This past week I found myself helping both my CT and my mom with technology that I use daily that they are just now becoming familiar with.  My CT was beginning to use iTunes in the classroom (just for music) and was asking me how to get her music from her home computer onto her school computer.  This wasn't the first time that she asked me to use her through computer find what she was specifically looking for.  My mom also just started using skype and facebook to stay in contact with my sister who is in China.  My sister created both of these accounts for her but my mom now uses them actively.  She went from not having a lap top to being lost without her own.  The things that I find easy to use and a part of my everyday routine are new and difficult for these couple adults a part of older generations.  My CT, being only 12 years older than me, still isn't familiar with the technology that is out there and what it can bring to the classroom.  This makes me wonder if she just isn't out there looking for new technology to bring to the classroom or if it is an issue with the school not allowing/using technology.  

This semester has opened my eyes to the opportunity that I have at this age to experiment with different technologies and become familiar with the ones that I could find useful.  It is going to be my responsibility as a teacher to stay up to date with the new technologies and use them in the classroom.  I don't only want to become familiar with technologies that my students may need to better their learning but also what is popular and what my students are using on a day to day basis.  This could help hold the students interest and also give them opportunities to learn while using these technologies at home.  I have a professor that hardly uses the computer, we have to hand every paper in manually, and gives us all of our handouts for class in paper form rather than over the computer.  I don't find this class interesting and her way of teaching gives me the idea that a lot of her views are old fashioned and nothing that I will use in the classroom.  I don't want my students to feel this way about me in my future teaching career.