SFU Surrey Campus TechOne program challenges students...

SFU Surrey Campus TechOne program challenges students to become Tech-Savvy.

As my first year of attending Simon Fraser University is coming to an end, i reflect on the things I've learned and found that i've accumulated more about different types of technology in one year than i did in my whole entire life. I've never been a person who was into technology or even paide attention to technological developments in the world.To tell the truth, i had problems turning on a computer and attaching a mouse to the computer, I am the least technological person. However, I applied to SFU surrey campus Interactive Arts and Technology program via TechOne and within a year I've become some what competent in using technology.

The TechOne program advances beyond the traditional methods of learning through books and lectures to new profound ways that exploits various technologies. Students are no longer limited to the knowledge, perspective, and bias of a panel of university experts. We are exposed to resources that could be found on Web 2.0 where the information is uncensored and from people of different background. Most importantly, the program not only educate and provide students with knowledge, it challenges students to apply knowledge they learn from courses through a technological manner.

Throughout all the courses of my first year, I have not had a single class where assignments and projects did not involve the process of using a software, program, or website. I had to learn to use WebCT (an online learning system), produces websites using DreamWeaver, use class blog systems, research using online databases (which is what we call our library now a days), and hand in assignments electronically. The only way to hand assignments in electronically is by completing the assignment digitally. For example, one prominent project that displayed the use of technology is my Tech 124 online midterm. First of all, in order to retrieve the midterm instructions, we needed to access "a briefcase system" that could be founded in our student email accounts. This process also involved basic understanding of folder hierarchy or else finding the midterm would be like finding a way out of a maze. Secondly, to hand in the midterm, students must archived there midterm on a website. This means students had to plan out a method to electronically publish their answers. In my case, i used Microsoft Word Processor to type out my written answers, which was saved as an HTML page. With illustrations and pictures, i scanned them into my computer, then i stored them into my SFU web space. As a result, the pictures can be publicly accessiable and incorporated into my the midterm's index page.Lastly, students needed to create an organized index page. The index page will contain links to the answers and provide an interface for the instructor to view and mark.This required me to use DreamWeaver to create a website.

In the example of my Tech 124 midterm, there was no way i can get away from not using technology. Even my research was done through utilizing electronic resources provided through the internet. Luckily, I was surrounded by peers who were technological-savvy and willing to lend a helping hand. As well, the SFU Surrey Campus is equipped with instructors and peer educators who are knowledgable in using different programs and softwares. They can provide step by step instructions.