Self Directed Learning
I began the semester very interested in how the internet worked, hacktivism (where I did a lot of research, including compiling a large list of resources), comic books in the digital age, piracy, and after my mom was diagnosed I started focusing on how digital culture (which will forever be referred too--at least in this blog post--dc) can help families.
I became slightly obsessed with Goodreads, making humongous lists and taking the quizzes created by others.
I started contributing to Wikipedia by helping to edit their content when I saw problems.
I did a ton of research on K9 Web Protection, and even offered feedback on their website.
While my group was working together on a project, each of us had our own topics to research and did a lot of research on our individual topics that we shared with the group. You can see those blog posts on my blog.
I contributed a lot of these ideas on Google+, but I'm not very tech-savvy so I don't know how to link to those comments.
Because I work 20 hours a week, and most of those hours are in front of a computer I have spent a lot of time consuming content (at least I have for the last three years), but for this last semester I have started being a lot smarter in how I handle my time in front of the screen. Instead of consuming, I have started creating things and connecting with others. This helped me feel a lot better about my time online because I felt like I was a contributing member of society, instead of watching what others were doing.
I've also realized how much dc can have a positive effect on a family. My family has been doing a blog for my mom as she's been going through treatments, and it has been a wonderful resource to not only let others know how she's doing, but so that she can get support from others in the community.
Collaboration
The nature of our group project was to give a fireside, and ultimately to do a YouTube playlist. This required each member to engage in self-directed research to present as part of a group. I did a lot of research in how to build trust between teenagers and their parents, as well as how to keep the internet safe. I also looked into quotes from church leaders.
Along with creating part of the content of our fireside and YouTube playlist, I created a survey for our group, and did a lot of the group posts for the class (for example, I did our group final, and part of the case study).
I was there whenever we did a webinar to present, as well as when we presented to the class.
I also proposed a lot of ideas when we were formulating our group, and tried to help keep our group grounded when it came to deciding our project would be by asking questions like who our audience would be, how likely it was to happen, what the logistics would entail, among others.
I actually started out in the CCC group, but didn't feel like I was a good match. I decided to do something related to the family before I found out there was a Digital Sweet Home Group. I asked the group if I could join, and the graciously allowed me to help.
I volunteered to still help the CCC group during the semester, and tried to give them feedback on their website when it initially came out.
I did a blog post on the media fast (which I thought a group was working on), but it didn't seem that anyone used it.
I gave suggestions to other groups, for example I turned the Mormon Badges group onto organizations and sites such as the More Good Foundation and LDS's Mormonism In the News: Getting It Right blog, as well as proposing questions to different groups and giving feedback to them on Google+. (again, I'm not sure how to link those posts to here). Another example is that I talked to the Menagerie group about making sure artists knew what type of license artists that posted on their magazine would be publishing their work under among others. I also gave groups suggestions in class.
I also tried to post things on Google+ that the class would find interesting, whether directly or indirectly related to class. One example is I did this over Thanksgiving break because I had seen Wreck-It Ralph and remembered talking to the class about it.
Others' Assistance
I loved everyone in my group (Rebecca, Allie, Cami, and Audrey), they were great to work with. The other two people I enjoyed talking to were Katie Wilkie and Greg Williams. I have known Katie for a couple years, and could tell she was super excited about the class. I talked to her about the class and her project, and it helped get me excited about the class and my project. Greg was also really great, he helped us with our project and seemed to try to help everyone the best he could.
Digital Literacy
I discussed this a little under my first category, but I will go more in-depth here. As I mentioned, I spend around 20 hours a week on a computer because of work. In the past, I have spent most of that time consuming, and there are a couple of reasons for that. The first is that my work has a policy where we can't use Facebook until after 5 pm, and the second is because I don't use Facebook, or social media in general, very often. I have a hard time staying connected to people, not because I don't care about them, but because social interactions are hard for me; I'm not a natural "socialite."
Being in this class has helped me balance my internet and media usage into a more healthy and positive form. I didn't have a negative perception of digital media at all before I took this class, in fact quite the opposite. I know the power of digital media when it comes to marketing, and have had experience marketing products through social media. I simply don't enjoy using the social part of digital media for myself, and unfortunately for me I thought that social media was synonymous with digital media. I didn't realize that when I did things like make massive lists of movies online made me part of a niche community interested in the same things. Instead of browsing through iwastesomuchtime.com,I have instead focused my efforts in tasks that connect me to others and allow me to create.
I have also realized how connected everything is now. I am not an early adapter, I like letting others figure things out and using the new technology once it has been tested and proven. (I am grateful that there are early adapters though) As I've been in a class with early adapters and online "socialites" (I use that phrase carefully), it's helped me realize that things are moving more and more online, which has helped me to learn some of the issues to watch out for. One issue in my life this class has helped me already with is the idea of tiered service. I am moving to North Carolina, and have already helped pick out the type of internet I will be using. Time Warner was really our only option for internet service, and as I learned about the tiered models that are a potential threat I feel like I'm armed with the tools to be able to fight those types of issues. (Time Warner already has a model that makes users pay for more data.)
This class has been really hard, because it has forced me to do so manythings that are unfamiliar to me. While I will use some of the skills I have gained, and keep some stored in my head for some probably unforeseen use in the future, I have learned how to use digital media to my advantage in a safe, positive, and healthy way.
Along with creating part of the content of our fireside and YouTube playlist, I created a survey for our group, and did a lot of the group posts for the class (for example, I did our group final, and part of the case study).
I was there whenever we did a webinar to present, as well as when we presented to the class.
I also proposed a lot of ideas when we were formulating our group, and tried to help keep our group grounded when it came to deciding our project would be by asking questions like who our audience would be, how likely it was to happen, what the logistics would entail, among others.
I actually started out in the CCC group, but didn't feel like I was a good match. I decided to do something related to the family before I found out there was a Digital Sweet Home Group. I asked the group if I could join, and the graciously allowed me to help.
I volunteered to still help the CCC group during the semester, and tried to give them feedback on their website when it initially came out.
I did a blog post on the media fast (which I thought a group was working on), but it didn't seem that anyone used it.
I gave suggestions to other groups, for example I turned the Mormon Badges group onto organizations and sites such as the More Good Foundation and LDS's Mormonism In the News: Getting It Right blog, as well as proposing questions to different groups and giving feedback to them on Google+. (again, I'm not sure how to link those posts to here). Another example is that I talked to the Menagerie group about making sure artists knew what type of license artists that posted on their magazine would be publishing their work under among others. I also gave groups suggestions in class.
I also tried to post things on Google+ that the class would find interesting, whether directly or indirectly related to class. One example is I did this over Thanksgiving break because I had seen Wreck-It Ralph and remembered talking to the class about it.
Others' Assistance
I loved everyone in my group (Rebecca, Allie, Cami, and Audrey), they were great to work with. The other two people I enjoyed talking to were Katie Wilkie and Greg Williams. I have known Katie for a couple years, and could tell she was super excited about the class. I talked to her about the class and her project, and it helped get me excited about the class and my project. Greg was also really great, he helped us with our project and seemed to try to help everyone the best he could.
Digital Literacy
I discussed this a little under my first category, but I will go more in-depth here. As I mentioned, I spend around 20 hours a week on a computer because of work. In the past, I have spent most of that time consuming, and there are a couple of reasons for that. The first is that my work has a policy where we can't use Facebook until after 5 pm, and the second is because I don't use Facebook, or social media in general, very often. I have a hard time staying connected to people, not because I don't care about them, but because social interactions are hard for me; I'm not a natural "socialite."
Being in this class has helped me balance my internet and media usage into a more healthy and positive form. I didn't have a negative perception of digital media at all before I took this class, in fact quite the opposite. I know the power of digital media when it comes to marketing, and have had experience marketing products through social media. I simply don't enjoy using the social part of digital media for myself, and unfortunately for me I thought that social media was synonymous with digital media. I didn't realize that when I did things like make massive lists of movies online made me part of a niche community interested in the same things. Instead of browsing through iwastesomuchtime.com,I have instead focused my efforts in tasks that connect me to others and allow me to create.
I have also realized how connected everything is now. I am not an early adapter, I like letting others figure things out and using the new technology once it has been tested and proven. (I am grateful that there are early adapters though) As I've been in a class with early adapters and online "socialites" (I use that phrase carefully), it's helped me realize that things are moving more and more online, which has helped me to learn some of the issues to watch out for. One issue in my life this class has helped me already with is the idea of tiered service. I am moving to North Carolina, and have already helped pick out the type of internet I will be using. Time Warner was really our only option for internet service, and as I learned about the tiered models that are a potential threat I feel like I'm armed with the tools to be able to fight those types of issues. (Time Warner already has a model that makes users pay for more data.)
This class has been really hard, because it has forced me to do so manythings that are unfamiliar to me. While I will use some of the skills I have gained, and keep some stored in my head for some probably unforeseen use in the future, I have learned how to use digital media to my advantage in a safe, positive, and healthy way.
