Learning Module One Blog Post
When I signed up for Intro to Web Technologies, I thought it would be a fairly easy course. One reason being that it was an introductory class, and another reason being that I thought I knew my way around the internet fairly well. I was wrong.
Intro to Web Tech isn't exactly a "difficult" course in the sense that the work is overwhelming and the subject material is confusing. But it is a difficult course if you aren't ready to apply yourself. On the first day of class I definitely felt a bit overwhelmed. I was just coming off of summer break and I hadn't quite gotten back into the school rhythm yet. I also realized that I didn't know all the much about the internet after all. I left school thinking that I definitely need to prepare to be focused this year, and try to get as much from Intro to Web Technologies as I could, because it definitely had much to offer.
It's hard to believe that only a few classes ago I had no idea what Google Docs were, hardly used Google Chrome, and never would have considered making a blog in my life. Now, here I sit writing my first blog and telling my friends that they should download Google Chrome. The internet has so much potential and I never realized it before this class.
We've accomplished alot as a class in only a few short days. We've come together on some really good group projects, joined a discussion group on Facebook, learned from each other's ANGEL profiles, and made blogs to share our ideas.
The group projects were great. Having the chance to take teaching into our own hands really helps to retain the material. I always feel that I learn more about something when I describe it to others. In fact, it may be safe to say that your learning REALLY begins when you start teaching. And I was able to learn alot from the other group as well.
The Facebook discussion group was a really cool and innovative way to interact with classmates. I've never seen Facebook used to enhance a lesson like that before, and I'd really like to see more of it in all my classes. It seems like most classes try to keep the students off of Facebook, but Intro to Web Tech actually encourages it. Bringing students together of Facebook is a good way for everyone to share ideas, learn new things, and make technology something that isn't a distraction, but rather a learning tool.
That brings me to the blog entry. To be honest, as I sit here writing this, I hardly have any idea what I'm doing. I figured out how to make a blog, type a new post, but beyond that is all new to me. After I post this I'll take some time to learn the program more thoroughly and maybe my next Blog post will be even more interesting.
Here is a video I found to be helpful throughout the first learning module of this course...
Another video I used in my Facebook Discussion Group entry...
I really put some time in trying to do well in this first learning module. I've always been one of those people who love and hate technology. For example, I love books, find Nooks and Kindles to detract from the reading experience, yet enjoy my iPod, but still collect vinyl records. I realize there are benefits to technology but I am also reluctant to putting my trust into hard drives and cloud storage. I like the tangible world and I'd hate to see it totally disappear only to find EVERYTHING has gone digital (movies, music, games, picture, video, and documents) It is for this reason that I have been reluctant to throw myself full-force into the digital age. But this class has definitely helped me to expand my knowledge on what has gone digital so far, and how to prepare for the digital future.
Definitions I Didn't Know Before This Class
Semantic Web- A new web technology that allows for "implied" searches. The search engine is capable of providing results based on the meaning behind the words you search, rather than just the words themselves
Packet Switching- involves repeating data from a sending computer into small units knows as packets, sending each packet independently over cables, and then reassembling the packets on the receiving computer
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)- provides flow control over the network and error checking for lost packets
Hypertext Transfer Protocol- a protocol that defines how HTML documents are transmitted to a browser
