My mother-in-law: “Hmmm... we had typewriters and also mechanical pencils were super cool when they first came out!” A lot of laughter ensued after that. “When I was in college, I used the microfiche and that was helpful. Computers had just started to come out but I didn’t use one while in college.”  

Me: "How do you feel this technology enhanced your learning experience?"

My mother-in-law: “Well, the microfiche allowed me to gather information and data a lot quicker but we didn’t use technology the way kids and my own students use them today, kids nowadays have so many technological resources.”  

My sister: “I believe there was a room full of those first gen mac computers, the ones with the blue backs and we would go use that room with rows of computers for whatever specific class or lesson we needed them for. Also, teachers would use SmartBoards in our classes and I thought those were the coolest thing when we first got them.”

Me: "How do you feel this technology enhanced your learning experience?"

My sister: “With the SmartBoards, I felt the lessons were a lot more interactive. Also, what I loved about going to the computer room was making PowerPoints and I always felt more engaged in what I was learning when I was making those versus just popcorn reading a lame textbook.”

My daughter: “We use Chromebooks, we all have our own one on a cart. We just got a BenQ board in our class, it replaced our SmartBoard and it is really fun! It has lots of games we can play and its cool to write on. Also, Mrs. Purcell comes in sometimes and lets us use the Dash robots and they’re really fun!”

Me: "How do you feel this technology enhances your learning experience?" 

My daughter: “I think they help us learn more because they’re a lot of fun and I think I pay attention more when we’re having fun. With the BenQ boards I get really excited for whatever lesson we’re going to do that gives us a chance to go up and write on them.”