Course Retrospective

This week we are supposed to compare where we were at the beginning of the course to where we are now. I have learned an extraordinary amount about all the technical components that operate behind the scenes not only of digital libraries, but computers in general. Some of the highlights for me have been learning that there is a "kernel" in my computer, lol. It think the most valuable part of the course for me, at least as far as immediate application at work, is learning how to work in MySQL. That is the database that runs behind out Archivists' Toolkit installation, and I am quite excited about the prospect of running queries through the back-end MySQL database to capture information that is more difficult to search and compile through the user interface. In general, I think that is the one aspect of technology that has changed the most for me this semester. I am so much more comfortable working with the command line and not relying on graphical user interfaces. It is very empowering to know you can access information more directly and not be afraid to look at what is going on behind the user interfaces for applications. And, although I certainly wouldn't even call myself proficient in MySQL or PHP, I now have the basic skills and knowledge to build on. I can easily take an understanding of basic commands and syntax and continue learning.