Creative Commons and Media Use

Most images I incorporate in my work (software testing)I would usually create or use my own images. For this blog, I have an image that I share with new Software Testers, so they fully understand the cycle/flow that software development takes, and what their role in the process is (green boxes).

Image Attribution:

Original Image of "V-Model-Development"

by Quality Systems International (http://www.qsius.com/index.php?title=File:V-Model-Development.JPG)

For my own picture, I've included one of many photos taken during the annual lighting of the State Christmas Tree in downtown Lansing. This one is from November, 2005, and has been licensed through Creative Commons.

LansingTreeLightingandFireworks2005 by Brian Jenks is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.flickr.com

Learning Styles

Analyzing my preferred personal learning style I find I prefer "Reflective" learning to "Active," "Sensing" over "Intuitive," "Visual" over "Verbal" and "Sequential" over "Global." What does that mean specifically? That I learn best when:

1. I can visualize the content (information is in a visual format, and supports the content that the instructor is verbalizing).

2. I can build/base new concepts upon the data/facts/information I already possess or have learned to date. I enjoying have a visual guide that I can study from and add my own notes to.

3. I prefer recorded video sessions (such as in my current Education class) where I can receive the information, and as necessary go back and replay it for the areas that I may still have questions on.

My learning style definitely is based off my personality traits (My Myers-Briggs Personality is ISTJ - Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judgement). From these exercises and experiences it is easy for me to see the varying number of learning styles and traits that each specific learner might have, and why singular approaches to instruction are not successful at meeting the needs of any majority of students or other learners.

I think that some of the newer technologies not only provide instructors with new ways to deliver information, but that they are in some part the actual driving force for how young students personalities are shaped and how their own learning styles are developed. For example, I grew up in the 1960s and 70s. Learning for me largely meant teachers verbal instruction, and information written on chalkboards or overhead projectors. Other information came from the TV (Sesame Street and the Electric Company). I didn't see my first computer until the start of my senior year in 1979; at least I was one of the "trusted" students that my teacher let explore this new 'Commodore Pet' computer...I thought I was Too Cool! :-)

Today's students usually start school with years of computer experience, and may have used some of the Web technologies and social media that are available to them. I feel this precipitates the need of today's instructors to cater to multiple learning styles and deliver content in ways that can reach students on audio, visual and participatory levels.

Taking this a step further, I would assume that there is (or will shortly occur) analysis at an individual student level to identify their personality traits and learning styles, and assign them to one of a few classes where the topics and content being taught are the same, but the delivery methods are different (visual, audio, kinesthetic)and the students are placed in the environment that provides them the best experiences to learn from, based on their personality and preferred learning styles. These class instructors can each provide their course content in some "shared" manner that students could access if they are having trouble with a specific lesson and are looking for information in a different delivery format.

The next prominent step is to have computers play a major role in providing individualized student instruction, to the level that continually challenges them. For example, Suzie is in 3rd grade based on her age/social skills, but through the computer she is working on 5th Grade level Math, 7th Grade Reading and 4th Grade English. The computer tracks and provides instructions to Suzie's preferred learning style, and keeps her involved so she doesn't get bored/lose interest on subjects that she excels in. It can also provide multiple delivery formats to assist in areas that Suzie may be having trouble understanding.

Picture of updated RSS reader page. See separate blog/comments for RSS asssignment.

PC Maintenance and Security

I have past experience with implementing and supporting both PC Maintenance and Security (from work and personal perspectives). But I did enjoy visiting the Atomic Learning site to click through the tutorials they have. Because of my background on this subject, there wasn't anything that truly surprised me, however I did learn some things, as noted below:

1. "Using MSConfig to Speed Up Your PC's Startup" - While I use MSConfig already to maximize my performance, there are many times that I do not know a particular service or Startup name. The "Startup Programs & Executibles Listing" is a great site, and it is very helpful to have a primary site to refer to when researching these startups to see what they do and what they are used for. This is definitely something I will share with my friends that support computers (or are interested in these types of helpful websites).

2. "Intrusion Detection and Prevention" Software - I've heard of this type of software, but didn't have a clear understanding of how it works, and how it differs from traditional antivirus (AV)/spyware/malware software. I enjoyed the information in the tutorial and have a much better idea how this type of software works, and like that it works off of file behavior, and not from searching some ever-changing list of virus definitions. I plan to explore this software closer and install it on one of my home computers to see how it behaves as compared to regular AV programs. Based on my findings I may share this with both my co-workers and family & friends.

3. "Testing your firewall using ShieldsUp" - this was my favorite tutorial, as I had never heard of this application. I immediately ran it and was relieved to find that my PC is as safe, secure and "invisible" as I thought it was (even though I never had a way to prove my hypothesis until using ShieldsUp). This is another great application that I will pass on to my family, friends and co-workers if they don't already know about it.

General Comments:

a) My "surprise" was seeing how many of these tutorials are 5+ years old (2006); many improvements have been made over the past few years in the area of PC Maintenance and (especially) with Security. While most of the tutorial details are still true, the user lacks the ability to find out about some of the newer technologies and software options that are available to them.

b) My new favorite buzz word from the tutorials: "Crackers and Hackers of the World." I smile every time I say this. :-)

c) Personal findings and recommendations: I disagree with the comment that multiple antivirus (AV) programs should be used on a PC. I've found no benefit in running multiple AVs, and many issues with slow PC performance/start up, and with one AV incorrectly identifying the other AV program as rogue/malware and then trying to delete it. My personal recommendation is to use one AV that includes real time scanning. This AV should be set to update definitions as they are available (and this is usually every day or two, not the week time mentioned in the tutorials). A scheduled scan should be performed every few days (or weekly) and then add-hoc scans when anything unusual occurs, or you are suspicious of a file or other data. I also have a Malware program that only runs if I select it (not automatically). All my security software is free, as I have not found that the AV programs you pay for work any better than freebies. I use Microsoft Security Essentials for my AV (and it seems to me this AV program allows deeper checking and malicious file removal than others [I believe because it is a Microsoft product and thus has more access/privileges to interact within the Windows operating systems]). I use the free Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware program, and I use Glary Utilities, which is a free application that combines all of the Windows tools, MSConfig operations and many other special Windows tools (don't use the spyware detection on this Glary app though, it is lame). Links to all three of these free programs are listed below, if you would like to review them further.

Microsoft Security Essentials: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security_essentials/default.aspx

Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware: http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?tag=mncol;1

Glary Utilities: http://download.cnet.com/Glary-Utilities/3000-2094_4-10508531.html?tag=mncol;1