Two Column-Story Table How To Use A Mouse

Title Page: How Will I Ever Keep Up With Technology?	At the bottom of the page is a picture of a computer and a frustrated woman
My formal education, from elementary school through college never included a single encounter with a computer.	Picture of a child in a 50/60’s classroom with only pencil, paper, and books.
More than a decade later, in the early 90’s, I returned to graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in counseling psychology.	Picture of school insignia
I go to the registrar to get transcripts for an application to graduate school and after a long wait the clerk returns and advises me that she had difficulty finding my transcripts because I was “pre-computer”.	Picture of two clocks showing that two hours have elapsed Picture of cave man with stone tablets.
In this moment I have a dawning of awareness! I will also have to become computer literate.	Picture of light bulb (idea)
I return home worried and anxiously advise my husband that I must not only learn psychology, but become familiar with computers.	Picture of anxious woman
He is excited to inform me that his elementary school is receiving new computers and the principal would like him to bring one home and become familiar with the new machine before it is introduced to the class.	Picture of an elementary school.
The next day he arrives home to greet our family and introduce us to the new computer.	Picture of old apple computer
He sets up the computer as we eagerly watch him demonstrate how to use a mouse by using the tutorial. He uses his thumb to manipulate the rubber ball as we all watch the cursor move across the screen.	Picture of family watching the computer screen.
We each take a turn using the mouse, first my 7-year-old son, then my 5-year-old son, and finally me!	Picture of family with backs to the camera looking at monitor
It is painfully slow and difficult to control this new symbol dashing across the screen. The cursor! Maybe it is called a cursor because it evokes profanity. I think to myself, “I will never get the hang of this.”	Picture of cursor on a monitor Picture of person using profanity.
The next day my husband has his own epiphany.	Picture of light bulb. (idea)
He sets up the new computer in his classroom and watches his 4th grade student turn the computer on and begin the mouse tutorial.	Picture of student using computer
He observes the student maneuvering the cursor quickly and smoothly across the screen.	Picture of hand using mouse correctly.
That evening he arrives home to the happy family for computer lesson number two. I am reluctant and skeptical wondering if I will ever be able to learn this new skill.	Picture of excited children at door Picture of frustrated woman
He quickly sets up the computer while smiling smugly as if he had just discovered a secret worthy of national security. He announces, “Look what I learned today!”	Picture of smug man
I was watching a student use the mouse tutorial today and this is how he held the mouse!	Picture of hand using mouse correctly.
Not the way I taught you yesterday.	Picture of hand holding mouse upside down with thumb on rubber ball.
It was surprising how much easier it was to use the mouse right side up on a mouse pad instead of cradling it in your palm, rolling the ball with your thumb in awkward, jerky motions.	Continue showing same picture from previous frame.
We all enjoyed a hearty laugh and then took turns using the mouse tutorial and soon we all began to feel like computer experts. Maybe I will be able to learn this after all.	Picture of laughing faces.
I realized in this moment that I had learned or at least began to learn how to use a mouse and a computer. I had had a flash bulb experience.	Picture of camera with a flash bulb
I also now realize that younger generations today have never seen a flashbulb and probably think that my generation used a flash pan instead of a flash bulb if they are even aware of the history of photography.	Picture of flash pan camera
I did learn enough about computers and psychology to earn my masters degree in counseling psychology and With Honors!	Picture of me graduating
However, in a recent faculty workshop I was reminded that students lead the computer generation and that they express comfort and fluency in the language of computers, while my generation, along with most teachers, are poorly trained and are described as computer immigrants, with little or no fluency with this new language. I am again feeling discouraged.	Picture of a sad immigrant
Apparently I may never speak this language of computers without a heavy accent but I am committed to becoming fluent in this language and my education at Fielding is another important step towards fluency and better enunciation in computerize. I might even become a media psychologist with just a hint of an accent.	Picture of the Fielding insignia

 

Mouse Lessons