self improvements ----- muddy points

My self-improvements have been many.  I'm not sure where to start, so I'll just write about what comes to mind.  First, if something is not readily apparent, I have more patience to look for icons and spend time opening up tabs, etc. until there is something that looks like (or is) what I want.  I've also learned that often times the drop down boxes contain a lot of information.  So, after those little technical areas, there is the patience that I mentioned.  There is also the confidence that I won't necessarily lose things if I start exploring those tabs, etc.  I've become much more aware of the overall scale of technology.  I think a part of me thought that if I ignored much of it, it would go away.  I now see that there are many good aspects (apart from the word processing side which I've used (and been grateful for) for years.  I also see the negative aspects and am really interested in how this technology might be impacting those younger than me and who have grown up with so much technology.  On a global scale I see how it can make an impact, too.  It's the psychological side of things (which began with some of our discussions and lessons) that enable me to look at the larger picture of how technology fits into the entire scheme of business and personal realms.  On the practical side, I'm glad I have gained new skills with which to incorporate into my next career.  This class has also caused me to wonder about such things as how the nature of business has changed.  For instance, if more businesses use Facebook, does that require more staff, or does it save money somehow, or does the business generated compensate for the extra manpower?  As far as the muddy points, there are still some areas that puzzle me.  Most of these areas are in the time spent.  I think "How can people have so much time to spend so much of it on the computer?".  It is also so large that it seems overwhelming, and I don't get a lot of the connections between whomever "controls" certain things and those who are the "consumers".

The accomplishment I'm most proud of in the LAC172 class

This might sound facetious, but I am most proud of persevering and finishing (almost) the class.  There were times in the first few weeks that I honestly was going to drop the class.  Since I'm completing my degree for my own satisfaction and not as a requirement for a job, I thought I'd just finish later (and maybe find a university that didn't have such a requirement).  Well, oh my, after almost crying over a few assignments (like the spreadsheet and the power point AT THE SAME TIME, two things I've never done, I took a deep breath (thanks to Michael's patience and help in large part) and thought that I could learn a few new computer skills.  It didn't matter if I would use them again, voluntarily or not.  Somewhere along the way I began to see how the world has been changing through technological advances.  The last assignment we did, the iMovie, was the most enjoyable because I finally felt comfortable and felt like I was beginning to recognize certain patterns and universal computer concepts, icons, etc.   I also had the confidence that if I had not finished it in class, I would be able to do the assignment on my own.

LAC172 Outcome

I have never taken an online course at Marylhurst because the classroom setting suits me.  However, if I did take online classes, I feel that what I have learned in this class would benefit me in all of the outcome areas.  I can better speak to how I personally interpret the meaning of this outcome.  For me, I have learned much from this class, not only technologically but also in the realm of critical thinking of the many varied ways that information is presented.  The ethics that are associated with technological advances are similar to the ethics associated with any type of communication.  In fact, I feel that ethics in general is one issue that should be discussed in school settings with children from an early age, due to our increasingly complex and connected world.  Another aspect that has been reinforced in this class is just how quickly technological changes occur.  In the five years that I have been out of the administrative world, much has changed in how people communicate and do business with one another.  I am beginning to get an idea of how those changes are altering the nature of business, as well as human, relationships.

week 7 helpful hints

importing photos into Photo Story 

I am interested in learning more about moving photos from one place to another.  I thought I was beginning to understand this concept until I began the Photo Story project and could not get the photos that I thought I had saved.  This video is very helpful.  There is only dialogue at the beginning, then there are step by step images and dialogue to explain how to get photos from your files (even more than one at a time!), how to create your storyboard at the bottom and move the thumbnail photos around.  There is a very good explanation of some of the icons and cropping.

 

Technology since the 1960's

Yes, this is a huge topic.  I think about this quite a bit in my quest for a simpler life.  I think certain personalities, or maybe most people at some time or another - I don't know really, dream of a simpler life.  With each generation comes new "advances."  Technology, however, seems to have pervaded the world in a short time.  Our dependence on technology has improved our world.  I can think of one example to illustrate this.  In patient care, when an emergency room receives a patient who is not responsive but has identification, it is possible to find out very quickly (through the way we've just learned about - computers that can communicate with one another) blood type, allergies, previous conditions, etc.  In this way technology has improved our world.  I am not so sure that it has improved our human relationships.  The one issue I'll discuss is the fact that because of the instant gratification factor, one can find out anything very quickly, from interesting historical facts to what a distant friend has been doing.  The speed of technology is one of the factors that I find can harm relationships.  I don't want to include everyone in this generalization, but I find that many people seem to be missing things on a deeper level, such as good, in-depth, listening skills, using their intuition, having the patience to work years on say, a relationship or learning how to be a master craftsman or learning a musical instrument.  For me, this intricately connected web system has had an impact on our ability to sometimes stop and take a step backward, and to reflect.  While it is good to be able to keep up with technology, I will use the analogy of a moving day to try and explain what I'm feeling.  Just because one is able to lift 70 pound boxes all day, is it good for your health to do so?

technology in the classroom

I have been at Marylhurst on a part-time basis for almost 4 years and have avoided online classes for several reasons.  One is that I work on computers for much of my day at work and did not return to school to have to sit in front of a computer.  I enjoy the face-to-face interactions, the directness, the spontaneity, the little bits of information about books, etc. that are bandied about in a classroom, as well as ideas.  In a classroom, it is more straightforward; one usually gets an answer or idea within the climate of a dialogue where each person takes their turn.  It is, to me, a richer learning experience.  I carefully chose Marylhurst because I thought it was a small, private university (which to me meant a higher quality of learning that involves more of the academic than merely keeping up with trends).  I know, I know, that this is the wave of the future, and for long distance students it is wonderful,  I am glad that I know my way around a computer and am gaining new skills.  My question for Marylhurst is "are we becoming a vocational school"?

creativity

I'm a little skeptical about this clip being associated with the Shell company.  I wondered exactly what Ken was trying to say.  What did he mean by creativity?  If he means we need to become "artists" in order to simply become a part of the technological revolution and a better "consumer," I think his thoughts on how we might change education are different than mine.  If he means that each child and each young adult need to be recognized as creative in their own unique way in order to better reach students, then I agree with him.