tape and ask us questions or replay a segment to make sure we understood. It turned the classroom into something more engaging than just reading from a textbook.

Of course, the tapes themselves could wear out over time. If they were old or used too much, they’d get static lines across the screen, or worse, the film inside could get eaten by the VCR. And if you forgot to rewind the tape before returning it to the teacher—or the video store at home—you’d definitely hear about it.

Looking back, the whole process feels clunky compared to today’s tech, but those VCRs played a big role in how we learned visually. They brought lessons to life in a way that books alone couldn’t, and for many of us, they made the classroom a little more exciting.

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Growing up in Cuba, the chalkboard was the heart of every classroom. There were no fancy gadgets just the teacher, the chalk, and the board. The chalk would scratch loudly as the teacher wrote out lessons, and we’d copy everything into our notebooks. Sometimes the chalk broke, or the board was wiped clean, sending clouds of chalk dust into the air.

We also got called up to the board to solve problems or write answers, which could be nerve-wracking but helped us learn to think quickly. Even without modern technology, the chalkboard made the classroom feel alive. It taught us to focus and really pay attention, and I think that made a difference in how we learned.

Looking back, the chalkboard isn’t just a tool—it’s a reminder of my roots and the lessons I carried with me from those early days.

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Growing up in the 1940s, pencils and notebooks were the foundation of my learning. There were no computers or tablets—just simple tools that got the job done. Every day, I’d grab my well-worn notebook and a pencil, ready to take notes and practice my lessons.

Pencils back then were basic but reliable. You had to keep sharpening them with a little metal sharpener, and if you weren’t careful, the lead would break. But there was something satisfying about writing with pencil—the soft scratch on the paper and the ability to erase mistakes gave me confidence to keep trying.

Notebooks were precious too. We didn’t have fancy spiral bindings or colorful covers; most were plain and simple, with just lined pages inside. I kept everything there—my handwriting practice, math problems, spelling lists, and stories. Teachers expected neatness, so I took pride in keeping my notebook clean and organized.

Using pencil and notebook taught me patience and discipline. Mistakes were part of learning, and erasing them was a way to start fresh. Even though it was basic, these simple tools shaped how I learned and helped me build a strong foundation for the future.

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Looking back on my learning journey, it’s amazing to see how much things have changed and yet how some experiences remain timeless. From the slow, screeching modem sounds and the green-and-black glow of old computer screens, to the delicate floppy disks and the crackling audio cassettes that brought lessons to life through sound, each tool shaped the way I learned and connected with knowledge.

In classrooms, the VCR hooked up to the TV was a gateway to new worlds, allowing us to watch educational tapes that made lessons more vivid and engaging. Meanwhile, the simple yet powerful chalkboard in the 1940's was the center of every lesson, where teachers and students shared knowledge in a direct and hands-on way.

Each of these tools had its strengths and challenges. Some were frustrating, like slow computers or fragile cassette tapes, while others made learning interactive and fun, like the chalkboard or educational videos. But all of them played a role in shaping my education and teaching me valuable lessons not just about subjects, but about patience, adaptability, and perseverance.

Today, with technology everywhere, it’s easy to take for granted the convenience and speed of learning. But remembering where we started helps me appreciate how far we’ve come and how important it is to keep embracing new tools while never forgetting the fundamentals that good education always relies on.