ENC 1102 - Assignment for 1/29

Core I, Part I

In a technological world, one needs a plethora of skills in order to compete in todays market. On reflecting on my own personal skills with various forms of technology I feel that I am slightly above average than most people when it comes to technological savvy. I am good at many basic technologies such as how to use a computer, cell phones, calculators, and navigating the internet. I am also skilled in more complicated programs such as playing computer games, Webcourses, Apple products, movie editing, and most importantly Microsoft Office. Microsoft Office is the most used program in the world. And this skill is most likely the most significant skill to offer a potential employer when going into working society.

However, there are some technologies with which I am not very familiar with and would like to learn more about. These include things such as webpage design, how to use a Blackberry, how to use the new iPad, movie making, and blogging. For all my life, the operating I have used the most has been the Mac operating system. Ever since I was old enough to even use a computer, an Apple Macintosh was always in front of me. I have learned how to use Windows operating quite effectively, but there are others that I feel would greatly heighten my technological knowledge. Other operating systems such as Windows Vista, the new Windows 7, and even the seemingly complicated Linux. By adding these technologies to my repertoire, not only will I be more technologically sound, I will be a more complete individual.

ENC 1102 - Assignment for 1/26

Digital Arguments

In my article, "Connecting the Digital Dots: Literacy of the 21st Century, the authors, Barbara Jones-Kavalier and Suzanne Flannigan, are two educators who argue that in this new millennium the concept of literacy has changed to take on two new meanings: visual and digital. In addition to a new meaning, the authors argue that, in light of their research, institutions need to promote better teaching of how to harness the use of digital media in this age. The purpose of their argument is to show the audience, educational institutions, what it means to be literate in the 21st century and how important it is.

Jones and Flannigan use arguments about the past, present, and future and proposal arguments to impart on the audience how necessary it is to be digitally literate nowadays. The authors begin by showing the audience that literacy is different today than it was 10-20 years ago. They follow that by describing the future of literacy and how it is the next wave of communication. The authors then introduce the problem with teaching classes that use technology. They propose enhancing learning how to utilize this technology so that faculty will have the skills needed to combine the digital world and the classroom. Stemming from the classroom, the authors argue how important digital literacy is in every other aspect of society; leading to their central argument of, "it seems far better to have the skills and competencies to comprehend and discriminate within a common language than to be left out, unable to understand."

I just made a blog!

Even though I doubt no one is going to read this seeing as I am an insignificant grain of sand in the ever expanding blogobeach, I'm rather bored in my biology class and this seemed like an exciting thing to do! Even though this blog is for mainly for the purpose of my English teacher, Prof. Moody, checking various assignments I post on here, I feel like having fun with this blog.

I've never had a blog and I can't say that I ever wanted one, but now that I have one I'm going all out. But there's just one problem, what am I supposed to do with this blog after my English class is over with? I mean, the main theme (because everything has to have a theme) is my English class, but what happens after that? I've been looking at other blogs and it has come to my attention that I do not meet the first requirement that the majority of blogs seem to fulfill: children. It is astonishing the amount of blogs about parents and their 2 year olds! There goes like 50% of my audience! Haha! Just kidding. I'm just poking fun at a simple observation.

Perhaps that should be my theme, my outlook on simple observations. Like that's not generic at all. Oh well, it works for me! Let's see where this takes me. But for now, time to do English homework!

This should be fun!