Video Logs

All my video logs for the semester can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1_Nqd2L6ItcvdYeKPQQmCA

Social Media

Although I didn't like the idea much originally, I must say I became more accustomed to the idea as the semester went on. I definitely liked the blog posts better than the youtube clips because they were usually the ones that I did research for. Video logs ended up being reiterations of my blog posts. But I understand why we were made to do video logs; they definitely made me do something I normally wouldn't. Post weekly video logs on youtube.

The comments didn't work as well as they should've for me, I found myself on more than one occasion ignoring comments posted by my peers on my blogs or videos and just comment on others' videos. I did however respond to other students' comments on other students' postings, this definitely allowed for a conversational type learning but usually I would never get a response back (just like I would never respond back to peers who commented on my blogs and videos.

I think using social media gets us familiar with social media, and in an age where social media is so prevalent this is a must. Not only this but as we wrote about IP and Patents throughout the semester, we are also giving ourselves web presence on a hotly debated issue.

Overall, I liked the incorporation of social media in the classroom. It harnesses a collaborative work effort (although not strikingly so) since we only met once a week for class.

I also found this interesting article on social media's place in the classrooom:

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/guidebook-social-media-in-classroom-vicki-davis

Semester Recap

The semester blazed by, it seems like only last week that I was writing the first blog post about why I was taking the course and what I expected from it. 190G was definitely one of my most practical classes this semester. (The other being IEOR 190B). With that my overall experience this semester was one that was enjoyable. I liked what I was learning and the social aspect of learning forced me to learn in a different way than I normally would.

I think what this class gave me the most is the basic framework of general intellectual property and patents. I may not be an expert, but I am confidant that I know more about them than the average person. I remember saying that I hoped this class would give me the practical knowledge to aid me if I ever decided to file for a patent at any point. And I definitely feel that this class gave me those nuggets of information. At the end of the day I believe that this class is giving me another skill and diversifying my way of thinking. From this point forward I'll definitely think of patents differently since I have gained a general understanding of the patent system (USPTO) and the shortcomings of the current system.

I want to end this post by making a brief comment. A friend of mine took this course 6 years ago. Same course: IEOR 190G but back then I don't think it was focused on mobile technologies. Back then he said the class was project based and students ended up filing a provisional patent by the end of the semester. Although this would have been a lot more work, I feel like I would have liked this approach much better. I also don't think this class should maintain focus on mobile technologies, I think it should be a broader survey of IP/Patents. CET should opt to go back to the old structure. But it goes without saying that I still learned plenty this semester with the current format.

I felt satisfied at the end of the semester with regards to this class. Unlike microeconomics or international trade, this class is extremely practical and taught things that I can apply almost instantaneously; not theories I'll never visit again.