This course has definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone when it comes to working with my computer. Prior to taking this course I was very unfamiliar with how to work anything on my computer that was more behind the scenes, the concept of VS Studio Code was completely out of my range. I didn’t even know that working with markdown was something that I would be able to do. I came into this course completely blind and my confidence has really gone up even just over the last month. I am really proud of myself that I have been able to understand how to use my computer in more in-depth ways than ever before. I was not aware that the Terminal shell was something that you could use to access different apps and files quickly. I thought that I would always have to manually go to the VS Studio Code app, but instead I am able to just put in the command, which is so much easier. I am excited to see how much more I can learn from this course and see my own confidence rise as this course progresses.
One huge connection between computers and humanities for me was how effective using our computers on Douglass Day was. At first I wasn’t sure what to expect when I came to Douglass Day and was told that we would be transcribing, but I ended up learning a lot and helping out with a major project. Using our computers, as a group, we were able to transcribe hundreds of pages that will help their cause greatly. I think that partaking in that really opened my eyes to the connection between technology and humanities. I had never given much about how using technology we would be able to transcribe, review, and submit pieces of writing as a group effort. It would be so much harder to do these things without technology. With technology we were able to do these things quickly and efficiently, since all of this was at our fingertips.
Due to all the new things I’ve learned and realized so far in this course, it makes me wonder how I could apply these new skills in the other courses I am taking this semester. I’m an early childhood/childhood major with a concentration in English so my other classes involve writing lesson plans and applying teaching techniques. They don’t really mention using technology to benefit young students in the classroom, but I think that would be interesting and could be very useful. I wonder if there are shortcuts or ways to navigate my computer that would help with lesson planning that I don’t know about. Now that I have learned how to use the command line and VS Studio Code, I might use them in my other classes. I have never kept a journal with daily notes, but I actually think it has been very helpful for me. I have been able to look at past entries and remember how to do a command or revisit what we discussed in class. This is a habit that I think I will carry into other courses because it is a great resource.