Now It's My Turn...

Tomorrow my first son starts Kindergarten. Needless to say I am proud of him, and excited about him starting in the school district where I work. Of course, something like this causes one to reflect. I am hopeful that we will be able to keep this little digital learner's attention. After all, it is my responsibility with my team, to provide the tools and training to teachers in order to accomplish this.

So how is this little guy that looks just like me different than me as he enters school. Let me count the ways...

I had to get him off his iPod Touch this morning to go meet his teacher. He has always known that music, videos and such were this portable. If he couldn't get the same shows he watches on the TV on his iPod he would be pretty confused. He has never known that you can't pause TV, rewind it or record it. He knew how to type www, by the time he was three. I recently showed him one of the eBooks I used to do with him when he was little. He said it was boring, because "you couldn't do anything with it" (i.e. if you can't interact with it it is boring). He is a creator. Whether it is creating hundreds of Mii's on the Wii or creating things on-line, this is what he has come to expect. He is not scared of technology, in fact it is not technology to him it is just the way it is. He has no idea what a Blockbuster is all movies are downloaded to the TV, I think he may remember VHS tapes, but vaguely. The internet is just something that exists in thin air in our house whenever he needs it. He never knew things weren't wireless. He has always known Dad gets e-mails on his phone and that the phone is how "his" web page (blog) gets updated before we even get home. His world is changing fast and he is adapting.

So tomorrow the journey starts for him and many other kids that are just as into this stuff or even more into this stuff than he is. Good luck Son, and good luck Dad (K12CTO) as we try to keep up with you for the next 13 years.