Blog #3

In chapter four, the book talked about three very important topics that I had a basic knowledge of. Input devices are things that are entered into the memory of a computer and it can be accessed and processed from input to output. It has four categories: data, programs, commands, and user responses. All of the different categories work together to help the computer function properly. Some specific examples of input devices are the mouse, the keyboard, joysticks, digital cameras, scanners, and much more. Output devices is data that has already been processed and is used to generate output. These also are divided into four types: text, graphics, audio, and video. These are four of the most common types of output we use. Laser printers can print pictures, regular printers can print a hard copy of text, speakers give audio, and with a combination of cathode ray tubes and monitors, we can see video. All of the different things we can do on computers are of no use to us if we cannot save the information. Storage media is the best way we physically keep our information. Weather it is on a magnetic disk, zip disk, or floppy disk, it is one of the greatest inventions in the transport of information and recording of history.

The other day I went onto FSU's website to look at my course mapping to see how on track I was. When I realized that I would probably not be able to enter my "Elementary Education" major until spring of my Junior year, I entertained the thought of minoring in International Affairs. I thought to myself, "OK so what does this all mean?" I sat down and had a long chat with my best friend, Meghan, who is an International Affairs major with her concentration in Religion. Through what I thought was a disaster might actually be the answer to my prayers of teaching overseas. I have to do some further research to find out how exactly these things will all fall into place, but in the meantime I am excited to take the next step on my education journey.

I thought the previous Inspiration assignment was so useful! Of course I have to be corny and say that it was actually an inspiring assignment, and that the tools we used to create our concept maps really got me thinking about all the technology available to teachers. If my dream of teaching overseas does happen, I doubt we will have computer access for every child, but practicing the assignment has given me a clearer understanding of how a concept map is supposed to ease the transition and relativity of topics to one another. There is still so much to learn!