Blog Post # 3: Online learning games (edutainment)... meant for our future students, but still fun for us! haha

Chapter 4 included input/output devices, storage media and devices. Input is basically anything recorded into the computers memory. This data is put into the computer through several different devices including the keyboard we type on, the numeric keypad we type numbers with, the mouse we point to items with/direct computer to, and many other technologies for either more specific programs or more technologically advanced programs, like joysticks, touch screens, digital pen inputting, etc. We also use these devices for activities like downloading pictures onto our computer from our digital cameras. Output is everything in the computer that can be “processed into a useful form called information.” This is presented on the computer through things like text, graphics, audio, video, etc. Some output devices include the monitor itself that we use to see everything we perform on the computer, printers for turning our text/images into tangible items, data projectors, etc. Storage media and devices are the way we store or save what we have done. Some methods for storing include floppy/zip disks, CD’s/DVD’s, CD-rom, etc.

I thought this chapter was very similar to the previous chapters in that it covered many concepts I already knew. However, also like the other chapters, it put a name on items that I did not know the names of. I did get very caught up though in the “Learn it Online” section on page 261 because there is a game called “Wheel of Terms” that I looked up online and played for quite some time hahah yeah it’s definitely kinda goofy, but I have a job where I sit at a computer for 3 hours not expected to do very much -- so let me tell you, it was a fun game!

Since my last posting, I feel like Ive learned a lot of new vocabulary words. I’ve also learned a lot in class about different programs. I enjoyed using the Inspiration program! Most importantly, the Windows XP training and test we did was very helpful. It showed me a lot of little things that I didn’t know that make finding my way around the computer a lot quicker!