[disneygurl2010]

I'm having trouble understanding this reaction and what is going on through the steps.  I just know that Silyl Ethers have certain protecting groups that are used when a molecule has more than 1 functional group (to prevent one from reacting) & general info about TMS but I'm still confused =/

[discodermolide]

I'm having trouble understanding this reaction and what is going on through the steps.  I just know that Silyl Ethers have certain protecting groups that are used when a molecule has more than 1 functional group (to prevent one from reacting) & general info about TMS but I'm still confused =/

What is confusing you? It is a pretty straightforward series of steps.

[disneygurl2010]

I guess just the whole concept of what this actually is.  I learned Sn1 and Sn2 last unit and alcohols.  This is a new unit and I guess I'm just not making sense of how this reaction is impt

[discodermolide]

I guess just the whole concept of what this actually is.  I learned Sn1 and Sn2 last unit and alcohols.  This is a new unit and I guess I'm just not making sense of how this reaction is impt

Well you are trying to alkylate an acetylene in the presence of another reactive group, under these conditions, So what does one do? One protects the other reactive group so that it does not interfere in the desired reaction.
Does that help?

[DrCMS]

I guess just the whole concept of what this actually is.  I learned Sn1 and Sn2 last unit and alcohols.  This is a new unit and I guess I'm just not making sense of how this reaction is impt

As discodermolide has said the starting material has more than 1 reactive group. 
What would happen to your stating material, 4-Pentyn-1-ol, if you went straight to the 2nd step reaction without protecting the alcohol?