#1

In reading the first chapter, I found the concept of digital students very interesting. It’s a very true concept, students these days really are completely different from students in the past. In addition, students will keep evolving as more and more new technology is introduced. This generation of students is also known as the digital generation. Students have cell phones with text messages and picture messages, personal computers with various programs and software, e-mail, and much more. Libraries tend to be a last resort these days when it comes to projects and reports for school, simply because there is so much information available for students to access with ease on the internet. This concept has good and bad parts to it. It’s good that students are finding new ways to learn and easier ways to access and retain information. However, the seemingly infinite forms of technology can also be a distraction to students in and out of the classroom. Digital students are not just about technology though, they are also “multitasking” students and very goal oriented.
While I didn’t learn too many new skills from this particular chapter, I did learn a lot of new vocabulary. I knew how to use my computer, I just didn’t know what each specific part of it was called or really understand how it worked. I didn’t really know the difference between various software. Packaged, Custom, Open Source, Application, and Public Domain are all different types of software. While reading, I began to think about all of the different types of software I have installed on my computer and which category they would fall into. I also learned more information about the internet and how it works, as well as the different types of networks that exist.
It took me a while to figure out what to write for this third paragraph. I finally decided to write about something that I couldn’t get out of my head after reading the first chapter. When reading about the internet, I read that about one billion people use and access the internet around the world. While one billion seems like a very large number, in the whole scheme of things, that means that there are about five billion people who don’t use the computer. It’s one of those thoughts that comes into my head where I wonder what my life would be like if it weren’t for a certain thing. Granted, many of the people who don’t use or access computers on a regular basis may be living in third world countries where they’ve probably never even seen a computer. But, in our nation, computers are necessary for most day to day life. They’re required at most universities, and those that don’t require ownership of one at least require usage of one.