Throughout our lives and hopeful future careers as educators we will interested in many different aspects and projects involving multimedia tools. In order to utilize and have access to those tools we will need basic knowledge of computer and other system unit hardware. This chapter covers the bases in input, output, and storage devices involving electronic hardware, mainly computers.
Input devices can be any hardware component that allows you to enter data programs, commands, user responses into a computer. Such hardware includes keyboards, digital cameras, and devices for audio and video. Output is any computer component capable of conveying information to a user. Examples of output devices include printers, speakers, display devices such as LCD monitors, and earphones. The chapter continues to explain different types of memory and storage devices used to hold or store information. The book explains that storage refers to the media on which data, instructions and information are kept, including the devices that record and retrieve those items. In order to understand this concept you must have an understanding of the difference between how a computer uses memory and how it uses storage.
The textbook discusses RAM earlier in the chapter, I was already familiar with the fact that RAM temporarily stores data programs that are being processed. RAM is considered volatile because any data or programs stored in memory are lost when the power turned off or if power is lost. Storage which is nonvolatile stores data, instructions, and info. when they are not being processed. The textbook gives a helpful example comparing storage to a filing cabinet and memory to the files that are present on your desk in your office. When you need a file you remove it from your filing cabinet( represents storage) and bring it to your desk ( represents memory). When you are finished with the file you place it back in the cabinet(storage).
After establishing the difference between storage and memory it's time to get into Storage media and devices also called secondary storage. These include disks, USB flash drives, and CD's. These devices can function as sources of input and output. For example each time information from a storage medium is transferred to the CPU into memory it serves as an input source. When the information is transferred from the CPU to the storage medium is serves as an output source.
This chapter definitely covers the different hardware devices used in education. I knew many of the things mentioned in this chapter but never really thought about the information processing cycle as whole. I use the devices covered in this chapter at least once every day at school, work, and in my personal activities. Having an understanding of these hardware components can serve as a basis of knowledge when using technology and will be necessary to know when applying them to newer technologies in the future.
I feel I have a good base of knowledge with computers. I use the computer at least once every day if I am not camping. In this class I learn how to use something new or a tool that I didn't have the opportunity to use before. I think it's awesome, whenever I am working on something for this class all I can think of is all the great things I could do with these tools and ideas in a class room. For example during this lesson we were working on Inspiration and even though I am not the best with concept maps. I really got into some of the ways you could present information and ideas. I chose to do a map of the Teenage Parent Program that I work with representing all of the opportunities and main goals of the programs. The other map I did on maintaining healthy plants I mean could those be any more different from each other. Yet I was able to present information efficiently and creatively.
No comments:
Post a Comment