Journal Questions, Summer 2000

[ tic00home ] [ classwork] [ websites ] [ syllabus ] [ teachers ]

Journal Question of the Day
(List and Archive)

IMPORTANT: When e-mailing me (lloyd@uclink4.berkeley.edu) your journal answer,
please make sure the subject line begins with the phrase 2030 Journal followed by the date.
Example subject line: 2030 Journal, 6.19.00 This way, I can easily program my e-mail client to auto-sort
the incoming email and deliver it to the appropriate mailbox in my system. Thanks!
Also, please send a copy of the journal to Tom Fletcher (tfletcher@home.com) and to your Group TA.

Friday
July 28 Part 1:
Today's journal is a little different in that we want you to mail it to atdp2030@egroups.com, not just Tom, myself, and your TA. Now, answer these relatively simple questions with nice, long, thoughtful replies:
What is the ideal community to you? What communities do you belong to? What should an Internet community be? See, this is the first "internet community" we've ever tried to make, so it's basically a hot-wired, prototype, patchwork model of a society. What do you think would make an internet community better?
Part 2:
What was the most important thing you learned in this class this summer? Was it a technical thing, a social thing, or did it have to do with education and learning in general? Or all of the above? (Please be both specific AND general, in responding to this question.) Would it interest you to attend the Advanced Internet Classroom at ATDP next summer?

Wednesday
July 26 Part 1:
Other than the observations Tom made in his essay, write in your journal one thing you observe on the network map (second one). Tom talked about how Africa and South America were severely lagging in Internet usage based on the structure of the global network. Make some kind of similar observation. Also: what is a map? What are the uses and/or limitations of a map? What can a map teach you? On the topic of the digital divide: how do you feel knowing that the United States "owns" the future? What possibilites and/or problems may lie in the near future due to the physical structure of the internet?
Part 2:
Related to the above question, I'd like to get a snapshot of the "cybergeography" of this class. What kind of computer and operating system do you use at home? Which Internet service provider do you use?

Monday
July 24 Part 1:
How do you get your news? Does the source or the veraicty of the news matter to you? Do you even care about the news? What about the nature of truth: do you believe in the sacredness of truth or is a lie ok?
Part 2:
Can you compare or contrast your regular school experience with that of "schooling" here at ATDP during the summer? What are the strengths and weaknesses of both? Are you able to learn things in a compressed, rapid-paced six-week program like ATDP, equally well (or not) than a full semester or two of regular school?

Friday
July 21 Part 1:
So now we turn to you, young wizards in training at Hogwarts' Tolman campus. Are you the 'technical wizard' in your family? How do you see your parents, as far as technology is concerned? Does being the computer whiz affect your relationship with your parents at all? Do you think your expertise and "authority" on the computer gives you a more important role in your family? Take the time to think about this, it's very important. Thanks.
Part 2:
As we end the penultimate week of the class, think about the balance of work and play that you've had in it. A few of you have completed your webwork, but many are still busily engaged in it. There's only one full session left, since Wed. and Fri. next week will be devoted to presentations, and Friday is also party day. So, please comment on this: WAS there a good balance of work and free/play time in this class, or not? If not, did we need more work time, or vice versa? Why, or why not?

Wednesday
July 19 Part 1:
So now, things to think about for the journal: how do you use e-mail? Is it for writing quick notes or long letters? Do you like reading/writing e-mail? Why? What is it about e-mail that makes you love it/hate it? How is it different from normal phone calls or conversations?
Part 2:
Please comment on how your group website project is coming along. What is your role in it? Are you completing the work you need to do for it? What else do you need to do for it, for the rest of the session? Did the whole teamwork thing work out, or did it fall to one or two students to do most of the work? (Please be honest here. We want to know how to make group website projects work better, if necessary.)

Monday
July 17 Part 1:
Do you feel like you should be able to make a website about anything, and post it on the Internet? What if you wanted to make a website about your very strong religious convictions? Or if you wanted to create a site about bomb-making techniques? Or hate speech (there's a LOT on the web)? Or porn? Where do you draw the line? Do you feel that ATDP is obligated to host your website? Do you think that's a constitutionally protected right?
Part 2:
Please comment on how your individual website project is coming along. We have only two precious weeks left in TIC (6 lab sessions), and each day is going to be packed with work and activity. How far along are you towards finishing your project? What do you still need to do for it? Are you looking at completing your website, or is it going to be only a beginning... that is, you'll continue working on it after TIC?

Friday
July 14 Who are you? (Your name alone is NOT acceptable; tell a little bit more about who you are, with the understanding that this information is confidential and not to be 'cybercast' widely.)
Who are you when you are on-line? Are you still really seeing "yourself"? What parts make up the "you" in the cyberworld? How and why are real-you and cyber-you different? Do you think the difference, if any, is intentional (you definitely thought about, and made up, your online identity) or circumstantial (it's just that way, without planning or forethought on your part)?

Wednesday
July 12 Is privacy and security an issue to you when it comes to the Internet? When filling out personal data forms on websites, do you usually enter accurate information, or do you usually make things up?
Do you care if governments or corporations know all about you? Are you willing to trade your privacy for protection from terrorists? Would you consider encrypting your e-mails with a program like Pretty Good Privacy to discourage people from reading your personal e-mails?

Monday
July 10 How does the internet affect student-teacher interaction? Can you learn as much from an on-line class? What about classroom discussions? Will a chatroom be adequate for replacing this? What about the wonderful opportunities to take any class you wanted, anywhere in the world?

Friday
July 7 The media loves to tell the story of young, bright people who have become billionaires by starting technology companies. Yahoo, Amazon, and eBay have all created instant billionaires. You are all young and bright. Now it is your turn to think of the next billion-dollar idea. Come up with an idea for a dot-com company. What does your site do? What does it sell? Ideas, products, information?
Write a business plan summary that details your idea. Explain why your idea will be the next big thing. You can write a serious proposal or one that is an outrageous parody.
(Optional) Do you care about becoming rich, like a millionaire? Why or why not?

Wednesday
July 5 Why did you take this class (let's see if the reasons are different for girls and boys)? What made you choose The Internet Classroom over first-year latin or economics or statistics or english?
Girls, do you think the girls interviewed in this story are telling the truth, or do you have a different opinion? Are computer games only for boys? Are there computer or network-based games that you like playing? Does the idea of programming or creating a computer game OR a website, appeal to you at all?
Guys, does the idea of programming or creating a computer game OR a website, appeal to you at all? What do you think are the similarities or differences between actual games (like the organized mayhem of football, or 3 p.m. ultimate frisbee) and the computer/network games you play during free period?
And finally, for everyone: given a choice, would you rather engage in an actual real-world game, or play one (either by yourself, or against others on the net) on the computer? Why, or why not?

Monday
July 3 Technological advances in computing and communications over the last decade have helped the U.S. economy grow at a phenomenal rate (particularly in comparison with other countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America).
In your opinion, has the average American benefited from this growth? Do you think the average person has benefited from computers and the Internet? Is the Internet revolution "leveling the playing field" or is it increasing the disparities between rich and poor?
Thing about this question from your personal, family and community perspective and make sure you justify your answers.

Friday
June 30 (Part 1)
As you're working now on your individual website project, are you thinking more about the 'look' or design of it, or more about the content? Are you modeling your website's design on any particular website? If so, which one/s, and why?
(Part 2)
Do you consider yourself an artist? Why? Do you paint? Draw? Dance? Sing? Something else? Can a well-designed website be a piece of artwork? How do you feel about bringing an artist's touch to the Internet? Good, bad, who cares? Think about it, respond thoughtfully.

Wednesday
June 28 (Part 1)
Do you use AOL Instant Messenger (or ICQ) a lot? Do you find it fun? Useful? A pain? What do you like best, and least, about it? After that, think about this: what do you think about the nature of language? Is it messy and imprecise or is it clear and crisp? Was your first language English? If not, what was it? And how many languages do you speak?
(Part 2)
How has your learning of HTML tables gone, so far? Is there anything about tables that confuses you, or has not been explained clearly, either by the text or the instruction and demos?

Wednesday
June 28 (Part 1)
Do you use AOL Instant Messenger (or ICQ) a lot? Do you find it fun? Useful? A pain? What do you like best, and least, about it? After that, think about this: what do you think about the nature of language? Is it messy and imprecise or is it clear and crisp? Was your first language English? If not, what was it? And how many languages do you speak?
(Part 2)
How has your learning of HTML tables gone, so far? Is there anything about tables that confuses you, or has not been explained clearly, either by the text or the instruction and demos?

Monday
June 26 (Part 1)
How much time do you spend online and in the virtual world? (Not counting hours in school or, obviously, asleep!) Don't just say how much time (or percentage of such) you spend online -- characterize it a bit, i.e., tell me what it is you do online, whether it be chatting, doing research, putting on a different persona in an online RPG, playing network (or non-net) games, etc.
(Part 2)
Respond thoughtfully to the questions at the end of Tom's essay.

Friday
June 23 (Part 1)
What websites do you find yourself returning to frequently? How often do you go back to revisit those sites, and why do you return to them? What is it about those sites that make them compelling to you?
(Part 2)
Do you have an opinion on the MP3 issue? Based on Tom's talk about 'cyberpiracy,' do you think creative artists and musicians are at a disadvantage when faced with the fact that their music can be easily distributed for free over the Internet? If YOU were a musician, would you like your work to be available like that, to anyone who would want to download it? Do recording artists, or recording companies, benefit more from the music industry?

Wednesday
June 21 (Part 1)
What search engine do you use the most? Why? Do you find yourself using different search engines for different purposes, or are you loyal to the one or two that you like best? What do you think makes for a good search engine?
(Part 2)
How's your learning of HTML so far? Is there anything that isn't making sense to you? Anything confusing? Are we going too quickly? Too slowly? Just right?
(Part 3)
Based on Tom's talk, which group interaction do you think would work best in a web design project situation? Cooperative, or hierarchical?

Monday
June 19 (Part 1)
How has the Internet affected you? What difference, if any, has it made in your life as a student and as a young person? Is this difference generally a positive one, or is it negative in any way? Please be specific and cite examples to support your idea.
(Part 2)
What are your expectations of this class? What do you expect to learn during the six weeks? What do you expect of your teachers and TAs?
(Part 3)
What did you think of Tom's talk? Did you learn anything about search engines that you didn't know before? Do you find it easy, or difficult, to do research on the Internet?

Friday July 28	Part 1: Today's journal is a little different in that we want you to mail it to atdp2030@egroups.com, not just Tom, myself, and your TA. Now, answer these relatively simple questions with nice, long, thoughtful replies: What is the ideal community to you? What communities do you belong to? What should an Internet community be? See, this is the first "internet community" we've ever tried to make, so it's basically a hot-wired, prototype, patchwork model of a society. What do you think would make an internet community better? Part 2: What was the most important thing you learned in this class this summer? Was it a technical thing, a social thing, or did it have to do with education and learning in general? Or all of the above? (Please be both specific AND general, in responding to this question.) Would it interest you to attend the Advanced Internet Classroom at ATDP next summer?
Wednesday July 26	Part 1: Other than the observations Tom made in his essay, write in your journal one thing you observe on the network map (second one). Tom talked about how Africa and South America were severely lagging in Internet usage based on the structure of the global network. Make some kind of similar observation. Also: what is a map? What are the uses and/or limitations of a map? What can a map teach you? On the topic of the digital divide: how do you feel knowing that the United States "owns" the future? What possibilites and/or problems may lie in the near future due to the physical structure of the internet? Part 2: Related to the above question, I'd like to get a snapshot of the "cybergeography" of this class. What kind of computer and operating system do you use at home? Which Internet service provider do you use?
Monday July 24	Part 1: How do you get your news? Does the source or the veraicty of the news matter to you? Do you even care about the news? What about the nature of truth: do you believe in the sacredness of truth or is a lie ok? Part 2: Can you compare or contrast your regular school experience with that of "schooling" here at ATDP during the summer? What are the strengths and weaknesses of both? Are you able to learn things in a compressed, rapid-paced six-week program like ATDP, equally well (or not) than a full semester or two of regular school?
Friday July 21	Part 1: So now we turn to you, young wizards in training at Hogwarts' Tolman campus. Are you the 'technical wizard' in your family? How do you see your parents, as far as technology is concerned? Does being the computer whiz affect your relationship with your parents at all? Do you think your expertise and "authority" on the computer gives you a more important role in your family? Take the time to think about this, it's very important. Thanks. Part 2: As we end the penultimate week of the class, think about the balance of work and play that you've had in it. A few of you have completed your webwork, but many are still busily engaged in it. There's only one full session left, since Wed. and Fri. next week will be devoted to presentations, and Friday is also party day. So, please comment on this: WAS there a good balance of work and free/play time in this class, or not? If not, did we need more work time, or vice versa? Why, or why not?
Wednesday July 19	Part 1: So now, things to think about for the journal: how do you use e-mail? Is it for writing quick notes or long letters? Do you like reading/writing e-mail? Why? What is it about e-mail that makes you love it/hate it? How is it different from normal phone calls or conversations? Part 2: Please comment on how your group website project is coming along. What is your role in it? Are you completing the work you need to do for it? What else do you need to do for it, for the rest of the session? Did the whole teamwork thing work out, or did it fall to one or two students to do most of the work? (Please be honest here. We want to know how to make group website projects work better, if necessary.)
Monday July 17	Part 1: Do you feel like you should be able to make a website about anything, and post it on the Internet? What if you wanted to make a website about your very strong religious convictions? Or if you wanted to create a site about bomb-making techniques? Or hate speech (there's a LOT on the web)? Or porn? Where do you draw the line? Do you feel that ATDP is obligated to host your website? Do you think that's a constitutionally protected right? Part 2: Please comment on how your individual website project is coming along. We have only two precious weeks left in TIC (6 lab sessions), and each day is going to be packed with work and activity. How far along are you towards finishing your project? What do you still need to do for it? Are you looking at completing your website, or is it going to be only a beginning... that is, you'll continue working on it after TIC?
Friday July 14	Who are you? (Your name alone is NOT acceptable; tell a little bit more about who you are, with the understanding that this information is confidential and not to be 'cybercast' widely.) Who are you when you are on-line? Are you still really seeing "yourself"? What parts make up the "you" in the cyberworld? How and why are real-you and cyber-you different? Do you think the difference, if any, is intentional (you definitely thought about, and made up, your online identity) or circumstantial (it's just that way, without planning or forethought on your part)?
Wednesday July 12	Is privacy and security an issue to you when it comes to the Internet? When filling out personal data forms on websites, do you usually enter accurate information, or do you usually make things up? Do you care if governments or corporations know all about you? Are you willing to trade your privacy for protection from terrorists? Would you consider encrypting your e-mails with a program like Pretty Good Privacy to discourage people from reading your personal e-mails?
Monday July 10	How does the internet affect student-teacher interaction? Can you learn as much from an on-line class? What about classroom discussions? Will a chatroom be adequate for replacing this? What about the wonderful opportunities to take any class you wanted, anywhere in the world?
Friday July 7	The media loves to tell the story of young, bright people who have become billionaires by starting technology companies. Yahoo, Amazon, and eBay have all created instant billionaires. You are all young and bright. Now it is your turn to think of the next billion-dollar idea. Come up with an idea for a dot-com company. What does your site do? What does it sell? Ideas, products, information? Write a business plan summary that details your idea. Explain why your idea will be the next big thing. You can write a serious proposal or one that is an outrageous parody. (Optional) Do you care about becoming rich, like a millionaire? Why or why not?
Wednesday July 5	Why did you take this class (let's see if the reasons are different for girls and boys)? What made you choose The Internet Classroom over first-year latin or economics or statistics or english? Girls, do you think the girls interviewed in this story are telling the truth, or do you have a different opinion? Are computer games only for boys? Are there computer or network-based games that you like playing? Does the idea of programming or creating a computer game OR a website, appeal to you at all? Guys, does the idea of programming or creating a computer game OR a website, appeal to you at all? What do you think are the similarities or differences between actual games (like the organized mayhem of football, or 3 p.m. ultimate frisbee) and the computer/network games you play during free period? And finally, for everyone: given a choice, would you rather engage in an actual real-world game, or play one (either by yourself, or against others on the net) on the computer? Why, or why not?
Monday July 3	Technological advances in computing and communications over the last decade have helped the U.S. economy grow at a phenomenal rate (particularly in comparison with other countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America). In your opinion, has the average American benefited from this growth? Do you think the average person has benefited from computers and the Internet? Is the Internet revolution "leveling the playing field" or is it increasing the disparities between rich and poor? Thing about this question from your personal, family and community perspective and make sure you justify your answers.
Friday June 30	(Part 1) As you're working now on your individual website project, are you thinking more about the 'look' or design of it, or more about the content? Are you modeling your website's design on any particular website? If so, which one/s, and why? (Part 2) Do you consider yourself an artist? Why? Do you paint? Draw? Dance? Sing? Something else? Can a well-designed website be a piece of artwork? How do you feel about bringing an artist's touch to the Internet? Good, bad, who cares? Think about it, respond thoughtfully.
Wednesday June 28	(Part 1) Do you use AOL Instant Messenger (or ICQ) a lot? Do you find it fun? Useful? A pain? What do you like best, and least, about it? After that, think about this: what do you think about the nature of language? Is it messy and imprecise or is it clear and crisp? Was your first language English? If not, what was it? And how many languages do you speak? (Part 2) How has your learning of HTML tables gone, so far? Is there anything about tables that confuses you, or has not been explained clearly, either by the text or the instruction and demos?
Wednesday June 28	(Part 1) Do you use AOL Instant Messenger (or ICQ) a lot? Do you find it fun? Useful? A pain? What do you like best, and least, about it? After that, think about this: what do you think about the nature of language? Is it messy and imprecise or is it clear and crisp? Was your first language English? If not, what was it? And how many languages do you speak? (Part 2) How has your learning of HTML tables gone, so far? Is there anything about tables that confuses you, or has not been explained clearly, either by the text or the instruction and demos?
Monday June 26	(Part 1) How much time do you spend online and in the virtual world? (Not counting hours in school or, obviously, asleep!) Don't just say how much time (or percentage of such) you spend online -- characterize it a bit, i.e., tell me what it is you do online, whether it be chatting, doing research, putting on a different persona in an online RPG, playing network (or non-net) games, etc. (Part 2) Respond thoughtfully to the questions at the end of Tom's essay.
Friday June 23	(Part 1) What websites do you find yourself returning to frequently? How often do you go back to revisit those sites, and why do you return to them? What is it about those sites that make them compelling to you? (Part 2) Do you have an opinion on the MP3 issue? Based on Tom's talk about 'cyberpiracy,' do you think creative artists and musicians are at a disadvantage when faced with the fact that their music can be easily distributed for free over the Internet? If YOU were a musician, would you like your work to be available like that, to anyone who would want to download it? Do recording artists, or recording companies, benefit more from the music industry?
Wednesday June 21	(Part 1) What search engine do you use the most? Why? Do you find yourself using different search engines for different purposes, or are you loyal to the one or two that you like best? What do you think makes for a good search engine? (Part 2) How's your learning of HTML so far? Is there anything that isn't making sense to you? Anything confusing? Are we going too quickly? Too slowly? Just right? (Part 3) Based on Tom's talk, which group interaction do you think would work best in a web design project situation? Cooperative, or hierarchical?
Monday June 19	(Part 1) How has the Internet affected you? What difference, if any, has it made in your life as a student and as a young person? Is this difference generally a positive one, or is it negative in any way? Please be specific and cite examples to support your idea. (Part 2) What are your expectations of this class? What do you expect to learn during the six weeks? What do you expect of your teachers and TAs? (Part 3) What did you think of Tom's talk? Did you learn anything about search engines that you didn't know before? Do you find it easy, or difficult, to do research on the Internet?