With each week, I continue to learn more about computer systems and how they work. I find that the projects I work on, the research I am conducting and the class discussions are all quite helpful and relevant to my world as an educator, a mother and a consumer.
I know that what I have learned up to this point in my coursework is going to make me better prepared if, and when, I am ever charged with the task of selecting hardware that is appropriate for the work I do with my students. I will know that if I am using interactive whiteboard technology, I will need a PC that can retrieve files quickly, as well as respond quickly with each command in order to function as a transparent instructional tool. In order to meet those needs, I will know that I should search for a PC with a lot of RAM and hard drive(s) with a high RPM to get the quick file retrieval and response time that I am looking for.
This course has also highly impacted my own personal growth in terms of my knowledge and what I can do as a parent to protect my children from inadvertently going to "unsafe" or inappropriate websites by installing a security product that allows parameters to be set for different users. I also have a better understanding of how to protect my personal information, and have developed and followed a plan for backup of my important files in the event that my computer is compromised; whether the source of the issue comes from the Internet in the form of a virus or from a hardware malfunction.
Finally, I have said this before, but I will say it again: I feel like I am a much better informed consumer having gone through this course. I have always felt like I had a good, solid understanding of PCs and what all of the specs referred to. I was missing the ability to "decode" the information provided. For instance, I didn't know that if I chose a computer because of the processor speed but it didn't have a lot of RAM that it could impact how fast or slow the PC ran. I didn't know that the platter rotational speed of the hard drive would impact the speed at which a file could be retrieved. I've now gained the understanding that a computing device is only as fast and efficient as its slowest component.
I realize I have only scratched the surface when it comes to knowing and understanding the inner workings of computer systems. I plan to continue to ask questions of those I know who are computer "nerds" in order to develop a better working knowledge of how the components work together. Computing devices are everywhere from our cars right down to our kids' toys, so learning about computer systems and how they work will continue to be relevant and applicable to the world I live in.
Suzanne---
ReplyDeleteI thought you wrote a very complete and summative article. I agree with you on how important it will be to monitor the website content that children are viewing. As a parent with a young daughter, it is reassuring to know that I have the ability to protect her from inappropriate content. Also, what type of whiteboard technology are you looking into using? We use MIMIO, Qwizdom, and SmartBoard, so I was curious if you had a perspective?
Like you I too have learned quite a bit in this course. It continues to amaze me how much is available and all the different options. I was familiar with specs like RAM and MB, but never really knew how they affected the computer. Sometimes we have the lingo, but we don't truly understand what they mean. We live in a world where bigger is better, but in this course I've learned that's not always the case.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this course is definitely making us better consumers of technology. How do you think we could get our students this knowledge so that they can benefit from it as well? I know that my time as a Best Buy Employee was filled with examples of Best Buy Employees using peoples' lack of knowledge to make them buy useless or inferior technology. I would love to protect our students from such predatory practices.
ReplyDeleteComputers are around us everywhere, we either love and embrace them or we fight like hell. I am one that is in constant search for ways to implement new technology into my class. Sometimes this is easier said than done due to some technology savvy students. There is such a range of ability levels within my school that I look for ways to reach all of my students. Challenging those future computer programmers while also reaching the students that are in search of the “On” button is always my most difficult challenge.
ReplyDeleteAmy, I can completely relate to what you are saying. I have grown up along side the PC (ok, so maybe I'm a year or 2 older...) and while I am not a native user in the sense that my children are, I have always been one of those people to embrace technology. I used to teach computer applications classes to adults and we had an intro to computers where we literally had to introduce the mouse to the students--that rarely happens anymore. In my current role, I still see the range of those fighting technology rather than embraciing it; but with each year, those people become fewer because use of technology is simply an expectation.
ReplyDeleteJohn, as far as getting our students to become better informed consumers, I think the best way for them to own this knowledge is to work through it themselves. Having guided activities, experimenting with systems that have different specs to compare how the systems perform are probably the best ways to prepare future technology consumers. And because kids these days were practically born using technology, it won't be as much of a leap for them to learn about it.
Jared, isn't amazing how being a parent can change one's perspective on things? Before I had children, I never worried about putting limitations on internet useage--although, it wasn't as accessible then as it is now. My experience with interactive whiteboard is mainly with mimio. I wasn't familiar with qwizdom, but when I looked it up I saw it was a voting system. mimio has that now, too--I was able to use it for the first time with my staff at a meeting this past week and it is pretty sweet. I can't imagine why anyone would fight technology when there are tools out there like these voting systems and iteractive whiteboard technologies that, when used properly, can make life as an educator so much easier and engaging for the students.
Thanks for your thoughts everyone!