MIDtech
(MT): Rebecca, tell me what you like about using technology. I'm
taking for granted here that you do like technology. If there is something that
you don't like, tell me that, too.
MIDtech
(MT): Rebecca, tell me what you like about using technology. I'm
taking for granted here that you do like technology. If there is something that
you don't like, tell me that, too.
Rebecca: I like it because it's easier when you're writing up a report. You can use books and stuff and write it up on the computer and it looks better.
MT: Have you used technology, maybe the Internet especially, on a lot of your projects this year?
Rebecca: So far, almost all of them.
MT:
What do you think about the information that you get on the websites?
Rebecca: Sometimes it's very good it depends on what it is. It's usually more than you can get from books in the same amount of time. You don't have to go through all of that [books].
MT: Are there any down sides to using computers?
Rebecca: When you don't know how things work.
MT: Do you think that it's important that you are learning to use technology now?
Rebecca: Yes, because in jobs now you need to use a lot of technology. My mom does. She's an assistant to a lawyer and she has to use computers, and copy machines, and all of that stuff.
MT: Do you have any idea what you might like to explore as a career?
Rebecca: I think, maybe, a child advocate.
MT: You have been doing some thinking about that then. What advice would you give other kids who are just beginning to use computers? I mean, maybe they don't even know how to turn it on, what advice would you give?
Rebecca: To just learn. I didn't have a computer at home. I learned from just being in school and stuff. I mean some five-year-olds and six-year-olds know more about it than I do.
MT: How about some advice to teachers, to Mrs. Coty and others, about getting kids into computers?
Rebecca: I think it's important because some of the people don't feel comfortable and only use it when they have to. But when they find out how easy it is, that's it's not that hard. I mean it gives you directions as you go along on the computer. Even on the Internet, it tells you what to do and what to click on.
MT: You've just got to be adventurous, right? And any favorite classroom projects for which you've used the computer?
Rebecca: Researching people, probably.
MT: Biographies?
Rebecca: Yea.
MT: What was the most fascinating thing that you learned?
Rebecca: The most fascinating thing that I've done is a report on diseases and plagues. Because when you went to the site, it had pictures and drawings and paintings and information. The pictures were really cool because I could print them out. I printed the whole thing out. And there were like these scenes of the streets when the plague had hit, all the people and stuff.
MT: So it sounds like you're saying that the visuals, the graphics really appeal to you . . .
Rebecca: Oh, yea, and you can put it in a binder and take it home and cut and paste and use it in your reports.
MT: Any favorite websites that you like?
Rebecca: Uh,huh. . . . I don't know a lot of them. One of my friends has a website. I've seen it. It's really cool.
MT: Do you have any ambition to do that?
Rebecca: Uh,huh . . . I have no idea how.
MT: But you might like to learn someday?
Rebecca: Ummmmm . . . .
MT: Okay, I see, you're more into the information-gathering mode right now.
Interview with Elton, seventh grader (?Yes, he is a
7th grader.) as he works on homework in the computer lab after school. Elton
seems to be a young man of few but well-chosen words about technology.
MT: What do you like about using computers?
Elton: It helps me with the research that I need.
Sue: Where did you get your information?
Elton: I mainly used this book [a little embarrassingly].
Sue: How did you find out about the flag?(Flag of China)
Elton: I used the library section on Clarisworks.
Sue: You took the information from the book and then what did you do that involved the computer?
Elton: Typed up my reports.
Sue: And what would you do if you didn't have a computer?
Elton: Write it by hand.
Sue: And how would that feel?
Elton: Tiring. Not as fun.
Sue: Why is it fun to use this computer?
Elton: I mainly like the games that are on it but other than that it gives a lot more style to it. Using the different fonts and sizes.
MT: So there are things you can change on it?
Elton: Yes.
MT: So you get to be more creative?
Elton: Of course.