Prior to taking this subject the main interaction I had with Web 2.0 was a Facebook page, and the only knowledge of blogs I had was from watching the film Julie and Julia. In my library studies course a few years ago I built, using HTML coding, a website with five pages, text, photos, and some links to other relevant sites. We were not required to upload it to the actual, really truly Web, so until I work out how to do that, I can’t provide a link to it.
I’ve used WebCT and Moodle from a student perspective. I have used various automated library management systems pretty much since their inception in the late 1980s, and can find my way around today’s online academic journal databases (having first cut my teeth on microfiche and then CDs).
In the dinosaur days my early career at the Bureau of Statistics was that of a Data Processing Operator on the very first ‘multi-access keystation’ in the country. Data was saved to huge magnetic tape reels and somehow, with the intervention of a whole flotilla of computer programmers, stagers, computer operations people and tape librarians working around the clock to facilitate the ‘running of the job’, statistics on all manner of things were eventually extracted.
I say all this to illustrate some of the computer-based technological tools that I have used over the past 30-something years. It is obvious, however, that my knowledge is distinguished by its disparity, disjointedness and diversification, with the exception of some very specific experience with various library applications.
The task that I have set myself with this blog assignment is to explore my own learning journey of breaking new ground and becoming familiar with the many tools of digital technology.
Outofmydepth? Nah! 