Climbing the technology ladder: The view from a few rungs higher

As this course draws to a close, I now pause to reflect not only on what I have learned, but also on how my new knowledge has altered my perspective on technology in several ways. Going into this class, I thought I was fairly proficient with technology, especially regarding using a personal computer. Of course I never thought of myself as an "expert" in any respect, but at least I knew how to operate a computer to satisfy my daily needs for the last 17 years or so--I'm 27 and have been using computers since I was around 10. Much of my so-called "proficiency" with computers, in retrospect, was very limited. My skills consisted primarily of: installing and mastering several different editions of Sid Meier's' "Civilizations" video games, using Microsoft Word to type school assignments, surfing the Internet, using e-mail, instant messaging, social networking websites, iTunes, and a few other entertainment-related GUI applications. Other instances of work-related computer proficiency I had limited experience with were: Excel spreadsheet, online database and library catalog searches, two instances of creating a simple personal webpage, one instance of using Oxygen XML software for a school assignment, one instance of using FileMaker Pro database software for an internship--and that is it! During our class introductions and throughout the discussions in most modules I felt like I was behind the curve in my experience with and knowledge of work-related technology. Sometimes it was a struggle for me to even express myself adequately in the Activity section to get the assistance I needed to complete the assignments.

Therefore, in many respects, this course was a "Trial by Fire" in technological competency for me. Most, if not all the topics, were completely new to me. Additionally, I struggled in the beginning to trouble-shoot my Linux setup in the virtual machine. I think that was the scariest part of this class, since it was so frustrating and all my future success in the class hinged on getting the setup correct. After Module 4 though, I started to feel more comfortable with the course setup and that in turn helped me to cope better with the course material and assignments. Looking back at what I have learned and created in this class compared to what I knew at the start, I feel as if I have completed a bachelor's degree in computer science in one summer semester! The course definitely covered a plethora of material at a fast pace, which is only possible by addressing each topic at the most introductory level, focusing on providing us an overview of the concepts and their relations to each other across modules. I certainly realize that there is much more to learn in each and every module we covered, so much so that people devote entire careers dedicated to mastering a single aspect of some of the lessons (e.g. database managers, webmasters, etc.).

Now that I have gained significantly more exposure to the technology behind creating a simple LAMP server, I am much more cognizant of all that I don't know. So I feel both smarter and more ignorant at the same time. This class was a poignant experience for me in dealing with the so-called "digital divide." On the one hand, I still feel like I'm much more competent in technology than complete novices like my parents. However, I also realize that I'm still pretty low on the technology totem pole even with everything I now know.

My perspective on technology has also fundamentally been changed. I feel more confident in attempting to learn about computer languages or applications that I know nothing about yet. This course exposed me to some great resources for self-directed learning, particularly the W3School website and the Harvard technology tutorials. I probably won't have the time to explore these resources on my own anytime soon, since I expect to be plenty busy keeping up with assignments for the rest of the classes in the DigIn Certificate, but someday I suspect I will come back to these resources and explore on my own. I used to panic when computer programs didn't work, but now I think I can keep my head and work through some of the simpler trouble-shooting processes. Another insight that has come into sharper focus for me is the pervasive, perhaps exponential, spread of technology in the workplace and society. Thank goodness for good ol' Wikipedia!

In thinking about which modules were most useful and interesting to me, I have some clear favorites. First and foremost I am very happy to have gained some database application experience. I had very little understanding of databases coming into the course and a basic familiarity with database applications is a prerequisite to almost every job in my field. Fixing the glaring hole in my resume regarding databases was more than enough to make this course worth my time. I know that I will build on my current level of understanding with database applications in the future and I see this as a vital skill for my career. The most interesting module for me was project management. I can definitely see the usefulness of this broad discipline and enjoyed learning about it. Again, I had only the most basic understanding of project management going into this class, maybe enough to define it; but now I feel like I know most of the core concepts, as though I learned enough to learn more on my own. However, I look forward to learning more in a structured environment during the spring semester in the Project Management class for the DigIn certificate.