Core 1 Part 2

My future profession is, at the moment, hospitality management. I did a little research as to what a lodging manager uses technology for, and they really use it to keep the hotel up and running. For the economic side of the business, I will use computers to keep track of guest reservations, current bills, events, which guests are in which rooms, as well as employee records and paycheck systems. There is so much more that computers are also used for. I will use technology to order food and drinks for the hotel, sheets and bedding, anything really that the hotel will be needing is ordered online now. Most hotels have wireless internet, or at least an office room with a computer, internet, and printer. Being able to work and possibly fix these will be an important asset to have. I will be using programs such as excel, and word to keep track of records and write out memos and schedules. I could also use the internet to communicate with my staff, and future guests. In order for me to be successful at these tasks I could take a computer class here at UCF, but most of the training I believe will be on the job because each hotel might use different programs and have different preferences about how everything is done.

Core 1 Part 1

As I started the technology survey, I felt very confident that I was technologically advanced. I have taken computer courses in high school, and I assumed that being on the computer for most of the day would give me some points in this department. However, I quickly realized that I am no where near I thought I was. I learned I only use my technology for the bare minimum. I use my laptop for Microsoft Word, and Facebook. I barely ever use playstations, or the wii. I do not make websites or even blog. I think I have never used these things because I have no need for them. I use Word for school assignments that I need to type up, and Facebook for social networking and keeping in touch with old friends. I do not go on the internet and create, I solely use.

I'm not sure what I could do to improve my digital literacy. Maybe take a computer class, or a web design class more specifically. I would love to learn to use programs like Photoshop to manipulate pictures. But as of right now, I have no need to manipulate pictures. I'm stronger in the areas that I use often, areas that pertain to school/work such as the Microsoft Office programs because I use them on at least a weekly basis. I am definitely weak in the multimedia and even play oriented categories. Most people would assume it would be the other way around but I just have no need for those programs.

Assignment One

I think it would be best to start out defining rhetorical context. Rhetorical context is why the author wrote the text, what the purpose of it is and what exactly it is. My article is A New Digital Literacy: A Conversation with Paul Gilster. The entire article is Gilster talking about the internet, and how it should be used as a tool in the pursuit of education. He outlines the good things that could be the outcome of internet usage, but also warns against depending too much on internet research that cannot be backed up. This argument, made by Gilster, is directed to educators. He calls for technology to aid education, because he feels that if integrated into our "apprentice model" ( the way we learn, going to a person with more experience and knowledge then we do ) we could expand learning and children could be more interested and involved in school. Gilster uses logical appeals in his argument by giving examples of ways children could learn more about topics and become more involved in projects. I would say the main objective of this article is to inform about the possibilities if technology were integrated into our society, especially our education systems, but also to argue that the internet is not a monster that must be conquered and could really help our world.