July 1983 Just married and one of our first purchases was a television and top load VHS video player. I remember paying approximately $500. for an item that quickly upgraded to a front load player, and eventually could be purchased in any appliance store for approximately $50.00 August /1985 Brother Typewriter (unsure of model)—A birthday gift when I was admitted to SSU to get my Bachelor’s Degree. A key, and amazing new feature was the strike over erase tape which was actually in the machine! Beware! Always keep replacement tape cartridges on hand! I do believe that others must have also found themselves writing papers at 2:00 a.m.! August 1993 We acquired a computer from my aunt and uncle. They were upgrading to a newer system. This huge hard drive and small monitor accessed floppy discs of which we had…just one; Where in the World is Carmen Santiago. Hours of fun and learning took place learning geography as my two young children followed Carmen to interesting corners of the world. This computer was NOT what you’d call “user friendly!”

August /97 By 13 and 11 years of age, it was apparent that we needed to purchase a computer which the kids could actually use for school reports, research, and projects. Many a young junior high student made their way home with my children to use the computer for their school projects as well. We had the computer centrally located in the family room and the kids learned to navigate through learning the skills they needed for word processing, searching for images and information to support their research papers. I was called in to edit, and help when the printer was having problems. September By this time we had had cordless landlines for some time, but I also remember that this is the year we got cell phones. An unfortunate divorce dictated a need to be more “in touch” with my children while they were away from my home. It was important to me that the kids could reach me whenever they needed, even while in the custody of their father. August This was also the year I had to learn to text. The kids were doing it, I wanted them to stay in contact with me, and had expectations that they would always respond if I called, but also that they would keep in touch and update me on their whereabouts. My youngest son was particularly close with me and had the most difficulty with our separation of households due, in part to his age. He would text me when he was tucking himself into bed at night to chat about the day, find out what would be happening the next day, etc. I loved this ability to be in touch while apart. Each night I would end with lol, mom. See my narrative This was also the year I had to learn to text. The kids were doing it, I wanted them to stay in contact with me, and had expectations that they would always respond if I called, but also that they would keep in touch and update me on their whereabouts. My youngest son was particularly close with me and had the most difficulty with our separation of households due, in part to his age. He would text me when he was tucking himself into bed at night to chat about the day, find out what would be happening the next day, etc. I loved this ability to be in touch while apart. Each night I would end with lol, mom. See my narrative.

Years went by and the kids went to creating Power Point presentations, research papers, ing high school instructors, creating banners, birthday cards, invitations, etc. Soon it was researching colleges, and the application process. We needed a new computer! In education, we converted from the hand written report card to the ability to input grades and comments online. This was a huge benefit to a tedious and time consuming, yet very important task One out of my three children had graduated when we bought a new PC. The second chose to travel abroad and my youngest began to have an interest in the newest and most efficient technology devices available. Unfortunately, I could keep up financially and he began to purchase upgraded phones, purchase and download music, burn disks, text with peers 24/7 (well at least that’s how it seemed!) Personally, I used the computer for word processing, accessing information via the web, online banking. I was no longer even being called on for editing help A laptop and iPhone were purchased for Casey. He was able to go to study groups, and work on his school work at his convenience.

May /2011 I was given an iPhone as a birthday gift. I didn’t really think I needed one and hadn’t expected to use many of its features…boy was I wrong! I was in a relationship with a wonderfully technologically competent man and he showed me the wonders of iPhone and the features I would grow to feel unable to live without! Whenever someone had a question, wondered about a restaurant, needed directions, wanted to record an image, he would say, “If only somebody a portable electronic device that we could look that up on!” Very handy, indeed! We all joined Facebook and could share photos and message and keep up with friends from our past and present and in any area. December 2011 Casey was in his second year at Davis when his laptop died and we replaced it with a MacBook Pro. August /2012 Our school district provided us with laptops, iPads, elmos, projectors and sound systems and asked that we use these tools, in meaningful ways, in the classroom.