Tell us your preferred name.
Youngsin
What attracted you to this course and/or subject?
Last week’s introduction session was very good for me. I felt how much the university itself is trying to evolve or to catch up in this rapidly changing modern time (I am a bit aged). My impression of this course is that whoever developed this course, it is considerate of the variety of students, trying hard to let student themselves learn on their own pace which is the sprit of university, in spite of all those criticisms that accuse university as only a job training institute. Therefore, my expectation is getting bigger.
When I read the introduction of this subject, I thought it was exactly what I tried to do for some years, but haven’t started yet. How lucky I am! And then I wondered, should I spend money, anxiety, stress and time for doing this study as UTS master course student?
If I add a little of cynicism, I wanted to enrol in “Digital Graphics and the Still Image” but it was full. There was no other choice.
What do you hope to gain by undertaking this subject?
As an amateur website developer, I crave all the time to gain thorough knowledge of fundamentals of coding or programming. As introduction of this subject suggested, if I learn all those skills or programming languages such as, simple HTML authoring, XHTML, cascading style sheets (CSS), browser scripting with Javascript, interaction with back-end database environments using scripting engines such as ColdFusion, PHP and WebObjects, as much as I can, this semester will be the most valuable time spent in my whole life.
I am looking at ColdFusion now, but I decided that I am not going to use or study ColdFusion because I want to learn or get used to basic coding as I mentioned earlier.
I will try to write line by line with my hands, I am so exciting that finally I can do the things I wanted to do for several years. Back to the basic!
What attracts you about Digital Media Technologies and Interactive Multimedia?
I don’t want to write how much Internet is important and how much Internet is interconnected in ordinary human being’s life, which we’re all aware of.
As a student of website development, I had to think about the usability, accessibility, layout, interactive user interface etc. Without digital media technology, we can hardly imagine Interactive websites of today. Therefore the knowledge and skills of digital media and multimedia are essential to whoever is working with websites.
What constitutes ’success’ for you in this subject?
This is a really good question that I should establish all the time when I start any of my subjects. Although I couldn’t quite figure out for this subject, I know this subject is quite straight forward and technical.
Being realistic, if I can construct my experimental new website with my own knowledge and skill, I will consider it as a success.
What do you feel are your personal strengths?
I am a positive thinker, a good organiser, a problem solver and a person who appreciates being a human.
What do you feel you need to improve upon, or would like to develop?
I just cannot sit in one place, being a woman and a mother for such a long time (whole my life). It is hard for me to concentrate on one thing for a long time. I have to train myself to be used to it and it is not easy to me.
What are the opportunities you see for yourself in learning and applying knowledge and skills in your technical area of interest? What, if know, are your learning objectives?
As I mentioned earlier, this subject is exactly what I wanted to do for quite some time but haven’t started yet. I wish this subject will give me the opportunity to learn those techniques.
Actually I couldn’t see much, I wish that there is a certainty, it says that if you passed this subject, you will get such and such. Surely I don’t think you will get a job offer even if you are going to have a good grade of subject, of course, you will have a good confidence as much as you’ve devoted on the topic.
What, if any, are the potential threats, challenges or obstacles you feel you might face in achieving your objectives?
Well, as usual, I’ll have to deal with it on a case by case basis. Time management, prioritising, and being careful to not set too many objectives, regular self assessment etc. will be the strategy I will use.
My first obstacle is the opportunity this subject will provide me with. My son‘s idea is that it is a total waste of money and time because I don‘t have any talent with developing website. Yes, I am already facing a fundamental threat to do this subject. Still, I want to do it because I believe that a chance will only be given to someone who’s prepared to take that chance.
Describe any production, design or technical skills or experience you have with digital media technologies OR give us a brief description of your background and experience.
I do not have anything to write here unfortunately, although, I have a personal website that I hardly look after these days.
www.cindyinsyd.com
This website was started by me in 2002 and changed two times, and almost a year ago, I changed the home page spending just two days, and never updated since.
Yes, it’s always under my skin and bugs me with guilt that I am not doing what I’m suppose to do.
I have a master degree in networking (Master of IT; networking from James Cook University 2005).
Still I am looking for what I really want to do for living.
I thought or I wish this website development is the one.
I love beautiful graphically oriented websites rather than contents which is not proper way of thinking as a website developer and I do not have any way near to make such websites.
Post a URL that tells the group something about your area of interest in digital media technologies. It can be a resource website or an example of an interesting or innovative use of web technologies. Why have you chosen to share this particular URL with the group?
http://www.agimo.gov.au/archive/mws/introduction
“The purpose of this guide is to assist Australian Government departments and agencies implement the Government’s minimum website standards”
Good thing or bad thing?
Australian government websites are following strictly text based standard. I guess there are many reasons behind this, for example, bandwidth of networking, to achieve clear objectives, etc. However, as an ordinary internet user, this strictly text based websites are really unattractive. Why is that? I am curious as to how much difference there is between delivering information to user through a graphically oriented website and a text based website.
I am teaching basic computer skills to elderly people (40~60s) in various communities as volunteer worker. It’s really interesting how they learn, and how they feel happy about learning something new. I couldn’t make clear cut but there are certainly some special characters about learning process in these age groups. If I can, I want to develop a website which can provide important information and provide some fun to the people who have not experienced Internet surfing.
Tell us about a technology topic, area or issue you feel passionate about? What would be the three most important points about this you feel you must convey to the group?
I haven’t been passionate with these web programming languages (PHP, HTML, CSS, SQL, Java Script) yet, but if I can gain any amount of knowledge of them it will be a good fortune to me.
Which group?
If this group means that I have to give them a peer review, there is not much I can talk about. Maybe, I am expecting that some one who love their work, a bit of enthusiasm and sharing knowledge, something like that.
Thank you for your time.