Hi Everyone,

So... one of my New Year's Resolutions is to become a better blogger.  Here it is- December 27, and I'm getting started on it.  This is a good sign.

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas.  I did.  We hosted my extended family- the Cresaps, who came from Waterloo, Des Moines, Omaha, and Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Only one niece, Emily, wasn't able to make it.  Even my mom-  Doris Cresap- who is a very young 89 year old, made the trek to Cedar Falls.  We had a great time, and it was fun for Tom and I to entertain in our new home.

So-  my topic today- as this is what I've been pondering- is how technology is changing our brains.  I've been thinking about the two labels often used when talking about people and technology:  digital natives, and digital immigrants.  I am certainly an immigrant- I've known this for a long time.  I didn't grow up in a world that was driven by technology-  I've had to learn everything that I know-  and have had to learn how to use all of the digital devices that I use every day of my life.  And let me assure you, the learning process has not always been easy- or pretty.  

Here's how old I am:

• I learned to type on the latest technology of the 1970s- the electric typewriter.  I can remember being amazed that mistakes could me made- and corrected- by the machine!  No more having to "roll back" the manual typewriter to the specific spot on the paper, use White-Out to dab at the mistake, and then try to get the typewriter lined up to retype.  
• IF there was a computer in my high school (and I'm not SURE that there was) there was only one- and it was in the office area.
• I had to use phones that were tethered to the wall- in order to talk with someone!
• When traveling, I was simply "out of touch" for the duration of the trip.
• When shopping, I actually had to leave my home and drive to various stores!
• When reading a book, I actually had to have a physical copy in my hands- and I had to turn the pages myself!
• When I needed to "look something up", I turned to the set of Britannica Encyclopedias on my shelf- OR... I drove myself to the library to access the latest, greatest resources--- books, newspapers, and magazines!

The best gift I received for Christmas this year, was a "book" that my mom has been working on for several years.   The Story of My Life,  lovingly written by Doris Elaine Wilson Cresap, describes my mom's growing up years.  Born in 1922 and raised on a farm during the Great Depression,  my mom's early years are described in stories that are simply hard to fathom in THIS day and age.  She talks of shearing sheep, spraying the orchard trees with insecticides, doing the laundry with an old wringer machine, baking bread once a week for the family, creating toys to play with from items such as an old wheel and a beef bone.  (yes, a beef bone)  She tells stories of how all of the farmers would team up to bring in the harvest each year- moving the threshing machines from farm to farm and working together, while the women moved from farm to farm preparing meals for their husbands and sons.   Needless to say, it is a fabulous piece of writing-  for both the historical picture that she paints, and the valuable family stories that she tells.  As I was reading it, I continually was reminded of just how DIFFICULT life was back then.  It took every member of the family- every minute of everyday- just to engage in the work of growing the food, tending to the livestock, preparing the food, sewing the clothing.  They spent all of their time doing the tasks that would enable them to simply LIVE their lives!  No technology to help out- no extras- no time spent figuring out how to use their time! 

It's amazing to think about the changes my mom has seen in her 89 years.  She bought her first laptop computer just 2 years ago, and regularly uses e-mail to communicate with her kids and grand kids.  She also "surfs" the internet when she's interested in knowing more about a topic, and has been known to check out some of her grand kids' Facebook pages. While she would be the first to tell you that she struggles with technology, it is very obvious that she has embraced it--- and her brain has "rewired" itself to meet the needs of her changing world.  (This brain rewiring is probably one of the reasons why, at the age of 89, she is as sharp as a tack- with a memory that makes the rest of us marvel!)  She is truly a life-long learner!

So... back to MY story-  and the way that MY brain is being rewired by technology.  My first exposure to computers was in the 1980s when I scavenged a collection of Apple IIes for my 3rd graders to use in practicing their keyboarding skills.  My first personal computer was an Apple II GS, and then a MAC.  My classroom at Glick Elementary was selected as a pilot classroom for the Marshalltown district in the early 90's, and it was equipped with 6 PCs, a large screen TV for projecting and INTERNET ACCESS! (Thanks Judy L. and Becky M.)  Now those were exciting times-  times that required continual learning, exploring, experimenting,---  much frustration--- but much excitement! 

Now, in 2011, I find that I am STILL learning.  I would never have been able to imagine- back when I was learning how to use those old Apples-- that I would be:

• Routinely using Google Docs, Google Forms, Google Sites
• Using Wikispaces to create websites for my classes
• Creating and maintaining my OWN website  (www.motivationforlearning.com)
• Using a Blog  (trying to become a blogger)
• Hosting live Webinars
• Using tools such as Diigo, igoogle, Facebook, Moodle etc.

I've come a long way, solely because my desire to learn- and my perseverance- allowed my brain to rewire itself for these new challenges.  I remember struggling with my first "mouse" thinking to myself that I would NEVER learn to control it---- and I know that my brain just had to "rewire" itself- to the point where maneuvering the mouse is now (by far) the EASIEST part of using the computer!  I can honestly say, it's been a long time since I've had to consciously think about using my mouse!

With the ever growing list of Web 2.0 tools that are now available, my brain continues to grow and change- and be challenged.  Just this morning, using software that I was beginning to feel competent with--- I've been thrown a loop.  I can't make it do what I want it to do.  So....  I've reached out for help-- to one of my "digital native" friends.  I'm hoping that she can help me get "unstuck".  Until then-  I'm going to give my brain a rest and go shopping-  the old fashioned way-  I'm going to drive myself to the mall, and try to find a few after-Christmas bargains.