REPORT FOUR
MY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE INTERNET
Leave me EMAIL
MY HOMEPAGE - which contains a list of my files.
DR. LEON
JAMES HOMEPAGE - for a list of Dr. James' files
This report contains answers to several questions regarding my use of
the
Internet. It also contains the dynamics involved for getting through
this Pscyhology Class 409 successfully. This report will be beneficial
for those students who are thinking about or currently enrolled in this
psychology class. This report will also be helpful to any new Net Surfer
who wants another perspective on how someone else learned on the
Net.
WHAT HAS MOTIVATED ME IN PSYCHOLOGY 409?
In the beginning, what motivated me is what motivated most
students--GRADES! However, once I got over my initial fear of
technophobia and started getting into the Internet experience, I noticed
my attitude changing. The Internet seemed like a living, breathing thing
that I could take part in. I started getting comfortable with
constructing my homepages and files and I did feel like my messages could
get out there.
However, I have to say the most motivation I have received regarding
Psychology 409, has been from my fellow students. From the very
beginning we all were confused, but we worked together and helped each
other and that was most beneficial. We struggled and cursed together,
but we eventually have become quite knowledgable. I think without their
help I probably would have spent a lot of time crying or feeling like
smashing the computer. Specifically, Sherman Lee, Noreen Dorian, and Conrad
Moreno helped me a lot; and, I hope I, in turn helped them.
We spent many nights in the Port. Lab together constructing different
aspects of our files. Many times when I didn't feel like I wanted to go
or felt burnt out, one of them would say, "are you going to the lab
tonight?" Well, I guess if you are then I'll go. It was more fun
suffering over the workload when I had classmates, and friends, working
along side me.
WHAT CONFLICTS HAVE I EXPERIENCED?
I think most of the conflicts I experienced were in the beginning of
the semister. They, for the most part, consisted of conflicts with
myself and the technophobia which I experienced. When I started this
class, I had never even logged on to email. I remember the first day
just trying to establish my email account was frustrating.
However, as far as conflicts go towards my Internet experiences go, the
most frustrating time (and the only one I can really think of) is when I
did my report on Gopher and searching with Veronica and Jughead, etc.
I'm not sure why we did these reports since there are much more effective
ways to search for information through Netscape. One of the students in
the class suggested that maybe Dr. James is actually doing a study on us
and how we are handling these frustrating experiences. But, I got
through it and learned a lot in the process, not only about Gopher, but
about myself.
As far as conflicts go, I think the best thing to do to overcome them
is to try to keep a positive mental attitude. It is hard sometimes when
your computer freezes or something is going wrong and you can't figure
out what. But, if you keep a positive mental attitude and don't let it
beat you, you will realize it is not that difficult after all.
HOW DEMANDING AND CHALLENGING WAS PSYCHOLOGY 409, AND IN WHAT
WAY?
Learning all of the new computer terms and information about setting up
homepages was extremely challenging. It is like an entirely new language
that has to sink in. It is not as difficult as learning a foreign
language, but it is certainly comparable. I think it would be helpful
for students taking this course to keep a running list of computer
terminology. Then when Dr. James asks you for a definition, which he
often does, you can be quick with an answer, instead of, like most of us
upon hearing the definition, say "oh yeah."
I would have to say the most challenging aspect of this course is the
workload. So much to learn and then all of a sudden Dr. James say
"reports one and two are due next week." I spent soooo many hours in the
lab I couldn't even begin to try to account for them all. We were told
from the beginnig of class that we must spend over ten hours a week in
the lab. I thought I won't need to do that. I was wrong. I think that
is the only way to be successful in this class. I began thinking I had
no other life than working on my homepages and surfing the Internet.
WHAT HAS MOTIVATED ME IN PSYCHOLOGY 409?
There was not just one motivating factor in Psychology 409. Learning
the Internet and how to construct homepages was very motivating--and also
frustrating; experiencing the same disappointments and achievements as my
classmates was also motivating.
Before I took this class I was always hearing about the Internet and
the benefits it brought with it. However, I didn't know the first thing
about it. And, now, with confidence, I can tell people I am proficient
on the Internet. I have even found myself answering questions that
people have about the Internet. I guess this just goes to show that
learning is the ultimate motivation.
As I stated above, motivation also came in the form of working
together with others in the class. The teamwork that I experienced in
this class was one of the most fulfilling I have had in my collage
career. Everyone was pretty much at the same level when we began the
class, but some caught on quicker than others. But, I can't recall one
instance when I was stuck or completely frustrated and didn't have
somebody there willing to help me through it.
HOW IS PSYCHOLOGY 409 WORTHWHILE AND VALUABLE, AND IN WHAT
WAY?
In this day and age, this seems like a silly question. Computers are
part of our everyday life, and with it comes technophobia. Any course
which helps people deal with technological issues, would be beneficial,
but especially, computer issues, and more specifically Internet issues.
Psychology 409 has taught me about the Internet, and now I feel like I am
part of the Information Highway and can go anywhere on it.
I believe this will only benefit me, not only in the rest of my
college career, but when I am through school and working somewhere
(hopefully). People are impressed when I mention that I have constructed
my own homepages. They should be it was totally frustrating learning how
to do it!
I think a class such as Psychology 409 should be mandatory for all
students, high school and college. If students don't know how to access
information through the Internet or have any sort of computer
technophobia, they are only potentially hurting themselves. Life is so
much easier with computers.
HOW MOTIVATED DID I BECOME WITH THE ONLINE EXPERIENCE AND
WHICH ASPECTS--HOW HAS IT AFFECTED MY LIFE?
The online experience in general has helped my communication between
my classmates and my professors. Now, I keep in contact with friends
from previous class and we trade off information and advice. I am
constantly getting information from them regarding sites to visit and
different Internet information. Email has helped me considerably with
getting in contact with my professors. Instead of trying to get a hold
of them during their office hours (or waiting outside their office for
what seems like hours) I just email them and they responde to my
inquiries when they have time. It is sort of a de-stessor.
One of my favorite aspects of the online experience are the search
engines. I like Yahoo the best. The days of going to the library and
hunting through drawers and drawers of card catalogs is history. Also,
the Internet even makes it easier by just being able to save time.
Instead of having to find a book, mark it and the copy it, all you have
to do is print. Maybe someday, whole libraries and books will all be
accessible on the Internet (I know some already are). This would save
people so much time and think of all the information that would be right
at our finger tips (literally).
I get exciting thinking about this and hopefully someday (probably
several years from now) this will all be true. But, until then, I will
keep myself informed of what is happening on the Internet.
HOW DO I SEE THE INTERNET NOW? WHAT IS MY IMAGE OF IT? HOW
IS IT EFFECTING PEOPLE AND SOCIETY?
I think I see the Internet very clearly now. It is exactly how many
describe it--a highway made up over millions of off-ramps with millions
of little sites to stop off at. In my opinion, some of the stuff on the
Internet is rubbish, but there is a lot out there that is really worth
reading. I think people can really become knowledgeable regarding a lot of
different matters if they want to find them.
I haven't used the chat lines, but I think they are a wonderful
idea. People from all over the world with all kinds of different back
grounds can get together and talk to each other. They only need to
reveal the things about themselves which they feel comfortable with. I
have heard many people say that the Internet is impersonal, but I think
it is all how you look at it. Maybe there are a lot of really shy people
that have a heard time meeting people, perhaps they are even lonely.
When they get into a chat line they may feel more comfortable and make
friends that way. I even have a friend who meet her boyfriend on a chat
line.
I don't know why people bad mouth the Internet. With all of the
terrible things going on the world, the avaliblity of the information and
the social aspects of the Internet can only help us understand and
accept each other more.
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