Technology
The
iSchool has stretched and improved my technology skills through online
courses and understanding databases. Before coming to the iSchool I
never had taken an online course and I knew very little about HTML,
XML, or databases. After two years at the iSchool, I now have a
greater understanding of HTML, XML, and databases. I also had the
opportunity to take online courses. My online courses did not give me
the same learning experiences as my residential courses; however, I did
get to experience something different and new. These experiences are
significant because before coming to the iSchool I had never taken an
online course and I had no knowledge of HTML or XML.
I appreciate technology and it has changed my life, but I prefer face to face interactions with people. I came to the iSchool because the iSchool's mission is to connect people with information. The experience of living and studying in Seattle was completely new. At times I felt that I was drowning in a sea or lake of technology, but I've learned to swim and stay a float. I have learned that people are behind everything including databases, Google, and the Internet.
My iSchool journey has been filled with mixed ideas about technology. For me technology can be simple or complex. I see both the advantages and disadvantages of using technology in everyday life. I have tried to focus on technology skills that are most useful and practical to helping people, because ultimately I want to serve people in indigenous communities.
One project that I created was a Bookstormers podcast. As an information professional interested in a future career in children's and youth services, I attended a workshop on Book Talking with Pod-casts using a program called Audacity. This workshop was offered at the Northwest Council for Computer Education Conference in Seattle on March 2nd-5th, 2010, by Phil Brady and Sally Anderson of the Hood River County School District. I created a podcast at the workshop and you listen below! This project is important because I have never used any type of recording software to create something. The opportunity to learn how to use Audacity and then actually create a podcast was a totally new experience. I learned how to download the software, use the software, and convert the file to an Mp3 to produce a product, and publish the product.
Currently I am enrolled in INFX 542 Information Structure using XML and learning more about the structure of information, which is helpful in all aspects of understanding digital information. I now recognize the usefulness of learning XML and I can see a connection between archival theory of organization and XML. My summer DFW at the National Museum of the American Indian allowed me to create information types, items, and an access structure. Unfortunately, the database structure I created was for an internal museum department and cannot be shared. The files from museum repatriation cases contain sensitive topics including human remains and associated funerary objects, and sacred ceremonial objects. During the summer I was not able to share the information with other museum interns and therefore I will not share an example of the project in my portfolio.
In my two years at the iSchool, I have used technology as a tool for learning and research. Search strategies have helped me not only in my work as a student reference assistant at the UW Engineering Library, but also in assisting my fellow classmates, other graduate students, my friends, family and the general public. The iSchool has fulfilled its mission and taught me to connect people with information! The evidence is described below.
During these past two years I have spent hundreds of hours at the engineering library reference desk. Working at the engineering library has introduced me to citation databases, article databases, standard databases, patent and trademark databases, OCLC's WorldCat, and the UW library catalog. At first I was unfamiliar with most of the databases, but slowly I became comfortable, efficient, and effective in helping students, faculty, and the general public search databases including;
IEEE, Compendex, Inspect, ACM digital library, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office databases, NTIS Government Technical Reports, and ASM Handbooks Online.
In addition to engineering databases, LIS 528 Health Science Information Resources taught me how to use health science databases such as PubMed MESH terms, Medlineplus.gov. Knowledge of these special databases has helped me in not only providing reference services, but also aided me in teaching information literacy to students. Searching databases is significant to me, because before coming to the iSchool I didn't understand how search worked and I did not realize that people create databases.
Before the iSchool, I was in a low tech world of German literature and newspapers. At the iSchool I was thrown into a world dependent on technology. During my first few quarters, I felt I was drowning and had to swim very fast to keep up and catch up. Now at the end of my iSchool journey, I feel that I have learned to swim with the whales and I am not afraid to dive into the deep water with the big fishes. As I said at the beginning, I am from a desert land with little water. As I reflect back on my two years, I am thankful for the opportunity to learn how to swim, dive, and breathe underwater in a technological environment and connect people with information.
I appreciate technology and it has changed my life, but I prefer face to face interactions with people. I came to the iSchool because the iSchool's mission is to connect people with information. The experience of living and studying in Seattle was completely new. At times I felt that I was drowning in a sea or lake of technology, but I've learned to swim and stay a float. I have learned that people are behind everything including databases, Google, and the Internet.
My iSchool journey has been filled with mixed ideas about technology. For me technology can be simple or complex. I see both the advantages and disadvantages of using technology in everyday life. I have tried to focus on technology skills that are most useful and practical to helping people, because ultimately I want to serve people in indigenous communities.
One project that I created was a Bookstormers podcast. As an information professional interested in a future career in children's and youth services, I attended a workshop on Book Talking with Pod-casts using a program called Audacity. This workshop was offered at the Northwest Council for Computer Education Conference in Seattle on March 2nd-5th, 2010, by Phil Brady and Sally Anderson of the Hood River County School District. I created a podcast at the workshop and you listen below! This project is important because I have never used any type of recording software to create something. The opportunity to learn how to use Audacity and then actually create a podcast was a totally new experience. I learned how to download the software, use the software, and convert the file to an Mp3 to produce a product, and publish the product.
Currently I am enrolled in INFX 542 Information Structure using XML and learning more about the structure of information, which is helpful in all aspects of understanding digital information. I now recognize the usefulness of learning XML and I can see a connection between archival theory of organization and XML. My summer DFW at the National Museum of the American Indian allowed me to create information types, items, and an access structure. Unfortunately, the database structure I created was for an internal museum department and cannot be shared. The files from museum repatriation cases contain sensitive topics including human remains and associated funerary objects, and sacred ceremonial objects. During the summer I was not able to share the information with other museum interns and therefore I will not share an example of the project in my portfolio.
In my two years at the iSchool, I have used technology as a tool for learning and research. Search strategies have helped me not only in my work as a student reference assistant at the UW Engineering Library, but also in assisting my fellow classmates, other graduate students, my friends, family and the general public. The iSchool has fulfilled its mission and taught me to connect people with information! The evidence is described below.
During these past two years I have spent hundreds of hours at the engineering library reference desk. Working at the engineering library has introduced me to citation databases, article databases, standard databases, patent and trademark databases, OCLC's WorldCat, and the UW library catalog. At first I was unfamiliar with most of the databases, but slowly I became comfortable, efficient, and effective in helping students, faculty, and the general public search databases including;
IEEE, Compendex, Inspect, ACM digital library, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office databases, NTIS Government Technical Reports, and ASM Handbooks Online.
In addition to engineering databases, LIS 528 Health Science Information Resources taught me how to use health science databases such as PubMed MESH terms, Medlineplus.gov. Knowledge of these special databases has helped me in not only providing reference services, but also aided me in teaching information literacy to students. Searching databases is significant to me, because before coming to the iSchool I didn't understand how search worked and I did not realize that people create databases.
Before the iSchool, I was in a low tech world of German literature and newspapers. At the iSchool I was thrown into a world dependent on technology. During my first few quarters, I felt I was drowning and had to swim very fast to keep up and catch up. Now at the end of my iSchool journey, I feel that I have learned to swim with the whales and I am not afraid to dive into the deep water with the big fishes. As I said at the beginning, I am from a desert land with little water. As I reflect back on my two years, I am thankful for the opportunity to learn how to swim, dive, and breathe underwater in a technological environment and connect people with information.