Fun with Technology

Today, I'd planned a full multimedia experience for my students. I had youtube pop-ups, I had iTunes on the iPod, I had a clip from a DVD, and I had 2 powerpoint presentations. Yes indeedy, it was going to be a big, big blockbuster of a day.

The first half of class went well. I got all the youtube clips set up and brought up the first powerpoint presentation (the same presentation I had to completely reconstruct when I ran into compatibility issues yesterday. Hate it when powerpoint versions just can't get along.) My riveting lecture on the origins of the Cold War went smoothly - complete with the inevitable student's question: Why did the US government get so upset about communism? I've decided this is the biggest indication of a generational divide between me and my students. Well, that and hip hop, which I really just don't get. As a child of the 80s, the threat of communism is ingrained into my DNA. But, for today's students, born after 1989, they have a hard time understanding the dichotomy between democracy/capitalism and communism - and then trying to understand why the US and USSR couldn't just get along.

(Hmm, maybe my 2 versions of powerpoint are fighting a Cold War...)

Anyway, had a good discussion about the threat of communism and moved on to Cold War society. I gave the class a break so I could eat a snack and get set up for the second half of class. Here's where class crashed against the rocky shoals of classroom technology. When I tried to insert the DVD into the computer, I discovered that some jackass decided to mash the eject button all the way into the computer, making it impossible for me to open the drive. Undeterred, I tried the DVD player in the classroom. It would run the DVD, but there was no remote to select scenes - and I didn't want to show the entire movie.

Left with no other choice, I called Tech Support. In the meantime, my diligent students filed back on time. It's the first time all semester that they've been back on time and the first time that I couldn't resume class on time. Anyone who knows anything about psychological theories of reinforcement knows that I'll never get my students back in class on time ever again.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tech Support squatted in front of the computer and jammed a very large knife into the DVD drive. Honestly, I wasn't aware that Tech Support guys were allowed to carry the equivalent of a switchblade hunting knife on campus, but OK, whatever works. I also didn't know that you could jam a machete into a computer and walk away unscathed. He explained that the "knife method" was the only way to work the drive. OR, he said, he could use a student's laptop, if someone would volunteer. The clouds parted, the angels sang, and a student brought forth his laptop. Knifewielding Tech Guy went to work.

While he fiddled with the laptop, cords, plugs, and knives, I explained homework assignments, I whistled a tune, I reviewed the previous lecture - and before I launched into an ad lib comedy routine ("Funny thing about Joseph Stalin..."), I checked in with Knife Boy. No dice. The laptop wouldn't work because the audio plug was no good, which meant no iPod music either.

Knife Boy promised to have everything fixed by Monday and left. The rest of class went better than I expected, mainly because I was still able to show the clip of Elvis and his pelvis. Thank God for Elvis! Here's hoping everything is working on Monday, because teaching late 20th century US history isn't the same without the bells and whistles.

Technology Update

I'm not one to run out and buy the newest, fanciest, best new whatever. I'm one to keep what I have until it absolutely won't work any more - because it has fallen apart or technology has moved forward and my gadget can no longer keep up. I figure that as long as I never know how great a new thing is, I'll be happy with the old one.

This philosophy has me driving a 9 year old car, recording oral history interviews on cassette tapes (yes, they STILL make cassette tapes), and writing my appointments in pencil in a spiral-bound datebook. Until recently, I watched a 15 year old, 17-inch TV. I have a 2 year old iPod that I'm sure is 2-3 generations behind the new ones in the stores. I only recently learned how to use my digital camera. Did you know that they make 4G jump drives now?

This week, I came to terms with my cell phone's demise. It was a great little phone. Very unassuming - no camera, no calendar, no fancy ringtones, just something to make and receive calls. The little phone still worked, but it was starting to show its age. Cracks appeared in the cover and rubber pieces stated to come loose. I decided to replace it before it snapped in half and I lost all my stored phone numbers.

My intention was to get the simplest phone I could find, preferably one that was free. I walked into the cell phone store and was immediately overwhelmed. Too many people, too much noise, too many choices, too many features written in language that I didn't understand. I waited my turn and tried to breathe.

Right before the salesman called my name, a fellow walked in and annouced that he wanted to treat 5 members of his family to the new iPhone. That's right - 5 members of his family, new iPhone. You can imagine how excited the salesman was to wait on me, especially when I showed him my 4 year old phone and said, "I want a basic phone. No camera, no extra features, just a phone. I was particularly interested in this one over here that says, 'Free.'"

He sighed audibly and explained that they just don't make phones without cameras any more. He showed me a couple of phones and again lost patience when I said, "But I don't want text messaging." He seemed completely befuddled. I didn't appear to be mentally handicapped or elderly, so why wouldn't I want every single thing that I could get? He was particularly annoyed when I pointed out that that the "free" phone wasn't "free" if I'd have to sign a 2-year contract with an additional $10/month for texting. That's $240. His response: "Umm..." as he looked wistfully toward Mr. iPhone.

In the end, I caved. Everyone else had a camera and texting, so why didn't I? I got a shiny red phone with a camera. I consoled myself with the knowledge that if all my friends jumped off a bridge, I would not follow them.


I also convinced myself that I got texting not because the salesman talked me into it, but because my same-age friends were talking about how useful it is. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Now that I have it, I plan to max out on my texting every month, just because I can.

So, with a burst of speed, I think I've finally left the 1990s behind - well, not until I get rid of the cassette recorder.