Module 8: Computers in my education

Write a two page personal essay on how computers have been used in your education in some personally relevant way.

     Being a Computer Science major this is a very easy question to answer. I have been in school for long enough to know that without computers in my education things would be very unorganized for me. I use my computer, phone or tablet to record and access everything. With these devices I can keep track of important dates, perform research and collaborate with my professors and other students.
     I've always thought of myself as an organized person throughout my education. I've always tried to make a conscious effort to keep a calendar and an assignment tracker for each of my classes. Some semesters are better than others, and I always seem to have better grades when I keep them up to date. Google Calendar is the ultimate tool for keeping track of important dates. I've also started to track due assignments in my calendar events as well. That way, during class, I can pull up next weeks class on my calendar and in the description write down what is due. This makes it so much easier to remember what is due on that date.
     Assignment trackers are also helpful because you can track more specific information about your assignments, and attach them to a class. One that I like to use for iOS is called iStudiez Pro. It allows me to track my school schedule along with assignment and exam due dates. It is customizable and even has alerts. Since it's on my phone and tablet I am sure to not forget about assignments and their due dates. With my calendar and assignments things are much more organized and I can get an idea of how to plan my study schedule effectively.
     Research is another thing that I do a lot on my computer for school. Even with my Calculus class! I find myself searching YouTube for videos to remind me how to solve equations. Videos have transformed how we use the Internet, especially in education. A video can help you learn so much quicker than, say, reading an  explanation of something. Wikipedia continues to grow by the second and contain the largest amount of information in one place. As students we have to be weary of it's content due to the "open-edit" model that it uses. Without the help of Google and all of the great resources out there we would still be in encyclopedia's searching for out-of-date information. That's a lot to think about.
     Without my computer I'm not sure how I would create my papers that I have to turn in for my English class. With keyboard input we have all become dependent on it and hardly write anymore. Now we have tablets with smaller keyboards, or on-screen ones, that allow us to take notes in crowded meetings without having to worry about a pen or pencil. I know that education would be different without the ability to type out papers, but the thought of having to write everything by hand is a little much to take in.
     Collaboration over the Internet has also played a big role in my education that, without computers, would be impossible. With email and things like Google Docs collaboration on group projects would be ever-so difficult to accomplish. E-mails to teachers can be sent and received much quicker than a letter or even a phone call. The convenience of it is impossible to compare. Without it all communication would need to be done using other means that would make all things more difficult and frustrating.
     As I sat and wrote this I can't help but wonder how it was possible to get an education without computers. Education has evolved with computers, and will continue to do so. Sometimes I wish it would evolve quicker, but each move takes time. Over time our dependence on computers will increase, until a lot of education will be online. Certain subjects may move a little slower, but I do think that eventually a lot of it will be done via webcams and mobile devices. I think it's clear that I couldn't do a whole lot in my education without it. The impact it has made will stick with me in the future as I continue to develop my career in the computer science field.