Homework for Mon. 2/4

a. I've been using computers and the internet since I was about 7, when my family bought our first desktop. I have basic computer skills, as well as more in-depth experience with certain specialty programs (as far as I know, not everyone has experience with Photoshop or doing book keeping on Excel - I might be incorrect). In terms of web-design experience, I taught myself basic html to alter my blog as a teenager using an online guide. I've forgotten the very few things I knew, but I recognized some elements in the first chapter of the book. I also designed a web page in a science summer camp years ago, but, again, I don't remember much aside from understanding the concepts.
b. As a public relations major, I feel it is important to have a certain level of web design training. I don't think the PR department offers adequate coursework in web design or graphic design. Also, PR Publications, the closest course in the department to a web design course did not fit into my internship schedule this spring. I would like to be able to make myself more marketable to future employers by having web design experience (I've already been asked in internship interviews what kind of experience I have). This includes making my own web page that I can link to my email, and put on a business card. Lastly, I have an idea for a community web site that I would like to try out.

RSS Test

Rediculous.

My first blog entry since... uh.

The last time I had a blog was probably in my junior year of high school, so this should be interesting.

Anyway, it's clear that within the past decade the internet has changed the way we live, work, and learn, but I think it has reached a whole new level of involvement in our lives when professors start assigning blogs for homework.  Students and professors alike have begun to use the internet as a teaching, learning, and networking tool like never before.  Last semester, in "the Press in America", Professor Howard Good required us to respond to questions related to the texts we were reading in an online blog.  The benefits of using a blog allowed us to maintain discourse even when we were not in class; we could read the answers of other students and respond, as well as read the input of our professor, who often contributed to advance the discussion or change the question.  We also had access to a variety of resources; Prof. Good often updated a list of links that offered articles, videos, and songs that enhanced and contributed to our course work.  

So this semester, I have to keep a blog for both my Web Design course (which is this blog) and one for my internship.  I'm not sure where I'll find the time to do it, but, we'll see.