Ina J. Miler

Week 1 Report

Dr. James

August 30, 1995

Self-assessment ratings

How difficult was this week's task (lumping all the sub-tasks together)?

Very easy 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Very hard

This week's rating = __7__

How much negative emotions did it cost you, all in all?

Very easy 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Very hard

This week's rating = __6__

How valuable for later use is this knowledge or skill going to be for you?

Not useful 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Very useful

This week's rating = __9__

How likely is it that you'll be getting good at this week's tasks?

Not likely 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Quite likely

This week's rating = __5__

How satisfied are you with the computer and Internet systems?

Not satisfied 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Very satisfied

This week's rating = __5__

How hard did you try to get through this week's tasks?

Gave up easily 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Refused to give up

This week's rating = __8__

First Time
I found this week's task to be a bit difficult. This being my first time using the Internet I was quiet overwhelmed with all the information and options presented to me. As I logged onto Netscape and proceeded with my weekly assignment I discovered a whole new world of information at my fingertips. The Net Directory provided many categories to explore and read up on from Entertainment to Education, the list was endless. My first impression was "this won't be so bad" but I later learned that there was more to it then there seemed.

An Easy Time?!
In my self-assessment ratings I found that I did not have an easy time learning how to use the Internet. Each item that I rated fell into the median of the scale. I gave a six on having a difficult time considering this was my first time viewing the system. I gave a five on a couple of items like negative emotions that I experienced, my satisfaction on using the computer, and how hard I tried to get through the task. I was very frustrated with my many failing attempts at trying to search through the Net while at the same time trying to comprehend what actions I had taken. Although my frustration level was high, the information that I was receiving will be a valuable skill later as I continue my assignments, but I am not sure how much improvement I will have later.

I noticed that each sub-task would let me view the many items and links on the Netscape. The Net Directory gave me a glimpse of the different headings that I can go into to further my search on a topic. If I wanted to read up on a more detailed topic Iwould go into Net Search and type in my subject on the search engine. Here similar articles on the subject appeared and I would just have to click onto one of the links that were highlighted. What's Cool and What's New were similar to the Net Directory but it contained more entertaining topics and new items that have recently appeared on Netscape. If I wanted to return to my previous page I would click onto the back button, and if I wanted an article that was currently being displayed to stop I would then click the stop button.

Warning! Take Notes!
After spending hours looking through the directory I had realized that my notes were incomplete. Some how and some where I had lost track of what my goals were and so I had to start from the beginning and write down each step I took. This became a tideous chore and after a while I forgot about my notes. This proved to be unwise.

Whenever I wanted to view an item I could not remember where I had located it or in what sub-topic I had gone into, and my notes became useless at this point. I guess this was my fossilized error. Another fossilized error I encountered, while being a novice in this field, was that one simple hit of the wrong button and you're on a different screen. This happened a couple of times during my journey through the Net. There were times that I had no idea what I had accidentally hit and was lost for a couple of minutes. For example, I had clicked onto a Macintosh command and it sent me out of Netscape and I had to find my way back.

I also kept forgetting which items I had gone into and which I have not. This was very frustrating because there were so many items that I had scanned that I competely lost my way around the internet. I felt lost and confused the longer I stayed on the Internet since I had no idea what very menu did.

Solution to this Week
My only solutions to over come these problems that I encountered is first to try to remember to TAKE NOTES. Being overwhlemed by my first encounter on Netscape I had easily forgotten to keep accurate track of my actions. Keeping detailed and comprhendable notes would make my time on the Net a little stressful. A second solution would be to not give up. Doing searches can be a fun experience I just have to learn how to be patient when I have accidentally hit a wrong button.

Frustration, tension, and irritation were common emotions I encountered while trying to figure my way around the Internet. I noticed, however, that the longer I spent on the computer the less errors I made. My first try I had so many errors that I made up my mind that this class was not going to be easy and the computer was to most incomprehensable machine ever invented. After I overcame the initial shock of seeing topic after topic in the system available to you I realized that this would not be so bad if I put enough effort into it.

I have come to realize that the information provided to me was quiet accessable and useful. Once I had learned what the Internet was about and what some of its features contained "surfing" the Net became easier and enjoyable. I just hope that in the near future I will remember to take notes. This will helpfully make the Net experience less stressful and more relaxing. I know that once I become aquainted with its properties going about will not be so bad, in fact it might be so ease that I won't need notes to remember where I am and what I want to view.

Interpreting the self-assessment ratings I found that I did not enjoy the program like I should be. I gave each rating a mediocre score since I spent most of the time preplexed. Although I went through a rough start the whole experience turned out to be informative and entertaining. I suppose for the most novice in this field frustration, tension, and irritation are common reactions when dealing with computers. As a computer illiterate I found myself reacting to the emtions mentioned earlier whenever I would accidentally hit the wrong button that would send me to the beginning when I wanted to move on to a new topic. I was also anxious over the thought that I might break or erase what I was working on, and stressed over the fact that I kept forgetting to log down most of my steps.

Overall, this experience, although frustrating, was very informative and actually fun. I could see myself using the information in the future. The Net seems to be a very useful tool in doing research on many topics for educational purposes or for sheer entertainment. It provides its viewers easy acsses to many topics and I surprisingly found it to be user friendly. I noticed that it took time and patience to dedicate myself to explore the Net and find out all its possibilities and options. But once I learned the basics on the Net I was able to briefly explore its many feilds and read topics I have always wanted to inquier about. This is certainly an easy and effective way to gain and receive information without spending a cent on any of it.

Let's Chat:ina@hawaii.edu
3