I'm taking part in a Webinar this afternoon and I'm just a little nervous - nothing to do with the content of the course or my ability to understand and apply what I'm about to learn (working online creating templates for e-mails and using the database system on the work computer to fire off e-mails - which will make my life easier by eliminating the step of pulling information off the system, creating my own spreadsheet and then sending off e-mails from Outlook Express). What I am nervous about is the physicality of the course - online!
It's hard to believe that 20 years ago I was teaching in the Arctic and computers were only being introduced into the school system. And I had no idea how to use one, so I was learning right beside the kids. We used those old Macs mostly for word processing - writing stories in order to 'publish' them after the kids had gone through first drafts and two revisions (even back then writing was important to me - and I loved to teach the process to kids). We'd print them off, bind them with the fancy book binding machine we had in our school, and then have the kids present their books to the class (Pat - are you reading this? Remember the fun times? :)
Flash forward - I'm now working on a computer every day for my Day Job. Not only working on a computer, but using remote entry into a computer 5 provinces away (yes, I have an office computer in Saskatchewan that I log into from my own computer here in Nova Scotia). The world is at my fingertips with the miracle known as Internet. Research is a lot easier now, than even 10 years ago. And if I want to know something (and I always want to know something), I just Google it!
Creating and writing this blog has also brought me further into the technology that years ago scared the crap out of me (when we got our first computer, I was afraid to turn it on in case I messed up and broke the thing - don't even get my started on my first couple of times using a bank machine). I know some HTML (like <>, no spaces, followed by < / i >, no spaces, will put everything in between those puppies in italics). And I can upload a video to this blog so that all you have to do, People of Blogland, is click on the 'play' button. Amazing.
And today, I will add another technological aspect to my resume. A webinar! A seminar over the Internet where I will log into someone else's computer along with 9 other people, watch and learn how to create and send e-mails from the company's system, and chat with the other participants or ask questions. All in two hours. I get the log on details by e-mail a few minutes before we go live and already I'm panicking that the e-mail won't work - or my Internet will be down - or I won't be able to log on and I'll be sitting at my desk, staring at my computer, wondering who to call for help (kind of like my writing process these days).
Ah, technology - drag me along kicking and screaming, will ya!
So, People of Blogland, have you ever attended a webinar? Easy or hard? What about technology - does the thought of trying new things on the computer scare you? Or do you go with the mantra: "What's the worse that can happen - everything is fixable?" Do you remember your first computer - or the computer you first used? Did anyone notice how many parenthesis I used in this blog alone (a lot)?
I LOVE computers and technology. My first job out of university was with a finance/investment company that was very forward-thinking when it came to technology - way ahead of other companies I went on to work for later. Those early days were fascinating because technology really did make work quicker and easier and you could see the transformation.
ReplyDeleteNow, lots of applications have the cool factor but I think you need to evaluate whether they make work more efficient - or they're just new and different and time wasters.
I think webinars,video-conferencing and skype are great.
Ooh, I forgot about my foray into Skype Land, Anne - thanks for reminding me about that bit of technology I learned last fall.
ReplyDeleteGreat advise, too - beware Time Wasters.
LOL, I took my first computer class in the mid-80s - learning to program in BASIC. Windows was a totally amazing thing and I was on board. Through several version changes and increasingly larger hard drives, I've been a self-proclaimed geek. Still, when it came time to get a new computer, I was so nervous. All's well, though. I'm set up and the new technology is wonderful. (But that doesn't mean I didn't foot the extra money to get a floppy drive. Sometimes old habits die hard.)
ReplyDeleteAnd no, I've never done a webinar, or skyped, or even twittered. My technological adventurousness petered out, I guess.
I remember Janet - I'm starting to work the 'publishing' process with Hudson! - I was just thinking about my first computer the other day - what a dinosaur - but perfectly fine for playing Leisure Suit Larry!
ReplyDeleteI used to be afraid of computers, but now I'm in the try it and see school! I ran a bunch of webinars in my job last year - it'll be fine. Enjoy!
Pat
Wow, B.E., you were ahead of the curve. And you were so nervous with your new computer! Glad to hear everything is up and running - including a floppy disc drive (wow, haven't seen one of those in years - didn't know they still made them).
ReplyDeleteI do Skype (love it, but not that much that I'm on it all the time - just when I set something up). Haven't got into Twitter, yet - still tempted, but my time is already tested with everything else on my plate. I'll let you know how the webinar goes.
Pat! Great to 'see' you - and wonderful news about Hudson getting into writing. The sooner the better - maybe she'll be a published author one day :)
ReplyDeleteACK - Leisure Suit Larry! I forgot all about that game. Ha, too much fun. And I used to play on Ron's first laptop - now that was a clunker.
I think with your job and having to work on a computer you've gotten comfortable with technology - I know I have. And you ran webinars? Wow, impressive. I'm looking forward to my first one - I'll fill you in on my results.
My relationship with technology is like the high-tension romantic couples one: can't live with it, can't live without it. It doesn't come naturally to me, and when I do figure it out, the Byzantine logic behind it never fails to astound me. However, it has opened my life to joy, so whatchya gonna do?
ReplyDeleteIt's like my entire experience at film school. Obviously, I needed to learn how to use the technology of the filmmaking tools in order to tell my stories, but doing so nearly put me in the mental hospital! For example, have I ever uploaded any footage on my blog? No? Have I tried? Yes... But it's one of the challenges I've set for myself this year, so stay tuned.
Meanwhile, back to webinar. *grinding teeth* I have a massive distain for a new-and-improved word like 'webinar'. It SO irritates me. It's the ultimate in corporate thinking. 'I know - let's shorten web seminar because it will substitute for actual creative innovation.' Don't even get me started on the current West Jet 'Care-antee'.
We've done a few webinars at work and they're fine. But for me, anything resembling a meeting is usually either a time suck or a good time for a nap. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Julia - first on how technology has added joy to my life. I've met so many people through websites and blogs, discovered fabulous new-to-me authors, discovered sites that feed my trivia addiction, and am able to work from home because of it.
ReplyDeleteWhen you talk about uploading footage, do you mean stuff you've produced? OK - get with that already. I love your writing, I can't wait to see your 'films'.
Second - new words such as webinar drive me nuts, too. And that West Jet commercial - man, lame!! So if they are late in getting you to your destination, they simply say they 'cared enough to try, but there are no guarantees, Ma'am'! I had to listen to it more than once to make sure they really were saying "Care-antee"! It's kind of like my dislike for using 'Facebook' as a verb!
We'll have to get together for coffee when next I'm in the city and we can bemoan the demise of the English Language (or at least the parts of the English Language I am familiar with)!!
Hey, Kelly - I'm hoping this is something similar to your work webinars. I don't feel like jumping in and participating - didn't in University, don't want to now. Hey, is there a back row in webinars?
ReplyDeleteNo webinars yet - maybe one day. Good luck with yours, Janet!
ReplyDeleteI did a blogging workshop online last summer, but haven't got roped into doing anything with such a fancy moniker as webinar. See, I know how to use html codes, too! But just a few.
ReplyDeleteI've been in the computer game since BPC (before personal computers). Libraries were among the first estaablishments to computerize their operations, but that wasn't covered when I got my first degree. Of course, many librarians learned on the job, but I didn't have much opportunity to do that. It was kind of funny when I started back to university. My boss questioned me on my choice of courses, i.e. Intro to Computers and Computing. She asked me about some terminology, and I didn't know what a CPU was, so she said I'd better take the course!
I guess you could say "I've come a long way, baby!" But I still don't feel like an expert, just comfortable with trying new things and often can figure out what to do without help (sometimes not).
Hope the webinar goes well. I know the teacher in you will be wanting to tell us all about it.
I don't mind technology. It's software and the care and feeding of it that scares the coffee beans out of me! I hope your webinar went great!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joanne - I'm sure you'll be experiencing one sooner or later :)
ReplyDeleteHey, Hazel! The webinar was actually kind of boring - although I did learn a few things that I can use to streamline my job (and make those service guys ask for e-mail addresses like they're supposed to).
ReplyDeleteWe basically logged into a joint computer and then phoned in for audio - the guy took us through the set up using his computer. If I had my way (being the teacher that I am), I would have a lot of hands on - and more interaction. I think I may have dozed off for a moment watching the mouse move around my computer screen. Naturally, he knows what he's doing and at one point he was flicking back and forth so fast I thought I was going to be ill.
There were 6 of us - and I didn't hear anyone else comment or ask a question so I think they may have been sleeping, too. He went over - 2 and a half hours, too long for computer stuff where all you're doing is watching the screen - so when he asked if we had questions, he got dead silence.
Good thing is that when I try some of this stuff, I have a "Phone a Friend" option - and they'll be able to talk me through it again. And we get the video of his webinar (I'm not sitting through the whole thing again - but may scan for parts that I didn't understand).
Overall - nothing to get excited about. But I can say I did it.
I think you do pretty awesome on technology stuff!!
Thanks, Silver - see above overlong explanation to Hazel (geesh).
ReplyDeleteYes, care and feeding are scary. As is when something goes wrong and you don't have a clue where to start to fix the problem. I usually call The Husband!!