Mental Models
This week we read through two websites that discussed digital writing. The first was File Not Found by Monica Chin and the second was The Lofi Manifesto by Karl Stolley. Monica Chin talked about the organizational aspect of computer files and even more about how students do not understand what a file is. She also discusses the concept of mental models. Mental models are essentially ways of understanding knowledge. In our minds, we form these frameworks of understanding the world based off the experiences we have been through. Chin discussed the different mental models around computer files. Older people who grew up with filing cabinets completely understand the filing cabinet mental model because they have experience with filing cabinets. However, the younger generation might have an easier time thinking about a robot that can search for what you want. Because of these differences in models, the two generations have different ways of organizing AND thinking about organizing.
I loved thinking about mental models because I can apply that to what I want to do with my life outside of this class. I believe that everyone interacts with the world based off of the mental models that they develop through life. Kanye West talked about how we live in a simulation, as “actors in a giant script we didn’t write.” (You can find the video on YouTube if you are interested.) School, our families, and society have built our mental models and we act based off of them. Becoming aware of why we are the way we are is the first step in changing, in being better, and I think I can apply this concept in a way that helps people. I need to think about the specifics more, but conceptually it makes sense.
The Lofi Style
The second reading by Stolley was really enjoyable too. One quote I liked from Stolley was “to learn any one markup language is to learn about the general idea of markup languages.” I have experience with this because I had a Python class years ago. Learning that coding language is making HTML and Markdown SOOOO much easier to use and interact with because I know about the idea of languages. In comparison, going from Google Docs to Microsoft Word is more difficult because the interfaces are different. Sure, I can navigate an interface, but it does not translate as well. I also love concepts and seeing things from a bird’s eye view. The concept of working with the basics is a concept I love. I feel anxiety from the thought of using things that I cannot make myself. Rather, depending on things that I cannot create myself. What if the world fails and I do not have the ability to get another one of those tools? In instances like that, being able to work with the raw materials becomes a very valuable skill. That is what I thought of lofi and HTML. I have depended on these programs made by other people for so long, but now… the power is in my hands. I can make programs do what I want. I can make websites look and do what I want. There is a lot of versatility and freedom there, and I love knowing that if these big companies fall, I will still be able to create things on the web without that dependance on them.
Power of Learning HTML
The final thing we did this week was talk about HTML and our websites. I watched the HTML tutorials and enjoyed how she said to use bolding and italicizing for meaning rather than formatting. I had previously used it for appearances and that lead to confusion with my How-To Guide. She mentioned that CSS was used for formatting and appearance and from there I took off. I started looking up CSS and what codes you can use there to format your site and I got extremely carried away. I genuinely love being able to work on something meaningful and long lasting. Something that is mine and that will remain even after I pass. There is a lot of value in that.
Comments
2 responses to “Week 6- Mental Models, The Lofi Style, and Power of Learning HTML”
As I read your post, one thing that stuck out to me was the end of your first paragraph about Monica Chin’s article. You said, “Becoming aware of why we are the way we are is the first step in changing, in being better, and I think I can apply this concept in a way that helps people.” You then said you had to think about the specifics, but I am curious to know in what ways you think changing mental models can help people. What kind of mental models do you think we should moving towards?
This is all coming from someone who thinks the older models- like the filing cabinet- still make plenty of sense and should continue to make sense regardless of the fact that we are moving towards an almost strictly digital work environment in many places.
I agree that the concept of mental models is really interesting and I like your point that self awareness is a good first step for self improvement. I also like that you point out that quote from Stolley’s piece that leaning one markup language introduces you to the general concept. I was so insanely confused when we started talking about Markdown and couldn’t even grasp what it was but after learning that I finally feel like I kind of(ish) understand how computers and websites work. At least in a very broad sort of vague way. Before it was kind of just like, “Don’t know don’t care.”