This week our assignments have included reading the syllabus for CD 315, ASHA code of ethics, the Information Technology Environment: Usage Policy, information on the use of MOO, and three articles on Information Literacy. We were also required to obtain a username/password from Marshall, send information about our computer system, join a Yahoo group, send a letter of introduction, browse and join the class web site, and create a weblog. These assignments were all designed to orient us to the format and medium of the class.

Some of the content, addressed in this week’s assignments, was very new to me. The multi-user system is a virtual classroom. Like a real classroom, there are rules of usage. There are also designated ways to communicate verbally and nonverbally. There are even ways to pass notes and get into groups. This week’s content also included Information Literacy. This type of literacy involves not only knowing how to read, but being able to take what you read, question it, and find answers to your questions. New content also included creating weblogs, which are basically online journals. A weblog is a ‘place’ where you can post ‘stories,’ like this entry.

The process of completing this week’s assignments has been a learning experience. At our first class meeting, we learned how to search Marshall’s library database for information. The process of finding periodicals has changed since I last saw that presentation. Now, you can search for specific titles to see if a subscription is held for that periodical. You can also search several new databases for information. I also found using the MOO to be interesting. In a MOO, you must know the commands to speak and to navigate the rooms. These commands must be typed a specific way or the action will not be carried out. I had some trouble because I kept typing ‘says’ instead of ‘say’ for the command to speak. The process of joining our class list and class web site was relatively easy. I very surprised that all we really had to do was create a
password and user name.

After completing the assignments for this week, I am excited to see what we are going to do next. This week involved more preparation than application. The articles on Information Literacy seemed like a synopsis of what we are hoping to achieve this semester. The Internet is a vast resource, containing countless sources. If it is going to be of any use whatsoever, we have to be able to find and evaluate those sources. I admit that I really hope to become more literate and competent when it comes to using the Internet. I know that this course is going to be very challenging, and I hope I can keep up.

My questions for this week were mainly about the journal. I had wondered if there was a specific format, which I found that there was. I also wondered if the blogs at antville.com are set up for our use only, or if they are for public use? I was wondering because I thought that it would be nice to have a page for each class. That way we could post assignments and activities. It would also be neat to have a NSSLHA page so that people who could not come to the meetings could still get all the information.