Refelcting on "What's the Point of a College Education?" and Data about Data: METADATA

Part 1: Stemwedel’s “What’s the Point of a College Education?”

Reading Stemwedel’s “What’s the Point of a College Education” really got me thinking of why I am here in University. Then I re-read it again and added the following annotations.

* Stemwedel is letting her audience know her strong feelings about college education, which she states in the beginning of the article, but is evident throughout the entire thing.

* Stemwedel makes her readers think if all they want is training for a specific job why are they in college. 

* I agree with the author "a college education is not job training" and should produce people who are able thinkers. 

* There is a bonus to having your degree, opportunities!

* The simply statement “because everyone’s dong it?” is powerful because you get what you put into an experience.

* The phrase “Boom meet bust” just shows how the economy is constantly changing.

* I do not recognize Boethius when the author is referring to his Consolations of Philosophy. I would look up this information in google.

Personally I think you should not put at minimum four years of your life into something just because everyone else is doing the same thing. Higher education should be something you want. Your time, effort, and money is going into your education obviously a degree will help you in the job market, but like Stemwedel says “people who are good at thinking and who like to learn can be very adaptable in a changing economy”. College should be the place to expand your mind and decide on what is important to you as a person. I am in the faculty of Humanities and have been taking courses from various departments, which have given me the opportunity to expand my mind and the way I think about things in different ways. I cannot say I am prepared for any certain job however I am having the chance to find myself and what really does matter to me.

I required definition and background reading for Boethius. In the article it even mentions if you need more details to do research. I used Google, which lead me to Wikipedia where I found out Boethius was a Christian philosopher of the 6^th century. It is not know how he died he could have been clubbed to death, stabbed with a sword or an axe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boethius

The paper the article is printed on a standards 8x11 white piece of doubled sided printer paper. The font is also standard maybe times new roman size 12 with certain sentences bold and certain words in italics. Divisions in the text were marked by a space. Another source for this article can be found at the bottom of the page where there is a website address. There are numerous differences between the online article and the paper version including information about the author, a photo, direct links to Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius and the Consolation of Philosophy. Also there is a large comments section and links to social sites such as facebook and twitter. You can directly write on the paper version, but you can go to numerous links to find other information or share information you have learnt with the digital version.

I will discuss the types of metadata that I created for the paper copy and the digital copy of the article in part two the digital text. 

Part 2: Thinking about Metadata

For the second part of the assignment we had to choose four objects to create metadata about a physical object, digital text, digital image, and video. I chose to examine my wallet because I find it very convenient and had access to it in the classroom. For the digital text I decided to analyze “What’s the point of a college education” because I when I read through the course blog I thought I could use this as an opportunity to get two tasks done at once. For the digital image I used a picture I came across on stumbleupon.com. It is an image of a car double space with a note someone wrote. I used it because I found it humorous. Finally, for the video I used “We No Speak Americano ft. Cleary & Harding” because I found it really entertaining.

Physical Object

• Name: Aldo wallet
• Creator: Aldo
• Materials: lining and shell 100% polyester
• Use: To carry money, identification cards, convince cards, etc.
• Color: Blue and black
• Other distinguishing features: shiny pattern.

Digital Text

• Title: “What’s the point of a college education”
• Author : Janet D. Stemwedel
• Publisher: ScienceBlogs.com
• Date of Creation: October 2, 2006
• Date viewed: September 29, 2010 
• Persistent identifer: 
•  http://scienceblogs.com/ethicsandscience/2006/10/whats_the_point_of_a_college_e.php
• Language: English
• Format : php
• Media type: Website
• Topic: The point of a college education
• Category: Academia, personal. philosophy, teaching and learning.
• Tags: Education, university and college
• Description: A blog that was originally intended for a Professor’s student on the importance of a college education and how it is not about training for a job.

Digital Image

• Title : All Sizes
• Creator: Lan Bui
• Publisher: Flickr
• Date of Creation: Not known
• Date viewed: September 29, 2010
• Persistent Identifier: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1r0OcO/www.flickr.com/photos/lanbui/120102102/sizes/m/
• Language: English
• Format : html
• Media type: JPEG image
• Subject/ Topic:  Do not double park
• Category: Photos, art, comedy
• Tags: Hit and runs, apology notes, double parking
• Description:  The image shows three vehicles and the one in the middle is double parked. At the bottom of the photo is a note left from an anonymous person stating that they were responsible for hitting the double parked vehicle. The note says they are not leaving there information because the vehicle should not have been double parked in the first place.

Video

• Title : We No Speak Americano ft. Cleary & Harding
• Creators: Performed and choreographed by Suzanne Cleary & Peter Harding. Film by Jonny Reed
  Music by Yolanda Be Cool & D Cup ft. Cleary and Harding
• Publisher: Youtube
• Date of Creation: July 25, 2010
• Date viewed: September 29, 2010
• Persistent Identifier: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iANRO3I30nM
• Language : Spanish
• Format (.html, .pdf, .avi, etc.)
• Media type: Video
• Subject: Hand dance
• Category: Entertainment
• Tags Irish, Dance, Yolanda, be, cool, cup, hand, dance, beat, percussion, drums, BSL, ASL, sign, language, British, dancing, Suzanne, Cleary, Peter, Harding, tap, tapping, riverdance, lord, magic, step, rhythm, percussive, show, theatre, contemporary, duet, duo, couple, girl, boy, funky, new, Ireland etc.
• Description: A hand dance between a female and male to the song we speak no Americano. 

Filling the Gap of a Map - GPS

An Example of Remediation


My partner Hanna and I chose Global Positioning System (GPS) as our example of something that has been remediated because we both drive and find it a very convenient. We both liked the fact it gives step-by-step directions so I will not cause an accident or end up on the wrong side of the city. 

We drew upon our prior knowledge brainstorming ideas off one another. Then I used Google as my primary search engine where I found the site

http://www.ehow.com/about_5052588_benefits-gps-systems.html

This site was very helpful with the benefits of GPS systems. This is also where I found a picture to include in my blog.  As well I used YouTube as a search engine to find a video clip to include in my blog.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fl718QO_xQ

A GPS system for vehicles offers users their current location. It gives timed information for the quickest routes. There is a voice that talks and gives directions. If a wrong turn is made it will make sure one knows.

The types of remediation that are being performed are an older medium of a map is being represented in digital form of a GPS system. The GPS system does not necessarily replace maps, but emphasizes them.  There is also a skeuomorph in regards to GPS systems the pins that show ones current location and intended location. The pins are being taken out of context and placed into a new media.

There is a gap being filled for drivers all over by remediating the map.  The GPS allows users to save routes for convince. It makes the roads safer for all because it is hands free. It is good for the environment by providing the most direct route. If you get lost, make a wrong turn or stop somewhere unplanned it can automatically recalculate your route. GPS can also help one locate destination stops such as restaurants, gas stations, etc. In addition some systems have a feature to help avoid traffic. 

The remediation fills a lacuna for travellers, but can never replace the thrill of planning out a cross-country road trip with an actual map or pinning down all the places in the world you would love to experience. 

A Snap Shot of Jessica Brown

Hi! I am Jessica Brown 

I am originally from Bella Bella, which is the central coast of BC. I moved just North of Victoria for high school to Ladysmith. This is my second term at UVic I am undecided on my major at the moment and hoping to gain some perspective through this class. I worked at a science and cultural youth camp this summer in Koeye River Valley. I enjoy an adventure and the outdoors. Looking forward to the semester and meeting everyone.