Everyday technology is changing, today we can’t cure cancer, but tomorrow we might. Technology may be scary to some because it never stops growing. Someone learns how to save the world, how to cure a disease, but everyday that technology changes, some inventions fade. Mr. Gastelum has taught us not to fight technology but learn to live with it. Not only have we learned about in general technology, but how to type correctly, how to use “Word Processor,” how to use “PowerPoint,” mouse and keyboard practice and watched many informational movies. Technology has been one of the most important class we have taken this year in middle school.

When we first started, back in August, we did lots of bookwork. You would come in sit down and groan as you look at the board, reading, “turn to page 53 and define bold words.” All of our classmates we groan and say why, not knowing that without understanding the past you won’t understand the future. So we copied the words, read aloud dozens of chapters. Wishing we had changed our classes, because we thought Mr. G was going to torture us with bookwork again. But as Christmas came around things began to change.

We began “Maves Beacon Teaches Typing.” We would spend 50 minutes on the computer whining that our fingers hurt. We would type the words we saw on the computer screen, as fast as our fingers could go. When you finally reached the last level you were speeding through the words like flies. Even though the pain didn’t go away, and we still complained, somehow we learned to live with it. We knew that after Christmas things would change, hopefully better for our fingers.

As our class came into 5th period tech, we saw on the board, “Get the paper on my desk.” Knowing we were going to have another horrible assignment. We got the paper, and to our surprise it was a paragraph. Nothing special about it, but as you read more the paper says, “Type and save in correct spot.” “Oh no, how do I save a document?” But thank goodness we have Mr. Gastelum to show us the way. So we typed reports and paragraphs for about two weeks, but then the assignments changed we had to re-due them, using special symbols. That wasn’t so hard, because we had a cheat sheet…YAY!!!

Well knowing Mr. G he had something up his sleeve. Soon people became tired of just typing paragraphs from paper. So Mr. Gastelum say “Pick a partner if you like and now we are going to make a PowerPoint on some type of Energy.” We choose solar energy. Our project was a blast, learning how to make the slides work, how to add pictures and more. We were learning things about energy but yet in a more fun way. We would search on the Internet, and make small facts about what we found. Then find pictures that explained them. Solar energy was to us that easiest one. There were dozens of links and millions of pictures. We were learning things about energy while learning how to use PowerPoint. Beating two birds with one stone…

But then there were those days were work was a problem. The Internet was down, or we were ahead of the other classes. So Mr. Gastelum would say “Mouse and Keyboard Practice.” To everyone’s ears that was like heaven. We would spend most if not all of the class time playing games, and talking to friends. I know Mr. G is the best teacher in the world to let us just play around. But Mr. Gastelum has a method to his madness; we were getting experience of using the computer, while having a wonderful time, chilling with friends. Also usually when we have a substitute we would watch movies, related to computers, animation, artificial intelligence, and energy. It would be so great, just watching a movie. Although is may seem we didn’t learn anything, but there would be tests on the movies, or questions to answer. But only once in a blue moon will we do this anymore.

We are currently learning how to make web pages. We are using “Dream Weaver, and Fireworks.” We make banners, and buttons, and things galore. Its so much fun when Mr. Gastelum say now pay attention and go along with me. He shows us step by step how to make anything will we need to make our page successful. We have learned how to add pictures, and animations. Things may seem easy. But all the steps in making buttons, and banner are very hard. You do this, than that, and then this. If you miss a step you become completely lost. Although Mr. G might get angry because we are lost, he will quickly catch you up. Web pages to us are one of the best things Mr. Gastelum has taught us all year.

Although the year is coming to an end, we will never forget all the information and wonderful times we have had in 5th period technology. Technology is a wonderful class to take, it may seem like it doesn’t mean anything. But without technology some of us wouldn’t be alive. We have to learn to deal with the fact that everything is going to change, and that life can only get better. So we want to thank Mr. Gastelum for the best year we have ever had. You have not only taught us about technology, but have truly changed us into young adults. You ROCK Mr. G!!!!!