This class has been an ever-present, humbling reminder of how little I know about technology.
Sure, when we started out I was feeling calm. I'd blogged before and used to have a Twitter. I continue to be an active Facebook-er, so social media wasn't really an issue for me. Even when we started drifting towards web development, I at least knew the parts I didn't know. I knew ish what CSS and HTML were in so far as I knew what they did and that I didn't know how to make them do those things. I could manipulate images for website headers and logos and compose some content -- no problem.
But then some of the things in the articles stopped making sense. I could no longer smile and nod as I read along, neatly brushing under the rug the few things that didn't make complete sense to me before (Oh sure... those server things... those get hosted, right?). Suddenly the entire article stopped making anything but the smallest modicum of sense to me. Open-source software, something about SQLs -- just plain forget semantic web.
Prior to library school I was under no illusion that I know a lot about technology, but this class has been a helpful reminder that I need to push myself to step outside of my comfort zone and learn new things. One of the articles we read this week about millennials overestimating their knowledge of technology really resonated with me. I have to remind myself that I don't know as much as I should know to be the best at my job that I could be. Libraries are run on complicated systems, databases, and codes. And someone out there has to run them. Not saying it has to be me, but the least I can do for the people who do is understand what it is they have to do to run them.
One area I would like to learn more about is website development, particularly HTML and CSS and such things. I enjoy the creative aspect of it as well as the opportunity to incorporate my graphic design hobby (which is very, very fledgling) and writing. Does anyone (who knows about these sorts of things) have any books or web courses they would recommend on the topic?
I am right there with you Ashley. There are days when I'm working helping public patrons with the computers, and I feel like a tech genius. Then... there are days when I'm reading an article for this class, and the terminology goes right over my head. I can safely say that I will always be learning more about technology and how I can incorporate it into my job.
ReplyDeleteThis class has been a humbling experience for us all. I find it odd that the assignments have gotten "easier" and the discussions articles are now losing me. *I use the term easier loosely, more like "easier to understand - almost."
ReplyDeleteHey Ashley. I definitely know what you mean about humbling experiences. I don't know if you're interested, but one of the first web classes I took required us to do lessons on this site, http://www.codecademy.com/. You can learn about HTML and CSS, and even expand upon those if you want. I'm going to try to learn a little about PHP if possible, because I think that's what will be covered in the web programming class I'm taking this summer.
ReplyDeleteWow this looks great, Mary! Thanks for the link!
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