Coming into this semester, I have to admit I wasn't completely sure what to expect from a class entitled "Information 3.0: Exploring Technological Tools". In my mind, I had a vague idea that we would be learning about emerging technology, but that is such a broad topic that it was difficult to conceptualize at the time what exactly we would be learning about. As we wrap up this semester however, I can honestly say that this was one of the most engaging and enjoyable classes that I have ever taken.
Over the course of the class, I feel that the majority of what I learned is important information and very much applicable to the real world. Learning how to maintain a blog not only gave me a better grasp on emerging Internet media but also improved my writing skills and ability to do research and apply it to making my own conclusions about a topic. I also learned a lot about some of the basic principles of web design and photography by being asked to choose the layout for my blog and attempt to create some visual representations of my topic. This was one of the first times I was asked to write extensively on a certain topic and really explore it in depth. I thought it was really an invaluable experience because it taught me a lot about what it takes to be a credible source on a topic and I genuinely enjoyed writing about technology and developing countries so much that I am even considering minoring in International Development.
We explored an incredibly diverse range of topics over the course of the semester and I really have to commend Professor Yaros for continuously striving to keep the class interesting and fresh. I especially enjoyed the panel of the eleven Middle Eastern journalists that came to visit and found their discussion to be a really exciting and educational experience. We also discussed a lot of pressing issues such as Internet privacy, censorship, and multitasking (just to name a few). I also had the opportunity to engage with new and highly useful technologies that I was not familiar with before such as Twitter, Audioboo, Google Docs and Picasa. As a result of this class, I am now somewhat capable at using these new technologies and will definitely be making use of them in the future.
Our discussion of both the positive and negative effects of technology really opened my eyes to a lot of things I was not aware of before. One thing that this class really taught me was that technology is really a double-sided sword and that we must evaluate the negatives and positives of any potential technology and try to make the most effective and positive use of it. Thanks to this class, I feel I am much better equipped to do that. My advice to other students is to take this class because it really imparts you with valuable knowledge that is really important in today's world where we have to deal with technology so closely and frequently. I also think they'll enjoy the class otherwise because it is truly interesting subject matter and is taught by a professor who is dedicated to making sure you are engaged and interested in the course.
As a side note, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Professor Yaros and TA Guo for working so hard to make this class interesting and useful. I had a great time in this class and your dedication and passion in trying to make this class inventive and engaging was truly commendable and I look forward to taking any other courses you may offer in the future. :)
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