To describe the aspects of web development and technology I am most excited by, I needed to research what exactly web development/tech was. I utilized two websites to assist me with information: https://www.webfx.com/web-development/tech/ and https://clutch.co/resources/web-development-glossary-75-essential-terms. I was familiar with a few web development terms such as HTML, Browser, and Javascript. I had no idea that Cascading Style Sheets is abbreviated as CSS. I’ve seen CSS written on the blackboard when we’re in class and I just now, know what it means. I won’t claim my inquiry into tech terms makes me an expert, but I am enjoying acquainting myself with this contemporary knowledge.
The aspects that most excite me are interactivity, open source, the experience of web development and technology from the user’s end, and data security.
I love the interactivity of using web applications that respond in real-time. For example, I’ve used Facebook Messenger to connect with my paternal family in Belize. I thoroughly enjoy using the video chat feature to keep in touch with my father, siblings, and other relatives. We send pictures and videos while we simultaneously talk to each other on camera. My 9-year-old nephew is constantly using video effects such as changing his background or placing a filter on his face. When I was a substitute teacher and a paraeducator in various schools, I noticed the students would go on Kahoot! Which is an online game that can be used to help children study. From the perspective of either title I’ve held, I loved when Kahoot! was part of the lesson plan for the day. Almost every student I’ve come across, has greatly enjoyed studying for a quiz or exam by playing Kahoot! The students loved that they were able to have usernames, they enjoyed the background music, the timer to answer questions, but most of all progressing to the spot of first place. In order to claim first place, students had to answer each question correctly and quickly. Reading comprehension and response time was vital in succceeding in this game. Kahoot! is really amazing and such a wonderful web application that is interactive and maintains student engagement.
In school I was taught when writing a research paper or anything of the essay writing nature, to use browsers like AOL, AskJeeves, Google, and Bing. I remember repeatedly being scolded along with my classmates to never use Wikipedia for such matters. I’ve grown far beyond the student matriculating in primary and secondary schools. Anytime I watch a movie or a show, I’m instantly going to Wikipedia. Wikipedia has the plot line for most of the shows and movies I watch. Yes, I love spoilers! Unless it’s a book, then I hate spoilers. The thing about Wikipedia is that it’s an open-source software. In my opinion it’s great that Wikipedia’s code is accessible to the public. The downside of that, is the information on Wikipedia may not always be accurate due to the code being public. Anyone can simply add information that may not be accurate. Open source in itself is wonderful because it allows developers and the public to contribute to each other and learn from each other. Which could create a space for community and continual learning through a collaborative nature.
As an adolescent one of my first introductions to social media was Myspace. Myspace was just like other social media platforms such as Facebook, Vine, and Instagram and now we have TikTok. I miss the social aspects of Myspace. Just like the other platforms, the user had their own page. What set Myspace apart from the rest, was that a user could change the background of their page, add music, graphics, text & font styles to their pages and each always contained the top eight people of the user’s friendlist. When adding any of the aforementioned aesthetics to a page, a user could simply copy a code and paste it onto their page and then upload it. The code would show up as the user’s choice of music, or the graphic or font they preferred to use. During this era of the world wide web, some user’s would make their own coding and have unique backgrounds or graphics that you couldn’t just copy and download. Myspace is a wonderful example of web development and technology from the user’s end. People were coding before it was a mainstream concept and I love that the most about Myspace.
Most of us in the world desire to exist in an environment where we can operate without fear of threats, whether that’s spiritual, mental, physical, or digital. Focusing on digital security which encompasses the protection of personal and sensitive information. I’m beginning to notice a growing trend in web applications utilizing two-way authentication or two-factor authentication (2FA) to access accounts and user information. 2FA is a security process that requires two different forms of verification before granting access to an account or system. Forms of authentication could involve a password, PIN, a mobile device, email, and/or one-time code. I personally use 2FA when signing into my Gmail, Facebook, and even my CalFresh account. Securing web applications against threats is ever-growing, so developing even more strategies to protect user data and privacy is beyond crucial.
During this course, my goals are to build proficiency by strengthening my skills in web development vernacular and concepts, creating projects, and developing a portfolio that showcases my abilities and demonstrates my experience. After the course, my goals are to seek employment by exploring job opportunities in web development, continue receiving an education by pursuing my Master’s Degree & Ph.D in Psychology, and networking by connecting with other professionals in the web development field, and lastly, applying and incorporating all the knowledge I’ve gained from this course, into a lifestyle and psychology career for myself that is full of integrity and mutually benefits all.
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