IT150 @ Carlow

Over course of the semester, I have learned a lot about computers. I find myself showing friends and classmates my new found tricks. There are few pros and cons to taking this class. I would recommend it, because it teaches very simple things that I use every day now and will carry on with me after this class.

One pro is how I learned to take a screenshot. I have probably used that feature the most. I take screenshots to explain things to people, in which they may not understand what or how to complete a task.  I also use screenshots when emailing Dr. Chung and asking for help. It is a lot easier to see what someone is talking through a screenshot.

Another things I use a lot is Google. I have had Google email for a long time, but never used Google to it full potential.  I am constantly using the calendar and the documents. I use Google Documents for class projects. It is one way people can put all there work together collectively. Also, I have met with groups before and have wasted time and talking about nothing. Google Documents lets you do things at your pace, in the comfort of your own place.  Google Documents lets you share your work and edit other peoples work, without wasting time.  The nicest part about the Google features is time.  You are able to complete group assignments at 3:00 A.M. without disturbing your partners studies or sleep. 

You can see that I have used Google Documents for more than my IT150 class.  I also used screenshot to display this image.

One thing I did not like was the Google Online Marketing Challenge. I think that they Google Challenge should have been done without any other conflicts, like other assignments. The other assignments really took away my motivation for the Google Online Marketing Challenge. I was really excited to do the Online Marketing Challenge and I really wanted to put it in my e-Portfolio, but it was rather complicated, especially when we were doing the Databases.  These assignments too a lot longer than I would have expected and required a lot of input and knowledge of the all the material. Databases were another con of the class.  They were complicated and did not work from all computer on campus.  We used Microsoft 2007 in class; I use Microsoft 2003 on my laptop.  This really created a barrier, which added to the frustration of databases.  In the end, both databases and Google Online Marketing Challenge were useful tools, but it took much longer to understand the whole process. I am taking a Database course in the fall, hopefully Dr. Chung’s lessons paid off.

On recommendateion, I have for student who want to take this course, is that this class is not a blow off class.   There is a lot of work involved.  You have to prepare yourself and do your assignments on time.  Task management and time management really play into this class as well.  The work really does pay off.  I am proud of myself, because I was able to learn new techniques that I have still continued to use.  That’s the real benefit to this class.

Overall, I would strongly recommend taking this class. It will teach you things that will simplify your computer skills and make life a little easier. It’s a good class that you will learn a lot from. I can’t wait for the class to be over, but than again I am taking another IT class in the fall. IT150 was very useful and I wish I had taken more computer classes before my third year of school.  I think this class should strongly be recommened by all majors.  It should also be suggested int he first or second year of school.  There are a few classes that build onto this class and I am finding that I simply don’t have the time to take more computer courses.

How much new knowledge and insights can we gain from following, not 100, but 100,000 kids from before birth to the time they complete college? One of the most ambitious government research studies launched in January 2008 promises to offer exciting opportunities for new scientific discoveries by 2030 when babies born new begin to graduate from college.  Read the rest of this entry »

Fran shared with me this really nice article about Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to build a comprehensive database of U.S. border crossings:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/19/AR2008081902811.html

Like many discussions of data collection efforts, this news piece focuses on security issues and privacy rights. These are important questions and there are no easy answers, but I want to think about something else. Read the rest of this entry »

Good morning everyone!

We are getting ready to wrap up the module on database management. As you are probably aware by now, relational databases underlie most of the modern information systems. Ecommerce websites, hospitals and college admissions offices would be in big trouble if their databases are not working properly. Read the rest of this entry »