Mental Models of retrieval
This week the class has been experimenting with Markdown and HTML. For the most part, everything that I set out to accomplish, I was successful in–everything except inserting images and getting them to show up properly. As far as I can tell, this problem stems from a lack of file management and understanding. Monica Chin writes about younger generations’ struggle with file management in her article File Not Found. The way older and younger generations view file management directly corresponds to how knowledgeable (and perhaps successful) they are when retrieving their files. Older generations grew up with filing systems, and younger generations grew up with a search bar. They regard retrieval differently because they have different mental models of what retrieval looks like.
When I started college, I had no idea how to manage my files. I had difficulties finding them even though I knew I saved them. Slowly, I taught myself and created a pretty organized filing system. I thought that I was a fairly organized person when it came to my computer files, but after struggling with zip files and getting pictures to show up in HTML, I’m questioning my file management knowledge. Granted, I’m not a super technologically versed person, but I have felt that I knew enough to be self sufficient. I’m realizing that I could vastly improve the way that I have everything sorted on my computer.
A step further
The first time I read Karl Stolley’s The Lo-fi Manifesto, I felt like my brain was short circuiting. Basically, he advocates for more digital writing knowledge in students across the board, and details the problems with hi-fi applications and the benefits of lo-fi applications (among a host of other things). Knowledge and skill is undoubtedly important, but I feel that learning to write HTML and CSS is trade specific. Not everyone needs to know it. However, my mind could be swayed because I do think it is important that we are always adapting. Change can be uncomfortable, but it is necessary. The Lofi Manifesto made me realize that though I may not be a technology fanatic, it is important to develop digital writing skills in an age where it is becoming the norm. As writers, especially, I think this is a much needed tool. While the WYSIWYG type of writing is perfectly fine and accomplishes the task, it never hurts to go a step further.
Comments
3 responses to “Rethinking File Management and Digital Writing”
I liked reading about your own personal experiences with the topic of file management and how you were questioning everything when it came to zipping files. Knowing how to zip files and un-zip them was confusing the first time I saw a zip file back during who knows when.
One thing though I did want to ask about was your comment on knowing HTML and CSS as being trade specific, is there a specific reason you believe that? I know you said you could be swayed, and the first thing that came to mind is that in the current times a lot of people are creating brands for themselves and marketing themselves for things like jobs. We’re moving towards a direction where your online presence and presentation matters ALOT.
I’d like to think knowing markup languages goes a long way when you want to create a website or an online portfolio. In my case, even running a Minecraft server has me learning how to read lines of code.
I enjoyed your first section about the mental models and how you addressed that conversation. I honestly agree with your stance on learning a coding language being trade specific. With how advanced the computers are now, there are tons of ways to make websites and customize them to be how you want them to be. It almost seems redundant to learn the code. However, I do greatly enjoy learning the code and working with it. I do think it is important to learn the code IF you are going to be working with it for your job. For some people it can offer an advantage while for others it can be more confusing. If WYSIWYG isn’t broke, then don’t try to fix it or you will get lost in the weeds.
I wanted to say that as someone who grew up with a family that was very insistent that I learned the proper filing systems on a computer, I think your insights on how people view computer systems adds a certain layer of empathy to how the younger generation deals with filing that was missing from the Chin essay. I didn’t dislike or disagree with any of Chin’s points, but something about how you put it reorganizes (hah) it a bit in my mind. A lot of things just come down to what each person had to deal with for their own unique generational experience.