Charles Kam, G7, 409a, Acquiring Cyberspace Citizenship

At the beginning of the semester each of us was given instructions to follow for this report. In those instructions we were asked to fill out this data sheet in which we could subjectively rank our feelings about each of our online experiences.

stressful	-3	-2	-1	+1	+2	+3	pleasant
dissatisfied	-3	-2	-1	+1	+2	+3	satisfied
wasted	-3	-2	-1	+1	+2	+3	valuable
confusing	-3	-2	-1	+1	+2	+3	clarifying
discouraging	-3	-2	-1	+1	+2	+3	hopeful

As you can see from this data sheet each area is ranked from -3 (negative feelings) to +3 (positive feelings). Using this form allowed us to quantify the affective portion of our experience. In addition through record keeping it allowed us to track the trends of our feelings over the semester.
This data tool proved to be very useful, as it allowed me to see how my emotional state impacted my thinking and actions. I found that there were many times where I really didn't realize how miserable I was. It was only by using this tool that I could track my feelings for any given time. I find that I really don't often pay attention to my feelings at times, and I like others forget what an important role feelings play in our actions.

During this first session we were learning how to use the e-mail system and I was logged on from a remote site. The exercises were designed to familiarize us with the U.H. Unix system and the online text and e-mail programs (Pine & Pico). I have been using the system for many years and I have always complained about the horrible and antiquated interface of the Unix shell, but I had not logged in before through an internet connection. Another fact that caused this session to be slightly stressful was that this was the first time I had tried to forward my mail to another server for retrieval. Overall this was a good session, I managed to set up my account and learned some new tricks.

This was another successful session as I wasn't having any real difficulty at this time. I was able to configure my ISP connection and everything seemed to be working well. I had used many of the HTML browsers in the past and was having a good time surfing the net. Things seemed to be looking up.

Arrrrrghhhhh!!!!!!! Silly me, I bought a new modem since my former one was on its last legs and I wanted something faster. Little did I know how finicky 56k modems can be. Not only did I change hardware, but I also upgraded my software and I was now using all new programs. Bad move, and bad timing! Things are not looking very good. Not only was I trying to figure out why this stupid modem wasn't working but I had been working so much that I had very little time to do anything. Well there goes my life! I wish I had more time and God do I need some sleep!!

WOW! Things are looking much better I figured out all of my hardware problems and the new software is much better than the old. Finally I have some time to work on these projects and I am feeling much better that a couple of weeks ago.

So from looking back at my experiences during this month they went from o.k. to horrible to great and I realize how the level of stress in dealing with unknowns affects my thinking and actions towards the problem at hand. I came to this class with some background in computers and I believe that I started with a slight advantage over many of my classmates, but I really didn't have any experience in writing HTML. It was this unknown that caused most of my stress. I was forced to learn on my own how to code much of what I was seeing through my browser. The more I explored the more questions I had, and where would I get those answers? I had to rely upon myself to seek out the information that I needed and over this time I have learned a great deal.
One on the most important things that I have realized is what a vital role our feelings play in our actions. Through the ACS theory there are Affective Cognitive and Sensory-Motor components to all actions. Most of us all forget the Affective portion to this system. It is so easy to forget how these things make you feel have a direct correlation to what you are going to do. When something makes you feel bad, most people will avoid it. But in dealing with new skills and new technologies there is always going to be a steep learning curve as you adjust to a new problem. What it takes is time and dedication and realizing that although you are confused now soon you will understand if you keep trying and are not afraid to make mistakes. That is one of the most wonderful aspects of computers and cyberspace, they allow you constantly experiment and risk take without the physical consequences. As long as you remember that nothing you do will cause irreparable harm to the computer you are free to experiment as you see fit. So with time and dedication no problem is too big to overcome.

What is important to remember when first embarking into cyberspace is remember that we are all novices at this and we will all continue to be, FOREVER! Because of its very nature cyberspace will never be conquered. By definition it is a volatile place and this is what causes most people technophobe. We all fear not knowing, and the problem with technology is it changes so rapidly that there is always something new, and with it new problems. It is how we overcome our fear of the eternally changing that will determine whether we sink or swim in cyberspace.
The students in prior generations dealt with this topic of overcoming their fears of the online world and they all believe that you can and will survive cyberspace. Not only will you survive but you will come away enriched. Most important in the student articles is how each one of them dealt with facing the problems at hand. It is interesting to note that the focus of all the articles is on how to best deal with the affective problems at hand. In other words how to make yourself feel better about learning new things. The students didn't focus on specific actions to take, but instead offered reflections on how they overcame the stress of learning.

Rebecca Ross relates how she already knew quite a bit about computers before she started this class but, "What I know know, cannot even compare. I have also learned enough to know that what is still out there for me to learn, is not even fathomable." Relating how we are all eternal novices. But it is her love of knowledge and learning which makes it worth while. How did she over come her fears, and what suggestions does she offer? "I advise taking good notes, not being afraid of trial and error, finding ways of dealing with the frustration before it builds, and, most of all, remember to have fun!"

Diane Beauchemin also deals with her overcoming the stress of acquiring new knowledge by using humor through out her report. Well, not only humor as she writes, "My tips on fighting depression and pessimism... in a close race between crying and swearing, my next favorite way to combat Internet stress was to take a break at Manoa Gardens with at vegetarian taco salad and a 20 oz. Killian's red Ale."

Shane Cobb-Adams deals with the ACS system in learning the Internet and he writes about how to use the Affective portion to improve you work. He writes,"I said to my self that if others could do it I could do it too. This allowed me to feel good about spending time on the computer (the affective) which lead to me thinking that I REALLY COULD get an A in the class (the cognitive) which in turn lead to me doing very well and learning a whole lot..."

These students all deal with the same problem, and each comes up with a slightly different solution. The problem is not how to deal with the flood of information that arrives over the Internet, but instead how to deal with the frustration and confusion which comes with learning. It is this Affective portion of the ACS system which seems to be most important. I faced the same problem, how do I overcome my anti-learning strategies the avoidance, the procrastination, the frustration and instead plod along. I seem to have used many of the same strategies as these students, including a few too many beers. I believe that we all had similar experiences because as I had mentioned earlier, technology changes too rapidly for one to gain enough knowledge to become an expert. So instead on focusing on physical skills or specific knowledge you must instead focus on how to best learn. The best way to learn is different for everyone, but it is always the way that makes you feel the best.
All of my classmates seemed to have similar experiences and the all convey how they overcame the stresses of learning. Again almost all of them included some form of suggestions of how to best deal with your affective side.

Dana Rho writes," For Future generations: It's okay to feel frustrated. . . as long as you control it. Don't let it control you." which I think is good advice for us all.

From doing this report I know realize that the most important thing for each one of us to identify is how do we really feel about things. It is the affective portion of us that is most critical for our continued growth. The Internet, and all of technology will continue to grow and change at a rate that none of us will ever be able to keep up with. So it will be impossible for us to focus all of our energy into specific knowledge's and skills. These, instead should come secondary to what is really important, how can we alter our affective reactions towards learning. When we are comfortable with dealing the the frustrations and disappointments associated with learning, only then can we deal with the flood of information which is hurled at us over the Internet. Learning about one's self and how we are best able to overcome these problems is what we need to discover. This class I believe has brought me a long way in realizing what those things are, and I hope to never loose my love of learning.

For future generations: Keep trying, learn first about yourself, and when you learn that, everything else is easy.