1) The most defining moment in my life when it comes to the use of technology occurred when I was in the third grade at Brownsville Elementary School. I can still remember vividly my teacher telling us that we would be working on the computers that day, but when the class all lined up to go to the computer lab my teacher told us to sit back down because we were not going to be using those computers. It was that point when my third grade mind was wondering how we would be using the computers if we were not going to the computer lab. Just as I and everyone else had reached the peak of our confusion my teacher wheeled this huge gray cart into the room that none of us had ever seen before. My teacher then opened the side of the cart and pulled out one of thirty brand new laptop computers and told us that these were the computers we would be using today. We each got to walk up and get a laptop to bring back to our desks. I had seen laptops before but never actually used one so the experience was completely new for me. I remember sitting there with the laptop open on my desk following every instruction to click and type that the teacher gave us. Although it may not seem like a big deal now, it was the highlight of my third grade year. The whole concept of being able to use the latest technology made me feel very important even if it was only elementary school and it set the stage for an entire academic career of laptop computer use.
2) My situation is not identical to any of the reading we have done this year but I do see similarities between my experience and the Clive Thompson article. I believe that my experiences were a part of the technological and literary revolution that he mentioned in his article. The use of laptop computers is a huge part of our lives in today’s day and age due to the fast pace of the world around us. Laptops are used heavily now because they are great for the on-the-go lifestyle that many Americans live. Although I did not know it then, my experience with learning to use the laptops was a large key to my academic success throughout my years of school and in the literacy revolution.
3) My experiences with technology as well as others from my generation tell me that being digitally literate means you have been exposed to enough of the digital world in your life that interpreting technologies such as computers comes as second nature. In both my personal account of technology use and others from my peers, the common thread is that we were exposed to digital technology at an early age and that is what I believe is the deciding factor in whether someone is going to be digitally literate or not. In my opinion a digital native is someone who by circumstance alone, happen to be exposed to the broad use of digital technology all throughout their lives which explains why the adolescent generation now is more digitally literate than previous generations.
4) My opinion as to what makes an individual digitally literate would be backed by professional reports and statistical data that shows that the generation of young people now is far more technology adept than previous generations. It can also be seen on a smaller scale in my personal life as well, when my sister and I must show both our parents and grandparents how to use new software and computers. It is evident to me by looking at the world around me that the world is getting more technologically advanced that each new generation will be forced to keep up with this record setting pace.
