Post Three

Learning Module Three Blog Post

This module (Module 3) wasn't the longest one, or had the most assignments, but I really feel like it was one of the more challenging ones thus far. I think it was challenging because it really dealt with some things I hadn't had much prior experience with. This lesson focused a lot on searching the web effectively and efficiently, a very important skill to have in modern society. The world is going digital, almost anything can be found online, and the world wide web contains, what seems to be, endless amounts of information. Searching through this information to find exactly what you're looking for is like trying to find a marble in an ocean, unless you use the right tools! This module helped me to discover and implement the tools needed to search the web successfully. I found the Web Lab assignments to be greatly helpful in providing me with practice needed for this kind of web searching.

The first Lab we did was a search tutorial learning activity. While is wasn't an entirely "hands-on" project, it definitely covered the basics of searching, as well as many advanced topics. Through this activity, I was able to learn a lot about search engines, search strategies, the search process, searching the deep web, and using Boolean Logic. Now, I have been familiarized with search engines, I thought I knew a few search strategies, and I knew a little bit about what the search process involved, but this web lad really opened my eyes as to how LITTLE I really knew. Like how the web has only a small portion of data readily available on the "public" web, we humans are capable of only storing a small amount of data in or brains. The vast amount of unknown information is similar to the deep web. It's out there, but it isn't common knowledge. That is exactly how I felt when learning about Boolean Logic. I had no idea such a thing existed. I can honestly say that, after learning about Boolean Logic, I have already began using it in my searches.

The deep web is another thing I really didn't know existed. I mean, it makes sense that it exists, but I guess I never really thought about it existing before. Just to think about all of the information that could be "hidden" within the deep web. Now when I think about the deep web, it almost gives me the same feeling I have when I think about the universe, and how vast and uncharted it really is. I mean, the idea that almost ALL of the internet is contained in the deep web is just mind-boggling. It's amazing to think that when I search something and get thousands of results, those results don't even include the millions upon millons of results I could find residing in the deep web. Unbelievable.

We went deeper into searching with later Web Labs. The "Scholarly Searching" web lab was really pretty fun. When we were first assignment this Web Lab my initial thought was, "okay, I hated using the library database in Writing I and Writing II, and I'm going to hate using it for this assignment." But really, I was wrong. We learned through the assignment, a simple was to search through the database, and by applying Boolean Logic, using multiple search tools within the database, and combining all of the other search tools we learned, it really made searching the library database quite a breeze.

I also thought learning about social bookmarking and Del.icio.us was very interesting. I never utilized bookmarking at all in the past. I never knew something like Del.icio.us even existed. I really like how it integrates right into the toolbox in your browser. You can easily bookmark pages. It's actually easier bookmarking to Del.icio.us than it is bookmarking in the browser itself, which is pretty funny.

To close out this blog post, I'd like to discuss some of the things I learned on the Route21 website. This website is full of skills needed to succeed in the 21st century. Some of the highlights include life and career skills, learning and innovation skills, and information, media, and technology skills.

The life and career skills helped remind me that it is important to adapt to change. I think humans are naturally reluctant to adapt easily to change. We people get used to something, it is easiest to stick with it. Unfortunately, that is almost impossible in today's digital world. Things are changing so fast, new technology is created every day, and what used to be years between new advances in technology, is quickly becoming months. With all of this change happening so quickly, it is most important that you are able to adapt to it, or else you will be left behind.

I also thought that the most important part of the, "Information, Media, and Technology Skills," section of the website, was the fact that it is crucial to analyze media and information we receive on a daily basis. With the internet being so expansive and technology reaching so many people, media news and information can be presented by almost anyone. It is critical that we understand where our information is coming from, if it is truthful, and if it is reputable. This is more important now than it ever was before.

Overall I would say this was an EXTREMELY helpful module. I'll definitely be applying the techniques I learned in this module throughout my college career. I would even suggest that this module alone be expanded into a 5 week or full semester 1 or 2 credit class for new college students. Learning how to search, use citation, and expand our web browsing capabilities, is probably one of the most important things a student in the 21st century could ever learn.