Erin’s Fluency Blog

When I first saw that Snyder had an entire chapter dedicated to searching the web, I was skeptical. I mean, who doesn’t know how to search the web?!  After reading the chapter, I realized that although I know how to search the web, I did not know how to search the web efficiently.  I use Google everyday, but had no idea of the built in features that help narrow my search (i.e. “Advanced Search” and “Search Within Results”).  After being introduced to these features, I used them for a few searches I had previously conducted without the features, and the results were great.  Although I have never considered myself technologically advanced (and in some cases even average), I am surprised that I never knew of these tools available to me.  I was also surprised, but happy to learn that there is a way to check the accountability of results.  I have written many research papers in which Professors have stressed the importance of using only accountable websites as a source of information.  Although I always understood the importance of it, I never really knew a sure-fire way of evaluating a website.  As a general rule of thumb, I trusted websites with domain names of .gov, .org, and .edu.  But once again, Snyder showed me the err in my ways.  Knowing how to check the source of information though, will not only allow me to verify websites I had already (possibly wrongly in some cases) trusted, but also expand my pool of usable information by checking sources of pages with domain names of .com or .html.  Although I began reading this chapter wondering why it would be in a college textbook, I learned a lot of information that will inevitably help me in my academic, professional and personal life.

I found Snyder’s discussion of formatting tags really interesting.   It reminds me a lot of a logic course I took in undergrad where different symbols mean “only if,” but,” and,” “except when,” etc.  At first glance, it looks like a foreign language, but upon further review, it is quite straight forward and ends up being a “universal language” for those familiar with HTML tags.  I also found the discussion of hyperlinks to be quite enlightening.  I’ve always noticed (and appreciated) web pages that have hyperlinks, but I did not know there was a name for them, let alone the way they were inserted.  www.wikipedia.org uses hyperlinks to a great extent.  I wonder if that means that each person who revises a definition is formatting their text to include hyperlinks, or if there is a site manager who does this.  I realize that I am pretty ignorant when it comes to computers, but I would be surprised (and a little disappointed with myself) to know that the majority of wikipedia “editors” are familiar with the hyperlink process.  After reading the chapter, I really felt like I had learned a lot.  But when I sat down at my computer to try out my newly learned skills, I realized one huge part of web page creation that I don’t understand; how do I get my information from notepad onto a web page??  Hopefully the group exercise in class will answer that question!

I enjoyed the “getting to know” your computer exercise in class this week.  I don’t know much about computers but the exercise slightly eased my worries about the fragility and complexity of computers.  I have always been hesitant to try new things on the computer/step out of my comfort bubble for fear of breaking something, accidentally downloading something, touching something I shouldn’t, etc.  Although I realize these concerns are unfounded and ridiculous, it has always been my general rule that I’ll stick to word processing and internet searches; anything more complex will be the responsibility of a professional IT person.  But seeing that a group of people (most of whom have limited computer knowledge) can very erratically open and disassemble a computer, and then haphazardly put it back together, with general success was an eye opener.  Not only was the inside of the computer much simpler than I’d expected, but it was also much less fragile.  We were even able to remove, handle and replace the motherboard (which I had wrongly thought that you should never touch).  I was surprised how much of the computer could be broken down in just a few minutes, and the simplicity of it.  It is sort of like a puzzle, but instead of aligning cardboard pieces, you have to align plugs with ports.  And considering the amount of money I’ve lost to IT people, the advantage of being able to fix things yourself, was well taken.

I use the Internet everyday, but have never given much thought to how it works.  The explanation by Snyder is surprisingly complex, yet simple at the same time.  I would have never guessed the significance of domain names and the fact that each domain name (i.e. edu or gov) has its own systems server to decode the address.  I think that most people, without thinking about it, take for granted that when you click a link, new information automatically appears.  I was also very surprised that information set over the web is sent in many small packets.  Because clicking a link almost instantaneously gives one the information they need, I’m still not sure how the computer can organize all the packets of info so quickly.  After reading this chapter, I have a better understanding of the Internet, but am still amazed at the extensiveness of the system.

When Snyder lists changes caused by the Internet, he says that, “nowhere is remote.”  I think it is important to remember, however, that there definitely are still many places in the world with no internet access and therefore, still remote.  Although the Internet has made great strides in enhancing cultures and connecting people, lack of Internet in developing countries, actually further oppresses those living in remote areas.  While the rest of the world is interacting, learning new things, being introduced to new experiences, non-Internet users are remaining stagnant.  As the Internet continues to expand knowledge among its users, it also continues to widen the educational/social gap between users and non-users.