So, I finally broke down and bought the next 'crave' in phones: the Blackberry. For months, I've heard people talk about how it is so amazing to be so connected to several, if not all, their email accounts, facebook, as well as the Web. My friends would receive emails on their phones in class, while I'd have to wait til the next chance I had to sit down at my laptop to check mine. What's the weather going to be like? Oh, let me check my Blackberry...and on and on.
I have to admit, for the first few days, I was amazed at how my new phone worked. I had so many options, could readily surf the Web, and let me tell you how excited I was when I'd get an email...woah. It was awesome to be so connected- I felt like I had finally caught up with current times.
However, I feel differently now. Although I have learned to manage my phone settings, I don't necessarily enjoy receiving emails at all hours of the day. I like being in the know, but 24/7 is a bit much for me. I miss the days when I could take a day to respond to an email, because the sender didn't know when I'd next check my mail. Now, it seems, that people assume others have email attached to their phones, and can answer their request within the hour.
I don't enjoy being so connected. It makes me wonder, are people getting too attached to their technology?
I remember before I had this phone, I had friends who wouldn't put their Blackberries down. I would be talking to them while they'd pretty much be having another conversation with/on their phone. I felt out of touch- where did person to person communication go?
Now, I feel like I've become one of those people I disliked. With this new technology at my fingertips, I am constantly checking my phone to read an email or surf the web. It truly is like an addiction- an addiction I no longer want to have!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Wiki Midterm Review
I have to say I really like the idea of a class wiki effort for the midterm study guide. In one of the powerpoint slides, the activity was described as "an opportunity to learn how to use a tool and actively produce something that will help you learn and prepare." I honestly don't think it could have been explained any better, because that is exactly what we were able to do.
The wiki allowed us to learn by doing. We were given direction on what subject to post on, and from there we were on our own to figure out what needed to be posted and how to post it. I learn best by doing, so putting my portion of the midterm on the wiki really made some of the things we've talked about in lecture click for me (i.e. hypertext)
I loved being able to toy around with things on the site, as it took me a few tries before I could actually figure out how to make a link (I didn't think the directions made much sense as I followed them). However, I eventually was able to make my own links and add the info of which I was assigned.
I liked the fact that we all could collaborate to one site, and it made it easier to study. I do wish, however, that we would have had more of an idea of exactly what we needed to ellaborate on. Maybe next time, a posting of an actual study guide outline would be helpful, and then we as students can go in, make each outline line a link and add bulk that is helpful for studying.
The wiki allowed us to learn by doing. We were given direction on what subject to post on, and from there we were on our own to figure out what needed to be posted and how to post it. I learn best by doing, so putting my portion of the midterm on the wiki really made some of the things we've talked about in lecture click for me (i.e. hypertext)
I loved being able to toy around with things on the site, as it took me a few tries before I could actually figure out how to make a link (I didn't think the directions made much sense as I followed them). However, I eventually was able to make my own links and add the info of which I was assigned.
I liked the fact that we all could collaborate to one site, and it made it easier to study. I do wish, however, that we would have had more of an idea of exactly what we needed to ellaborate on. Maybe next time, a posting of an actual study guide outline would be helpful, and then we as students can go in, make each outline line a link and add bulk that is helpful for studying.
Geocaching Hunt
What a fun activity!
Having the class go on a geocache was an awesome way to put to practice some of the things we learned in lecture...definitely a more interesting way to put our knowledge to use. More activities like this would be greatly appreciated.
My group was sent to the clue that was supposed to throw the team for a loop. After we received our gps, we followed its direction to the south part of campus by the Union, where we found our clue under a rock. It was interesting to me to watch the gps recalculate the line we were supposed to follow as we moved...there were a couple of times we had to stop and wait on it to re-load the line because we had moved too fast or gone in the wrong direction (because of buildings).
Before the classroom activity, I read up online and watched the video that was posted to acclamate us to what we were going to experience. I have to say, when that movie comes out, I will definitely go see it.
It also makes me want to do a larger scale geocache...I find it fascinating that people would lwant to hide some type of treasure for others to find. I think it shows how far we have come as a human race that we are willing to pop in coordinates and hunt for someone else's treasure. It also amazes me that technology has led us this far, and makes me very curious to see where it might lead us in the future!
Having the class go on a geocache was an awesome way to put to practice some of the things we learned in lecture...definitely a more interesting way to put our knowledge to use. More activities like this would be greatly appreciated.
My group was sent to the clue that was supposed to throw the team for a loop. After we received our gps, we followed its direction to the south part of campus by the Union, where we found our clue under a rock. It was interesting to me to watch the gps recalculate the line we were supposed to follow as we moved...there were a couple of times we had to stop and wait on it to re-load the line because we had moved too fast or gone in the wrong direction (because of buildings).
Before the classroom activity, I read up online and watched the video that was posted to acclamate us to what we were going to experience. I have to say, when that movie comes out, I will definitely go see it.
It also makes me want to do a larger scale geocache...I find it fascinating that people would lwant to hide some type of treasure for others to find. I think it shows how far we have come as a human race that we are willing to pop in coordinates and hunt for someone else's treasure. It also amazes me that technology has led us this far, and makes me very curious to see where it might lead us in the future!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Online Identity
The discussion from our first critical thinking paper really got me thinking about how I judge other people's online identities, especially on Facebook because I frequent it the most.
I thought about initially adding a new friend, and how I judge their identity from the friend accept. When I add a new friend, I come to understand their online identity through the information they post about themselves in the "About Me" section of their profile. After reading through that section, I know all the information they choose to disclose about themselves and how they view who they are. If they disclose more personal information, I conclude that they are more open and honest, and also may seek friends who disclose just as much as they do. If they don't disclose as much information, I conclude that they may not open up as easily, have something to hide, or do not view Facebook as the place to get to know others. However, I take that section with a grain of salt because I know people only list the positive aspects of themselves, even if they only list a few.
Next, I look a bit closer to the applications they have on their page and what I think those say about an individual. Usually, I can see what organizations are important to them through the applications they list on their page.
I'll check out what they write on shared friends' walls, or what they allow people to post on their own wall. I feel that a more private person will not allow huge amounts of public displays of information and for that reason may not have a wall at all. However, I have noticed that some people update their status frequently with their actions throughout the day.
Finally, any interaction I have with them online will be judged too. Certain words they might use, as well as icons will be taken into consideration when I message them on Facebook chat. I can try to judge how they are feeling or what they are truly thinking depending on those things.
However, I think it is very hard to gain a sense of an identity online, no matter the site used. There are so many personal cues that are missed out on because people are communicating via a computer instead of face-to-face that one can never truly know how the person on the opposite end feels. That is why I try my best not to form a final judgement of a person's identity until I can meet them in person.
Which brings to mind an important question: What if I can never meet them in person? If that is the case, I will seriously consider the information I share with them online until I get to a point where I feel I can read the words they choose and understand exactly what they meant by those words. I would very closely examine the words they choose, also. I think getting to know someone's online identity would take a very long time, and with much examination.
I thought about initially adding a new friend, and how I judge their identity from the friend accept. When I add a new friend, I come to understand their online identity through the information they post about themselves in the "About Me" section of their profile. After reading through that section, I know all the information they choose to disclose about themselves and how they view who they are. If they disclose more personal information, I conclude that they are more open and honest, and also may seek friends who disclose just as much as they do. If they don't disclose as much information, I conclude that they may not open up as easily, have something to hide, or do not view Facebook as the place to get to know others. However, I take that section with a grain of salt because I know people only list the positive aspects of themselves, even if they only list a few.
Next, I look a bit closer to the applications they have on their page and what I think those say about an individual. Usually, I can see what organizations are important to them through the applications they list on their page.
I'll check out what they write on shared friends' walls, or what they allow people to post on their own wall. I feel that a more private person will not allow huge amounts of public displays of information and for that reason may not have a wall at all. However, I have noticed that some people update their status frequently with their actions throughout the day.
Finally, any interaction I have with them online will be judged too. Certain words they might use, as well as icons will be taken into consideration when I message them on Facebook chat. I can try to judge how they are feeling or what they are truly thinking depending on those things.
However, I think it is very hard to gain a sense of an identity online, no matter the site used. There are so many personal cues that are missed out on because people are communicating via a computer instead of face-to-face that one can never truly know how the person on the opposite end feels. That is why I try my best not to form a final judgement of a person's identity until I can meet them in person.
Which brings to mind an important question: What if I can never meet them in person? If that is the case, I will seriously consider the information I share with them online until I get to a point where I feel I can read the words they choose and understand exactly what they meant by those words. I would very closely examine the words they choose, also. I think getting to know someone's online identity would take a very long time, and with much examination.
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