My first "computer" was a word processor that I received for high school graduation from my parents. It showed a few lines of text on the screen as I typed...I guess it was more of a glorified electric typewriter. I was thrilled I could save things on a floppy! Although I had access to computers on my college campus, I loved and was comfortable with my typewriter and used it for most everything. I mean, it boasted a cover AND carrying handle! ha!
Upon getting married, my husband and I purchased an NEC with our wedding money. Truthfully, I wasn't that excited. Although we had Internet, it was like this strange land of endless information where I didn't often tread--mostly just when I absolutely needed to. I still mainly used the computer for word processing not really understanding, nor wanting or needing to understand, what a computer had to offer. I was pleased to simply have a place I could save my work in folders and readily access that work. I was thrilled I could expose my (toddler) daughter to computer programs like My Very First Little People Farm and Pet Shop. I saw more value in the exposure this offered her than what computer could do for me. My husband and I purchased a couple of trivia games (I don't remember the titles, just that they were addicting!) and, I loved playing solitaire...BTW that computer got fried when our house got struck by lightning!
Once I secured a 4th grade teaching position and updated to an HP computer at home, I still only used the computer and Internet to complete what I needed to for that position. Upon entering the world of middle school, where technology was at the forefront of everything, I finally began to see the computer as a real learning tool for my students and myself. I had a projector in my classroom ceiling and came to see the endless opportunities that offered me and my students.
