After reading the article, Technology Integration: A Short History by Suzie Boss, I found the article to be pretty informative and thought provoking. One of things I had already known about since my high school and college career was that the popular drill-oriented public education system is not the best method for students to learn concepts, especially those concepts like mathematics. However, it is interesting to hear that as far back as the 1960's scientists and educators have been using computer-type items to teach students through different ways other than drills, such as through simulations. It makes me realize how far we have come both as a society and technologically, and therefore how important it is to continue to understand the impact technology has on students as learners and to take that and continue to develop it properly. One thing that surprised me was at the beginning of the article when Boss talks about students who have "grown up in a digital world" already knowing how to use technology and actively do so. Perhaps I am reading too much into this and she did not mean it as narrowly as I read it, but I don't think this can be broadly labeled for all of the younger generation. It doesn't take into account their personal family, cultural, or financial circumstances.
Overall, I enjoyed the article and it reinforced my idea that it is important to stay up to date with technology so that when teaching students, I (or all educators) can be the first to positively show how technology can be implemented to aid in their learning. My ideas on educational technology has not changed much after reading this article (though I am much more informed about its history that is surprisingly longer than I thought it would be!) because technology has been an important part of my own growing up experience and I understand how it can be a strong influence both as a learning tool and as a social/fun aspect in people's lives as it has certainly impacted my own learning experience.
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