Post # 3

In chapter four of our text book, I learned a lot about the pieces of a computer and the way these pieces work and work together. It was very interesting. Digital means that a device understands two states, on and off. And the book goes on to tell about these digits that form bits, and what they represent. I learn that input is what one enters into the computer and it can be in four forms- data, programs, commands, and user repsonses. An input device is any hardware that allows you to put input into a computer, like a keyboard or a pda pen. Data that has been processed into a form that people can use and understand is called output. Four types of output care text, graphics, audio and video. Now, I am very familiar with today's storage devices because we use them for computers, cell phones, and even camera to store memory. Because I have so much experience with them, this is not brand new information.

I added a link to personality tests that I think is phenomenal. I am very interested in knowing myself because I believe that when I know myself, then I can understand others. Those tests, some by psychologists, some by the others, are designed for all sorts of purposes. Some are for fun, like, what animal are you most like, and some are serious, like, Career Interest Inventory, which tells me what types of careers would be good for me based on my personality. I encourage everyone to get to know themselves better. Be careful though, it's addictive!

Since my last posting, I've learned much about technology in the classroom. Through the Inspiration 8 Software I've learned that there are many more types of "Thinking Maps" as they called them when I was in school and they can be used for very complex in-depth ideas, or simple compare and contrast models. As a student looking forward to being a candidate for a PhD one day, even I can use a detailed map to have a graphic display of my ideas.