Before taking this course.

Prior to taking the class English 340, I did not know much about my computer or any computer. I took this class because I can get an English requirement for my degree. For school, I would use my computer all the time. Everything I knew about computers revolved around school. I know how to use Word and submit assignments. I would not have my computer if I did not need it for school. When picking out computers, I went shopping with my dad because he knew more about what computers to buy and what would be better for school. Before going into this class, I did not know what to expect. The only computer class I took was the one I had to take in middle school. All I remember about this class was that they taught us how to type and how to use programs, like Word. I read the summary for this class, but I was still a little confused about how this English class connected with computers and coding.

Learning about Git Bash and Visual Studio Code.

This class led me to learn about how to access my files using Git Bash. Now I know how to access different folders by using the “cd” command. I can now make new folders by using the “mkdir” command. Taking this class has allowed me to learn what the different file extensions mean. Before taking this course, I only really used words and PDFs. I would never have written in an HTML document because I did not know what it was. I know now that people can use Visual Studio Code to help make a website. I was always confused about how people made websites, and while I do not know everything about it, I now have a better understanding of some of the basic things. I may never be a pro at coding, but I know a little more about how to do it and have more appreciation for people who do. When writing Journal Files in Visual Studio Code I have been able to look back on all the things I have learned. For example, I learned about the evolution of computers. Computers used to be huge and take up a lot of space, but now they can be carried around with us in a backpack.

What I learned aboutReading, Writing, and Computers.

I found it interesting when we discussed reading and how people today no longer want to sit down and read books. On social media, long content is no longer desired. People’s attention span is becoming shorter. This affects many aspects of a person’s life, including how much they read. When talking about this, I can remember times in my own life when this happened. This discussion of reading led us to talk about writing. When writing this Blog post, I was able to use AI spell check to help polish my writing. AI was able to tell me where I needed to add commas to my sentences. Now that AI can check grammar and punctuation it has become a tool that makes people prefer to write on their computers. Before, I never had thought of how writing on paper has become daggered and what we lose in this happening. Now that more people are writing on computers, we are losing the style of writing and the history of writing. For example, on paper, we can see what was crossed off. On a computer, you would not be able to see that because people now just hit the backspace button. On paper, you can also see things like tears or stains. When we had a Zoom call with Elizabeth Witherell, she showed us one of Thoreau’s manuscripts. In this manuscript, you could see a letter behind his writing. If Thoreau’s manuscripts were written on a computer, the letter behind his manuscript would probably have been lost, and we would never have known what was on this letter. This class has opened my eyes to the importance of how you are writing and the material you are writing with. I learned the importance of small things like a small tear in the paper. That small little tear could have an important story to it.

After taking this course

Taking this course has allowed me to gain a lot more knowledge about my computer. Through reading some of the book “Broad Band,” I was able to learn about many important women who helped computers become what they are now today. I have greater appreciation for the people who work and help advance computer technology. I have learned to enjoy using Git Bash and Visual Codes. I am glad that when learning about the codes in Git Bash, things get repeated. It has led me to be able to learn and memorize how to create a new Journal folder for each day of class. I now have so much more respect for people who do keep journals. After this class, I may not become a person who journals every day but now I know the importance of writing down your thoughts. When I was thinking about what to write, I was able to go back to my journal files to see what we did during class and how much I had learned.

In Walden, Thoreau writes:

“Every path but your own is the path of fate. Keep on your own track, then.”

I began this class with essentially no knowledge of my computer other than it helps me complete tasks such as homework, communicate with others, and speeds up processes. Walking into this class I was very set in the mindset that I would never understand anything more than I already did about my computer. This is a very closed mindset, however through the class thus far my mind has since been open to the fact that I am capable of more with my computer!

My computer

Here are a few things I’ve learned about my computer:

While these may be extremely basic to most, these things about my computer were not known by me previously to this class. First of all I learned how to locate my OS version on my Mac and find out information about my computer. I also have learned what a file system is and have gained knowledge about my computers graphical user interface or its GUI. After fixing settings within my computers system to make navigating the GUI easier I now have a much better grasp on what this system consists of and how to use it. I have also learned how to navigate both Windows and Mac with some education on some similarities and differences of both. While I have a Mac, my classmates with Windows have opened my eyes to how the different computers operate and where the differences lie.

Visual Studio Code

Prior to this class I did not know that GIT Bash, the terminal, or Visual Studio code were a thing that existed. Starting with the terminal, I have now gotten a lot more comfortable navigating where documents and files are within my computer and have used it in other classes other than this one. When asking AI the benefits of VS code it said, “Visual Studio Code is a free, lightweight, and cross-platform code editor with built-in Git support, smart code suggestions, and a debugger. It has an integrated terminal, extensive extensions, and customization options. VS Code runs efficiently and supports real-time collaboration, making it a powerful choice for developers.” I would have to agree with most of this, I find VS cofe to be extremely effective and customizable with many great features. Something I do not love about VS code is the lack of autocorrect, which I know is a small complaint, however I did not realize how much I rely on it in other platforms.

AI/Chat GPT

In full and complete honesty, prior to this class AI and Chat GPT were simply platforms that helped people come up with ideas to me, however I have learned many new things about this type of technology that I did not know before. I have learned about the environmental downfalls of this technology as well as the dependency that can be created because of AI. A quote that stuck out to me in “Rage Against the Machine” was “None of us has ever found out or proved that the people around us in our lives actually think or feel. We just take it for granted.” This really resonates with the fact that AI cannot replace humans, as there is no emotion or feeling behind it.

Technology and Humanities

In terms of humanities and technology the crossover holds both pros and cons that I have become educated on throughout this class. This came into play while learning about how to go about transcribing texts from the past digitally. Some argue that this takes away from the authenticity of the documents and the meaning behind a physical document is what keeps the content alive. Others argue that this digital content is a positive because the documents can reach many more people than if they were simply physical. I am eagar to learn more about this topic moving foward in the class and look foward to becoming more fluent in this subject.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Journey Into My Computer

> Before transferring to Geneseo, I took a 100 level Technology in Education course at Finger Lakes Community College. In this course, I had to create a website for myself by learning how coding works and use this website to upload my assignments. I thought this would help make Literature in the Digital Age easier for me, but that was incorrect. Nothing has been the same from our course to the one I previously took. However, I do think this course is more useful to me in my two career paths I am currently on. Both require me to know how to use my computer; photography and research database work in a library.

Useful Information

Here are a few things I’ve learned about my computer:

• How my filing system works and how to find documents easier – Anytime I have a photoshoot I have to connect my camera to my computer and access the files to move into Lightroom to edit. I was having issues finding the correct folder or understanding how to move the pictures, but the first few days of this course taught me what I needed.
• That everything on my computer is connected and how easily I can accesss it through a coding command
• How to make an online journal post/using it for my daily life in addition to class

Understanding Outside Information

• Before this class, I was very against the use of AI in any form. I didn’t understand that it could be helpful, whether that is with formatting an essay or further understanding a book. The reason I hated it so much was because I had lost a few photography gigs when a trend went viral on tiktok for generating fake headshots for free. Three people had cancelled their session with me and used this program instead. But, I started using the generative AI that comes with google when I cannot understand something from school, and it helps make an idea easier for me.

Other Coursework/Life

• I found myself showing so many people how to open a journal file from GIT Bash after I learned how to do it; I thought it was the coolest thing. Before this course, I never thought about the orgins of computing or why it was even called that, but it has made me want to do more research and understand my computer better. Additionally, I finally started to use the generative AI removal tool on Lightroom for editing my photos after being hesistant.

Change of Heart

I would say I was basically computer illeterate when I first entering 2025. I did not know any history about computers, how to use computers and coding. In fact, I would look at the some of the symbols on the computer and wonder why they would be important to be on the computer. I’ve been avoiding it until I took a risk by opening myself up to this world through this class. I have been very anti-computer for my entire life. I thought it was too far advanced for me and that it always has been to late for me to learn. Which created a slight dislike for it all actually. Yet all it took was accepting that learning the basics and history will be difficult, but through the difficulty I have learned so much. What really hooked me on digital history is the fact that women were really the first to invent and discover all of this, like Radia Perlman. A part of humanities is about the study of human constructs, and learning about computers is now more than ever involved in human life.

Coding is Possible for Anyone

I originally said on one of the first days that I was a caveman, espically with programming. But with every day since the start of this new journey, my steps to improvement have come up. I can now create a folder in my own computer, and also create a journal everyday. As someone who wants to enter the teaching field, it has the potential to help me organize all assignments and units I create. It actually feels a little embarassing that my confidence was so low about coding and organizing. My confidence in organizing folders and documents in my own computer has increased because of the advancements I have made in the course. That is just the basics too, who knows how much learning more could help me. Websites is the next goal in my journey, as having my own website instead of a platform like Brightspace.

Future

Websites is the next goal in my journey, as having my own website instead of a platform like Brightspace. I never thought I would have a goal ever to even think about creating my own website, but after carefully setting up my computer properly and learning GitBash 101, I feel that this is possible to learn. Seeing the past, espically with the treatment women were treated and there ability to still invent and work with computers, it motivates me to be able to achieve this goal.

That was the line that stuck out to me the first time I read our class syllabus. “We’ll write code. Absolutely zero previous coding knowledge or experience is necessary.” For a few minutes, I thought I had made a huge mistake signing up for this course. I’m a creative writing student; my thing is words, not computers and code. “Literature and Literary Study in the Digital Age” sounded to me like just exploring the impact of digital archives and modern technology (like social media) on the literary world. I was only anticipating analyzing these sources, not downloading unfamiliar coding software and learning the different commands and file extensions. The first week of class was beyond intimidating and I debating dropping the course several times, but I’m honestly happy to still be here!

I’ve definitely become more comfortable playing around with basic code. During the first few weeks of class, I kept meticulous notes on every single command brought up in lectures and referred back to them every time I inputted anything into my command line. I was terrified of hitting the wrong key and somehow deleting half the files on my computer. Now it almost feels like second nature to jump right into GitBash every class and start setting up and navigating my journal files. It feels a little silly to be so proud of myself for only knowing a few commands or file extensions by memory, but considering I came into this class with zero coding knowledge, I’m allowing myself to celebrate tiny steps.

It’s also a pleasant surprise to see how quickly I’ve gotten comfortable working with HTML. I was working with WordPress and HTML last semester as part of an English project and I was very nervous because this was so far out of my comfort zone. I recall copy-pasting every use of the paragraph and body elements each time I needed to use them instead of actually typing them out because I didn’t trust myself to input them correctly, even if I thought I knew exactly what I was doing. Had I done that project now with the HTML knowledge I have from this class, I would have felt more confident in physically typing the elements out and likely less inclined to rely on copy-paste.

This class has given me significantly more respect for those who understand and work with computer code on a daily basis. I always knew that code was intricate and demanded immense attention to detail, but seeing firsthand just how much truly goes into making sure a code runs as intended leaves me with even more appreciation for those who work with it all the time. I’ve also realized that I like working with code more than I anticipated. While it’s a little frustrating at times to figure out what’s incorrect about my command inputs, it’s exciting when my code works the way it should, especially when experimenting with HTML.

Let’s get started, shall we?

• I’d say I’m new to code, but that would be a bit of a lie. There’s a few things I knew already coming into this class, and suffice to say, I’m a bit of a techie- Basically, I’m far from unfamiliar with my computer. However, it’d be a disservice to say I haven’t learned anything. Efficciency, history, and impact are probably the biggest things I’ve struggled with when it comes to actually utilizing this stuff. Coding is neat because it’s okay to be a bit messy. Sometimes.

Precision is not = Perfection

• Look, sometimes it is, but something I’ve gotten to know is that code isn’t really ever perfect- people are bound to make mistakes. This class has really helped me have a bit more confidence in what I write, code or just whatever you might call writing.

• Obviously this is pretty important to someone who has a particular interest in game design. And while we’re more focused on website/text coding, this is all important information to know. What if I wanted to use these coding techniques for making a marketing website? Or for even writing a witty and self-reflective blog post with a metacommentary lurking in it? Point being-

• This information has spilled over into my daily life, I’d say. I’m looking at what I can do with code far more often. I’m playing around with stuff in VSC, Git, and the likes more than I did in the past. Just for the hell of it. Pretty cool!

Let’s look at Humanity

• This class has really hit me in the “humanities and history” department too. Let’s talk about that, shall we?

• Honestly, the biggest thing for me is the social critiques I have of tech now- not in the ways you might expect. See again, I’ve always been a techie and I think this class has made me respect my PC a hell of a lot more. Seriously! For someone who already had a ton of respect for their machine, to develop even more of it for what’s essentially been my child for a few years now- it’s heartwarming, but scary.

• But this respect is actually my biggest critique of that very same tech- it’s sort of like… if you have such deep respect for someone you start to notice even their tiniest flaws. And therein lies the problem with tech and how society has used it as of late (and even in history) it’s the tiny things- things that slip through the cracks- that make it really hard to call it an excellent tool. Social media for example is used on a daily basis to criticize each other, to antagonize each other, to really zone out the “others” of us (like me). It’s sad.

• We use one of our most valuable resources as a society to torment and place liabilities on each other. It’s… not my favorite thing about tech. And society. Moreso society, right?

• Anyway, this class talked about it only briefly and I think it’s a really important detail.

Generative AI and my… confusion about it.

• We all know about the AI push in recent years- we discussed this in class recently- and honestly… I see the value, but it presents an interesting dilemma for me. My reasoning for refusing to use it is pretty clearly defined- It lacks human creativity that makes “creativity” what it is. Look-

• I’m a creative- I write, sing, do silly things with my voice, and I love art. This type of stuff is directly threatened by the presence of AI (see the recent SAG-AFTRA strikes that have been challenging AI in the Acting and Voice Acting space for stealing from them, basically). That’s why it’s confusing.

• I can directly see the efficiency of it, but I simply cannot support something that threatens creativity and ingenuity. It’s sad. I don’t find myself even wanting to support it because of people who make their livelihoods from being creatives- Voice actors/actresses, artists, and writers are very notable for suffering this- and to place the restriction that they could lose their jobs to a machine… yeah. If I could stop AI’s development where it is, I probably would.

Impactfulness- My desires as a “Person”.

• I want to know where I can take these skills to really, really have an impact. So much so that I think overall, that’s my main goal as an English major. To be able to perceive where the future will take me, what is expected of someone to let them have an impact on the world.

• This class HAS given me a perspective that, no matter where I end up going I can still trust in my own knowledge. To a certain extent, that’s important to recognize- to recognize that this class gives us the tools to do so- showcasing our own skills, learning capabilities, and experimentation. As any good class should.

• And while I do think it’s a childish desire to think that I can actually “change the world”- no lone mind can do that- I do think I can make something happen with the skills I’m learning here. I’ve got stories I want to tell, and places I want to explore. Journeys that should be explored. I hadn’t realized I could really, truly, just sit and do it until now.

So I ask myself, “Are We Cool Yet?”

• Haha, NO. Writers could be cool, but instead we spend our time doing stuff like this, right? Realistically this course has made me realize a lot about myself- as mentioned. Confidence about any one class has never been higher and I plan to take that in stride- to push past the limits I set myself to (maybe only a little bit, though).

• I think that’s all I have to say, really. I think I hit the points I wanted to hit. It’s fun to reflect a bit. Thanks for reading this far- if you have. I appreciate it!

Here’s to the rest of the Semester!

• Niia “Sniiadoodle” Conklin :3

With all my classes, I have always would attempt to connect myself to the content and find ways that the material could be importat or valuable to the increase in my knowledge. I had signed up for this class unsure of what it would be about or what I would do as I saw it said digital and wondered is this working with AI or writers working with AI. I never thought it would about my computer or learning different codes because connecting it with a english I just assumed AI but learning it was much more than that has been very interesting to learn. With no knowledge of coding or about computers has made me face challenges through this class and has made me have to adapt to it and be able to learn new skills. It has created a new perspective on computers, coding, or the hsitory fo books and computers and immersed me in something I lacked knowledge on.

Things I had Trouble With

Git Bash

• I had trouble in the beginning with downloading git bash and other apps that were associated with the journals but with the assistance I was able to download and access git bash. I was nervous to ask for help but writing it down in one of my journals, the professor saw and reached out to me to make a meeting in order for me to get help in downloading those apps. When I finally downloaded the app and I started being able to access amd do everything that others were doing. EVen having trouble with it, I have found it very interesting to learn about the different codes on Git Bash and what they correspond to because through the different topics we’ve discussed I had seen many ways to do things on it.

Files and Folders

• I originally couldn’t create a folder on my own and I think I was doing something wrong at first with typing it in wrong but as soon as we did it in class I followed the professor’s instructions and was able to create a scripts folder. Once I saw how to do it and followed along it was pretty straightforward, I think I just had a hard time doing it on my own with messing it up somehow. It’s cool to know how to do it because I never knew these codes or apps that we use before so it’s been interesting to learn about them. Even creating a file was a bit difficult for me at first because it didn’t have a directory and I didn’t know how to fix it at first but I kept trying to get it. I also did it wrong at first but following instructions in class I learned how to do it and now it has come second nature to do it everyday for class which is weird because I couldn’t remember how to do it for the first few classes doing this. But now that I know I can do it everyday for class out of instinct which is so cool I learned how to do this because I could easily use this for another class that I simply just want to note take on my computer.

Something I Have Learned

Computers

• I also have enjoyed learning about the evolving and create of computers and the system its made of through the book “Broad Band” as its been fascinating and new for me. I have never known the history of computers as it’s not a common thing or topic we learn in school but for this class it’s been interesting to learn and has brought me new knowledge from it. I also want to add how I had no idea that many women were involved with computers, how they worked, or the math involved.

AI

• Even discussing AI with computers or electronics has been an interesting topic because in a lot of my classes it’s connected with as I’ve discussed the pros and cons of it as well. I’ve never read an article about it but reading the articles about kind of shown a little more light on the dangers of it all and how it can be very bias because of the company who owns it or is associated with it. In some of my classes we’ve discussed how it can be useful in aspects of grammar or spelling check but in class we discussed with Thoreau how it can make it more bland or flat with the tone and diminish meaning. Now considering both aspects I can see the help it can have but can see it could take away the creativity or originality you had in your writing.

Transcribing and TEI

• Learning about transcribing and TEI was something totally new for me and something I had never experienced or really know much about it. It gained me new skills and knowledge on the importance and care that goes into decoding older works, as well as the significance that technology can have such as Douglass Day that brought many people together to transcbribes many works.

Overall, this course this far as taught me and introduced me to many different ideas, history of things, and new skills that I now have the abiltiy to use in the future. It also has shown the relationship between technology and literature, and the impact it has made or improvements it has created.

New Connections

Before this class, I hadn’t thought much about the relationship between computers and the humanities. I had seen it simply as a tool for drafting/translating works into a digital format, primarily for neatness and assignment submission. Following our classes and our exploration of/introduction to the fluid text edition of Walden (and its accompanying HTML file), I’ve begun to see the greater importance of computers as a tool to make works more accessible. Computers, firstly as machines, enable us to translate manuscripts into a uniform digital version and font that is easily readable by most people. With the aid of servers and programming languages, they enable the creation of websites that anyone can access and, thereby, read works of the humanities. Considering the fluid text edition of Walden, the use of computers/programming enables readers to see the development of the text through its different drafts by isolating the changes (shown through the green words and strikes throughs) side-by-side. Without this edition of the work, which was made possible by computers, readers would have to go one-by-one through each manuscript and painstakingly try to locate all the changes.

Personal Impacts

The most significant impact this course has had on me thus far is how it has completely changed my relationship with my computer–how I approach, think about, and interact with my device. I’ve found myself frequently using Terminal to navigate my computer and make new documents rather than going through Finder, which I’d been doing basically my digital life. In many ways, it’s made small tasks more efficient (not having to go through the opener page of Word before making a new doc or scrambling to save it in the proper file/location at the end of class). Alongside this, it’s also changed how I visualize the form/organization of the computer in my mind: how everything is connected and the language I use to interact with it.

This new knowledge has also changed my notetaking practices. I’ve started using markdown when taking notes for other classes, utilizing the basic “language” to section off and organize them as I go. I also learned how to add/modify the basic journal script we used in class to create an automatic/pre-formatted outline for my class to fill in as I go. It’s helped me stay organized without the pesky task of repetitively copying & pasting or typing out a new outline every time I want to take notes. I’ve also started using it to draft poems and papers because I can divide different drafts/versions using leveled headers.

Future Ambitions

This new knowledge and understanding has catalyzed my newfound obsession with coding and using Terminal. It’s introduced me to a new subject and set of skills I can learn. I’ve always wondered about the inner workings of computers and what exactly “coding” meant, but had previously relegated it to the collection of “questions I have, but probably won’t understand the answer to.” The things we’ve covered so far have provided me with the basic tools and understandings to start rooting through my computer. It’s also instilled in me the confidence that I’m capable of learning/understanding programming and web development. Now, in my spare time (and sometimes when procrastinating), I’ve started rooting through my computer: I’ve taught myself how to move files more efficiently, how to root out pesky software/apps that I’ve been trying to find and delete forever, and how to override permissions (of course with the help of google).

Another one of my new curiosities/ambitions is to learn about how binary relates to code and the mechanisms/information that enable our computers to work. I also want to know more about writing/modifying the code on (?) my computer to achieve things that aren’t possible (even with the advent of Apple’s new “Shortcut” app), particularly with the multiple keyboards/languages and special characters (the options in system preferences sadly hasn’t given me the power to do what I want). In general, though, I’m interested in learning about/starting the journey to discover the limits of computers (what can and can’t be done? What can I mess with? What can’t I? And why?).

Credited Women

There are many things I have learned about computers since the start of the semester. However, a major key point I have learned is that computers are not capable of creation or independent thinking, but rather respond to a set of instructions for computation. From the Book “Broad Band,” I’ve learned about Ada Lovelace, Grace Hopper, the ENIAC Six and many other women who fought for the use of computers in everyday life. From these women, I found that computers are merely machines that read a set of code that it is given and they heavily rely on humans to create the code for the machines to understand.

Connections Between Computers and Humanities

The connection between computers and humanities is extremely valuable and is responsible for our consumption of various media. Computers allow communities to find and connect with each other, and they allow for human connection and further creation. Social media platforms, blog posts, and many other platforms allow everyone to have a voice and an opportunity to have their voices heard throughout the community. Further, various important works of literature were transcribed and brought to the internet. In class, we are discussing Henry David Thoreau and his works that were transcribed from paper to a digital platform. This digital platform has made his works widely accessible and ensures that his works will continue to be studied and understood for time to come.

Conquering the Terminal Window

Before the start of this semester, I had used the terminal window on my Mac only a handful of times. I knew that the window was a means of controlling the computer with direct communication, but I was unsure about its higher use. But, with the knowledge I have gained from class, I have a greater understanding of the window and how it works. I learned that the window is used for direct communication with the computer and it often overrides the general interface that is offered to the user. Instead of clicking through apps or finding documents in the finder, there are various codes that can be written to pull these items directly from the computer. In class, we set up Visual Studio Code and we access this through the terminal window. Additionally, each of our journal files from class is written in markdown using Visual Studio Code, and this is accessed through the terminal window. Typing “cd scripts” from the home folder will take you to the scripts folder that was created in class. Then, typing “./journal.sh” will bring the new journal file for class. Due to the things I have learned in class, I have a greater and wider understanding of the terminal window and I feel confident in controlling my computer.

Technology in the Classroom

My new understanding of computers and technology is a great resource to have for education. I am an English Education major, and each of these learned tools will be extremely beneficial for my classroom. Students can read works that have been published to a public domain, students can share their thoughts and ideas on an online forum, and I can share my knowledge of computers with students. Computers are powerful machines and they should be more widely understood to promote growth and a sense of comfort with the individuals who use them.

When I reflect on what I have learned in ENGL 340: Literary Studies in the Digital Age this semester, I think the most easily identifiable “hard skill” that I have acquired so far is how to use applications like GitBash and visual studio code. Though I am far from being able to innovatively use GitBash and VS code, I feel like I have a good grasp on how basically to use them. I think that the experience with VS code will help me personally with understanding my own computer and organizing my files. I feel like it could also matter in whatever career I choose to pursue whether I have experience with hard skills associated with digital humanities because it feels like most (especially most non-teaching jobs) prioritize hard tech skills.

More than that, though, I feel like my understanding of digital humanities and the possibilities of digital literary studies has grown significantly. Before this class, I had had a little bit of experience with digital studies in history, but I didn’t really have an understanding of what digital humanities looks like, especially for literature. Our reading and engagement with Walden has been really interesting conceptually. I had not had the chance to read any of Thoreau before but had heard about him a bit in my history classes. His anti-materialism is really striking and compelling to me, and I have mulled over a lot of thoughts–whether the personal decision to let go of materialism is for me (ideally it would be; it is just really hard in practice to do that), and whether it is realistic for anyone in the context of the present United States to do what he did. The Walden Fluid text version, our learning of TEI, our learning of different markup languages, etc. has clarified a lot for me, but I am still really curious to learn how, for example, html turns into, like physically turns into, text on a screen that reflects exaclty what you told it to reflect. I do not think I have to understand that specifically to understand how to use html, but it is a curiosity I have.

I was really glad to have learned, so far, about applications to what we might call “real life”–so here, I am thinking about our discussions of generative AI, our work with the African American Perspectives in Print collection, and our readings of Broadband. I didn’t use AI to make this post, but I was interested in class to learn how people and professions are adapting to include AI in regular practice. I have hesitance towards that, and I am also curious how these practices will leave people who aren’t part of white collar work spaces or academia. Additionally, I really enjoyed our class’s work on Douglass Day and will continue to look to the LOC’s website and other online transcription campaigns when I have downtime and want to do something meaningful. Moreover, our discussions about Broadband have been really helpful because I didn’t know much about the history of computers or the internet beyond Alan Turing. To probably no one’s surprise, we owe a lot to women before us who built the internet who aren’t usually properly credited with it. Overall, this class has unlocked a part of literary studies and introduced me to a lot of soft and hard skills that I think I would not have otherwise had experience with, and I am really grateful for that.