WMS Course Evaluation

1. How well do you think you are able to collaborate with others through digital media (like the Internet, phones)?

I think myself and others are able to communicate extremely efficient through many different kinds of technology today because it surrounds us.  When working on class projects, trying to find time when everyone can meet outside of class can be difficult however, with cell phones and email it is much easier to come in contact with that person.  As for the Internet, there are so many different ways we can connect with another and applications we can use to see other documents and files in a much simpler way.

2. How well can you work with electronic documents (email, word processing)?

I have almost little to no struggle at all when working with electronic documents such as emails and word processors.  I use these documents so much on a daily basis for school work and staying in touch with others that it has became a daily routine and a life style that makes communicating and doing work much easier.  They are very easy to use and are always easy to come in contact with.

3. How well can you use/create online and digital databases (using search tools like Google, searching through the online library, using wikis)?

For the most part, I can easily navigate my way through certain databases however, I had not made my own blogs/wikis before until this class.  Even though making and using these databases was new to me I was still very easily able to follow instructions and figure out how to work the databases extremely easily with almost no problems at all.

4. How well can you use/create spreadsheets (create and use to make graphs)?

I do not create spreadsheets often however, during one of the class labs we were to create a graph for one of our blogs.  I do know how to create spreadsheets and graphs with very little issues, so for the most part I would say I understand how to create them without difficulty.

5. How well can you use multimedia like videos, audio files, and PowerPoint presentations?

I have been working with PowerPoint and many multimedia for quite a long time.  I had previously taken a Computers class in high school so I had learned much more about programs I could use.  Especially with being in that class I had to have background knowledge on a lot of computer information so overall, I can use multimedia such as video files from YouTube and pictures for many projects.

6. How comfortable are you with comparing one type of technology against another- like one website against another and one method of creating a spreadsheet against another (such as Google docs versus Office)?

I think for the most part I am good with comparing one document to another.  I have a lot of knowledge behind many different programs and documents, so with that behind me I can figure out how to use them and be more efficient in comparing one to another.

7. How well do you think you understand legal, ethical and privacy issues in information technology?

I do understand the legal, ethical and privacy issues in information technology to a certain extent.  Technology is so big now-a-days that people have found many loop holes and can get past many privacy and legal issues however, I feel that I would be interested in learning more about the basic information of legal, ethical and privacy issues in technology.

8. How would you change the course for next semester?

If I were to change the course for next semester I would create a much more simple syllabus.  The syllabus had far too much written on it making it very difficult to understand.  If the work was broken down into when it was due it would make assignments much more understandable.  I would have also liked to learn more about the topic “Women Studies”.  I feel that in this class we did not do much and many of the class discussions were unplanned and off topic.  Many of the articles and books that were purchased for the class were barely used so, a more useful textbook next semester would be much better.  Also, instead of focusing so much on the technology aspect and blogging every other day, learning about the actual topic of women would have been more interesting.  In general I felt the class was very unorganized and thrown together last minute.  Assignments were very vague and difficult to follow without having a set assignment.  It was also difficult to constantly follow emails, especially when not everyone’s blackboard email worked.  There should have been a much easier way to communicate with other within the class including the professor. 

 
9. Should there be more of a focus on Women and Community or on Technology? 

There should be much more focus on women and the community other than technology.  The era we are in now has such a high standard for technology that learning about it in a classroom is almost a review for everyone.  We should be able to learn about something new instead of going over what everyone basically already knows.  Learning about women and the community would have been a great learning experience and I wish that the lectures and topics were related more to that instead of just plain old technology.  Honestly, I feel that the class was just a technology class with little to no information about women study what so ever.

What is beauty?

What exactly is beauty?  Can beauty be defined by age, gender, color, body shape or size?  If so, who gets to make these decisions?  Beauty is a characteristic that is present in every human being.  Beauty can be in many different forms since every person is unique.  However, when you look at advertisements and the society they have a strict set standard for what is considered "beauty".  Thin, rail like models are what people see on a daily basis.  Because of these images of slender models, it gives one the idea that they must look like them to also be considered beautiful.  This "ideal body image" is resulting in major health illnesses such as anorexia.  Many perceive models as beautiful and many look up to them, causing starvation and eating disorders to reach that level of beauty.  Young women especially have this negative look towards themselves.  With magazines, billboards, and many other advertisements showing only small built models, gives them the idea that they must look like them to be accepted into the society.  There are many ways to make yourself healthy however, when people are so determined to be something they are not, they may push themselves over limits.  Considering starving yourself to become what one thinks is "beautiful" is very dangerous and harmful.  Instead of trying to be healthy, many are instead becoming extremely unhealthy.  Every single person is different, unique, and beautiful.  Just because you may look differently from another, or have a different build then someone else, does not mean you are not beautiful.  Everyone has a different beauty and it should be learned to respect yourself and others.  Beauty is found within yourself, not on the outside.

Ted Talks

Video #1: The Road to Health – Dr. David Katz

In this video Dr. Katz spoke a lot about diseases and illnesses that one faces.  I found this video to be most interesting out of all the videos I had watched because it could affect people my age including myself.  You would think that illness and disease would begin at an older rate however, now it is ascending down to adolescents.  I found it interesting that the top factors for premature deaths were 1 being tobacco use, 2 lack of dietary needs and 3 being lack of physical activity.  I think this video was very important for one to watch because it explains that if you change your eating habits, smoking, exercise or weight you can increase your life expectancy by 80% and decrease the chance of diseases.

http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxMindStreamAcademy-Dr-David;search%3Adr.%20katz

Video #2: Don't regret regret - Kathryn Schulz

This video taught me to respect myself for who I am and to learn from my mistakes.  To briefly explain, she had a tattoo that she later regretted however, it showed her a new life.  I can relate to this because I myself chose to get a tattoo for a strong purpose in my life.  However, after the tattoo was done I was not able to scrub it away it would be there forever, and this idea got me nervous towards being able to have a successful career.  My tattoo is very small and on my wrist so can easily be covered by a watch however, after watching this video it made me realize that it shows who I am and that I should not regret the choices I have made.  Instead it helps me learn more about myself and achieve more.  Regretting yourself for your mistakes will only make them hurt more.

http://www.ted.com/talks/kathryn_schulz_don_t_regret_regret.html

Video #3: Your body language shapes who you are - Amy Cuddy

I found Amy Cuddys’ talk about body language very interesting.  “Change your posture for two minutes…. Look at your body now.”  It shows the audience that our body language can affect how many others view us and also how we view ourselves.  While watching this video I had my arms crossed and was slightly slouching into my chair.  Apparently this body language is somewhat shy and closed in because I was holding onto myself and keeping myself together.  It is interesting how there are “power poses” and if you are in are standing in a posture of confidence even if we do not feel confident it can effect ourselves and one around us and make us more successful.  I found it extremely interesting that if one is found sitting with their legs crossed with their back straight and looking open they will be more successful in comparison to one who is leaning back with there arms folded and slightly slouching.

http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are.html

Completely random post however the thought crossed my mind...

A completely random post came across my mind while I stubbled across this lovely image.  Trying to think of what I should get for my family friend's 3 year old daughter's birthday, barbie dolls come to mind.  What little girl doesn't love barbie dolls?  So to find the perfect one, I decide to google image "barbie dolls".  Of course this picture comes to the screen.  And suddenly it begins to annoy me.  Why is it that women have a reputation to be in the kitchen.  Stereotypes now a days are getting stronger and there has always been the stereotype between men and women.  Men are strong and hard working and must stay in an office making sure they make the money to care for their families.  However, women on the other hand are meant to cook, clean and stay at home.  This stereotype that women are meant to be left at home or in other terms told to "get back into the kitchen" is extremely disrespectful to society.  Of course it has been a long ongoing argument however, us women should be treated equally and instead of being told to cook and clean, we too can provide for families and work and do what is known as "a man's job."  I find it humorous that even now, this stereotype is being pushed further and further, shown in this image of a barbie doll, that is too, sitting in a kitchen.  And to think, all of this comes to mind, when all I was trying to do was simply look for the perfect present for my friend's daughter.  Who would have thought.. I guess 'barbie's kitchen' would be the perfect gift... or is it?

Overall life expectancy for both males and females in the world.

"Women in large swaths of the U.S. are dying younger than they were a generation ago, reversing nearly a century of progress in public health and underscoring the rising toll of smoking and record obesity."  I was looking up women life expectancy online and found this article about the life expectancy of women in the U.S. which I found very interesting.  It relates to smoking and obesity and how there has been a major decline in life expectancy due to these factors. http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/15/nation/la-na-womens-health-20110615

While reading The Penguin Atlas of Women in the World I found it very clear and shocking about the gap between the life expectancy of women in the world.  "Life expectancy is an irreducible indicator of overall wellbeing.  In most countries, women have an average life expectancy higher than their male counterparts, but for many of the world's women - and men - life is short and hard." (Seager, 16)  It's very interesting that on world average women life up to 70 years old.  However, in places such as Japan, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Italy in the Northern American, women tended to live longer than those in the Middle East such as Mozambique, Malawi, Swaziland, Afghanistan, etc.

Baghdad Burning

When first assigned the book "Baghdad Burning" I was not sure how to react to it however, after beginning to read a couple pages I was very intrigued and wanted to continue.  One thing that I found very interesting about this book so far was noticed on almost every page.  The fact that Riverbend was even capable of using her very little and precious time to post in this blog during the war shocked me.  Even when she was hearing explosives and even lucky to wake up in the morning the strong emotions she had for everything going on she would easily post it all.  What i also found very interesting was how many people criticized her because she actually had owned a computer.  I think this book is a very good read even though it is very difficult to get through at some points yet it gives the reader a view from someone else's eyes and what they were truly feeling at this time of war.

image from http://writingthepolitical.wordpress.com/category/baghdad-burning/page/2/