Recognize what this is? Anyone reading this blog would probably know that this is a floppy disk, an outdated storage medium for computers. Anyone born after the year 2000 or so might not know what this device is, though. When I was a child, I played computer games on these bad boys and the graphics were about as amazing as you’d expect. Later on, when I was in middle school I again had to use floppy disks for a required typing class. Even then I knew that floppy disks were ancient and had long since been replaced by compact discs. It fascinates me that technology has evolved so rapidly during my lifetime that people just a few years younger than me can be oblivious to pieces of technology like this. Every year it seems like we can do more and more with the technology in our lives.
It can be a daunting and frustrating task to keep up with this constant development of technology, but I believe it is essential for teachers to do so. Some teachers cling to the past because they know it and are comfortable there, but I feel that they are not only limiting themselves, but also making the classroom less fun for their students. For instance, when I was told I needed a floppy disk for my typing class in 2007, I, along with the rest of the class, was flabbergasted by the ridiculousness of it all. Why wouldn’t you use a disc? Or even a flash drive?? So much more can be done with the better technology! In summary, if any teachers are out there still using a floppy disk, they should probably change with the times or take up a new profession as an exhibit in a museum.
wwingert 