Chapter One

Chapter One had a lot of of key points that I found pretty interesting. It's interesting to read about how the past has influenced today's technology. For me, it is hard to imagine a world without the World Wide Web, but, as the book says, it was introduced in 1994, only 15 years ago. This baffles me, because that one technological development has changed so much of society. It is interesting to think that new advances such as that are being made all the time, and they influence so much of our daily lives. Learning about the pre-microcomputer era, the microcomputer era, and the internet era, made me realize the differences among generations regarding technology, and the effects that these different may have had.

It was also interesting to read about the different ways that technology can enhance the teaching and learning experience. I was already aware of many of the uses for technology in the classroom, like providing faster information to students, word processing, and helping students visualize different topics that may be difficult to understand. However, reading the text helped me realize that technology has so many more facets and opens doors to so many more possibilities, especially in education.

I found it useful that the text stressed the need for teachers to create flexible learning environments and adaptable assessment options. With emerging technologies, it is important for teachers to be up to date. It was also useful to learn about the benefits of technology for students with disabilites.

Chapter One was a good introduction into the world of educational technology.