Technology plays a huge part in our world. Our digital reality will only expand further, and as future teachers, it’s already reached schools. As we talked about in class, change in content can play a huge role in this. In the past we didn’t have access to many things without there being restrictions. I remember in my early schooling if we needed to watch a video or film, we had to roll in the big TVs on the carts. Now, teachers can pull most things up with a quick Google search and using YouTube. This is one example of how the digital age impacted classrooms. On top of that, most schoolwork is done using technology. As beneficial as technology can be in situations, in schools it can become a problem. Many schools now have access to Chromebooks, and they are being used in classrooms a large amount (that I’ve witnessed), which is another change from my early schooling. We had a computer lab, so we were limited when it came to using technology for school, rather than having classroom access to Chromebook carts. Along with the implementation of digital use in schools, this connects with the topics of change in relationships and participatory culture.

Living in the digital world we do, younger generations are being introduced to digital devices at earlier ages. This, along with participatory culture, leads to changes in relationships. Children nowadays are growing up quicker as they are being influenced by what they see online. Along with being influenced, the abundant access to technology becomes clear in the classroom setting. I think as future educators, it’s important to create the balance between technology and reality since children are now growing up with and around technology that is making new advances each day. As teachers, we need to learn to work alongside technology as an assistant to us. Some students in this generation and those to come already know that consumers can be creators, and for some it’s all they know. Creating a balance is important to recognize and teach that there was a before and that technology can’t do everything a teacher can.

Referencing another class topic relating to participatory culture is the disappearance of mediation. In class, it was mentioned how some families had household computers, which would normally be in a common area in the house. I remember making my own little vlogs on our computer that was in the living room. At the time, my older siblings thought they were adorable and hilarious. Eventually, some years later, I got an iPhone and had the app Musical.ly. Suddenly the videos I always used to make weren’t as funny to them anymore since they were now public to strangers. My own sister literally hacked my Musical.ly because of the potential dangers it could’ve had. I was furious at first, but then I made a new account quickly after, oops! I remember realizing after it happened, though, to be cautious of what I post because anyone could have gotten into it. In the end it was a valuable lesson, and it was a realization that the disappearance of ‘living room computers’ was the start of a new digital era.