Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Another Take on the eBook Debate
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-carnoy/top-10-reasons-hardbacks_b_656281.html
Jessie's Final Reflection
Prior to taking this class, I had wanted to become more digitally literate. I read blogs on a daily basis, watched youtube videos and marveled at websites, certain that one day I would learn new programs and venture into the world of writing online. However, I pushed the idea of establishing a presence online to the back of my mind, hid it somewhere behind my goal to learn a new language, or take a painting class just for fun. After the first class and our discussion regarding consuming material on the internet, versus creating material, I decided that I would try as best I could to commit to learning as much as possible and minimize my frustration while doing so as best possible. Immediately, I created the following accounts: facebook, twitter, gmail, along with signing up for various other programs such as Jing.
I created a blog: Subversive Whimsies, which I continue to update and use on a daily basis. I came up with the idea of not only sharing my own thoughts and photos, but of also interviewing fellow bloggers whom I've read online over the past year or so, and I posted my first interview with Celestine Chua of the Personal Excellence Blog last week. I've really enjoyed keeping up the blog; it's inspired me to take more photographs, and it allows me to speak about places I've went or events that have happened, and then my friends can view it online. Creating a facebook account was another new medium for me to connect with friends. I actually wound up reconnecting with my best friend from high school, and since, we've hung out twice, and plan to maintain our friendship.
I feel like there's been a shift in my attitude in how I regard the creating online, in the sense that I no longer fear it; in just one month, I've gone from thinking it was too difficult to use various programs or mediums online, to realizing that I can just experiment and figure everything out. It doesn't seem as daunting, and it makes me want to go even further, such as learning how to create websites, or learn even more challenging programs. It's great for me to think that in such a short period, I've learned Jing, Photostory, Vimeo, how to redesign on Blogger, how to create and post on a wiki, how to play with images; I've discovered fantastic websites, such as picnik for resizing photos, or prezi for making mindmaps and presentations, and the best part of it all is that I no longer feel like an apathetic consumer, merely sitting back and taking in the work of others; I feel like a contributor.
Becoming more digitally literate throughout this course has boosted my confidence when it comes to the internet, as well as technology. In addition to creating a blog, I decided to splurge and buy a new laptop (I've had a desktop for six years), so that I could use it when I travel to Philadelphia, or to work. I bought a new digital camera, and have been uploading photos on a regular basis. I learned how to use my sister's camera, as well as the intricate differences between an SD card and using a tape. I learned how to use Final Cut Pro, as well as how to rip a DVD in order to upload it online. I am eager to follow up with my new skill set; I am eager to expand my knowledge of online programs and to be a creative prosumer.
I really enjoyed the design aspect of the class: picking out fonts, colors, borders, playing with photos, figuring out how to make a blog look good, playing with music and editing. I feel newly immersed in languge as a visual medium, where as a writer, before I didn't think about it so much as one; I was content sitting on the floor with my piles of journals, scribbling away with pens and pencils. I am looking forward to learning even more, continuing my blog, and learning how to develp a website in the future. Now, that I have jumped in the pool and splashed around a bit, I realize it's not as difficult as I previously deemed it, to keep my head afloat.
I created a blog: Subversive Whimsies, which I continue to update and use on a daily basis. I came up with the idea of not only sharing my own thoughts and photos, but of also interviewing fellow bloggers whom I've read online over the past year or so, and I posted my first interview with Celestine Chua of the Personal Excellence Blog last week. I've really enjoyed keeping up the blog; it's inspired me to take more photographs, and it allows me to speak about places I've went or events that have happened, and then my friends can view it online. Creating a facebook account was another new medium for me to connect with friends. I actually wound up reconnecting with my best friend from high school, and since, we've hung out twice, and plan to maintain our friendship.
I feel like there's been a shift in my attitude in how I regard the creating online, in the sense that I no longer fear it; in just one month, I've gone from thinking it was too difficult to use various programs or mediums online, to realizing that I can just experiment and figure everything out. It doesn't seem as daunting, and it makes me want to go even further, such as learning how to create websites, or learn even more challenging programs. It's great for me to think that in such a short period, I've learned Jing, Photostory, Vimeo, how to redesign on Blogger, how to create and post on a wiki, how to play with images; I've discovered fantastic websites, such as picnik for resizing photos, or prezi for making mindmaps and presentations, and the best part of it all is that I no longer feel like an apathetic consumer, merely sitting back and taking in the work of others; I feel like a contributor.
Becoming more digitally literate throughout this course has boosted my confidence when it comes to the internet, as well as technology. In addition to creating a blog, I decided to splurge and buy a new laptop (I've had a desktop for six years), so that I could use it when I travel to Philadelphia, or to work. I bought a new digital camera, and have been uploading photos on a regular basis. I learned how to use my sister's camera, as well as the intricate differences between an SD card and using a tape. I learned how to use Final Cut Pro, as well as how to rip a DVD in order to upload it online. I am eager to follow up with my new skill set; I am eager to expand my knowledge of online programs and to be a creative prosumer.
I really enjoyed the design aspect of the class: picking out fonts, colors, borders, playing with photos, figuring out how to make a blog look good, playing with music and editing. I feel newly immersed in languge as a visual medium, where as a writer, before I didn't think about it so much as one; I was content sitting on the floor with my piles of journals, scribbling away with pens and pencils. I am looking forward to learning even more, continuing my blog, and learning how to develp a website in the future. Now, that I have jumped in the pool and splashed around a bit, I realize it's not as difficult as I previously deemed it, to keep my head afloat.
A Digitally Illiterate Reflection
Well, for starters, I think I'm ALMOST ready to change my name. I'm not 100 percent there, but I'm also not 100 percent Digitally Illiterate either.
I have to say, I'm pretty impressed with myself (and I suppose by proxy, Prof. Peele) because I've come a lot farther than I expected. I'm still reluctant to "expose" myself like so many others in the online universe, but at least now I can say I tried it and it wasn't as scary as it seemed.
So much of my problem with gaining digital literacy has been the intimidation factor. I think I'd convinced myself that Twitter, blogging and laptop video editing were for people younger, cooler and more tech-savvy than myself. Because I am a journalist, I probably do use more technology than the average person, but I honestly thought I was "at capacity" and would not be able to get the hang of the newer stuff that seems to be launched every second.
I'm the kind of person who has moved from a beeper...
...to a pager to a giant cell phone...
...to a sleek cell phone to a Blackberry... yet I'm guessing I won't get an iPhone until it's 5th or 6th generation! I think that is a perfect metaphor for my digital literacy learning curve. I'm OK up to a point, but then there's a bit of a plateau before I jump into the next arena.
But as I said, the good thing is that this class forced me to jump right in... and for that, I am thankful. Aside from trying all the different applications we experimented with, it was interesting to think about how society is grappling with the digital revolution from a more academic and less pop culture point of view. Reading about how educational curricula are changing from kindergarten right up to university as a result of the need for digital literacy was enlightening.
At heart, I am a traditionalist with Luddite tendencies.
. 
I like hardcover books, handwritten notes, talking in person over texting. But I'm also a realist and for that reason, I believe this revolution is undeniable and probably irreversible. And after taking this class and challenging myself to be more open, I think maybe it's not SO terrible after all!
Final Reflection
I thought that I was pretty adequate in the digitial realm before coming to the class... and as I delved into this class I realized that I knew very little about what it means to be digitally literate. I used the internet to read the news, check e-mails and keep up with friends on facebook. I never used any othe applications that were presented in class.
I was actually very nervous about making a wikipage, twittering (tweeting?), using jing, making a prezi, creating a digital photostory and editing my final project was the most nerve-wracking. I realized because this class was pushing me out of my comfort zone... adults don't like things that they are not used to it. I was defensive, but I knew that I had to do these assignments to receive credit for the class... if I failed I would be out $1000. So instead of running away from it, I had to embrace it, and I feel more competant because of it.
I felt very confused and lost as I first started tinkering with the applications. I even cursed out my computer a few times when the applications were not cooperating with me. But then I fell into the algorhythm of the internet, and the applications became easier to use the more I used it. I had to teach myself to be patient so that I can learn how to be proficient. The one thing that I can say is a saving grace is that there is a "how to" forum on anything that I have a question about and offered solutions to my dilemmas.
I did use facebook as a teaching tool, but I'd like to incorporate prezi and blogs to my teaching tools as well. I really enjoyed making the prezi and I think that my students can benefit from it as well because of how interactive it is, and one can be really creative with it. I feel as if blogs for the class would be great too, because it would have the quiet students who don't like talking to be active contributors, and also for my students who have low attendance, they can still receive credit for participation.
I feel most appreciative about the final project... I always had wanted to do some type of informative piece and voice the issues I have with the nyc education dept. But I always found some excuse to not do it, or I didn't make it much of a priority in comparison to other endeavors I had. With this assignment I couldn't avoid the fact that this was my chance to finall make that video. Now that I am familiar with my video editor I feel as if I can continue to create and inform people about issues that I find important.
The assignments coupled with the class readings most definitely challenged my skills in creating on the web but also my understanding of the web is. I thought most everyday people just consumed the internet and was losing touch with reality. But I was wrong, a lot of people are using not only to consume the internet, but also to create and share information and ideas with eachother on a much larger scale than we can in reality now. Information is only a click away... And the internet is a vast horizon on possibilities for people being acknowledged for their creations.
Leaving this class I can say that I've tried new things, created new things, and learned how to create in the digital realm, and I can take what I have created and learned and apply it to my teaching methods and my political intentions :)
I was actually very nervous about making a wikipage, twittering (tweeting?), using jing, making a prezi, creating a digital photostory and editing my final project was the most nerve-wracking. I realized because this class was pushing me out of my comfort zone... adults don't like things that they are not used to it. I was defensive, but I knew that I had to do these assignments to receive credit for the class... if I failed I would be out $1000. So instead of running away from it, I had to embrace it, and I feel more competant because of it.
I felt very confused and lost as I first started tinkering with the applications. I even cursed out my computer a few times when the applications were not cooperating with me. But then I fell into the algorhythm of the internet, and the applications became easier to use the more I used it. I had to teach myself to be patient so that I can learn how to be proficient. The one thing that I can say is a saving grace is that there is a "how to" forum on anything that I have a question about and offered solutions to my dilemmas.
I did use facebook as a teaching tool, but I'd like to incorporate prezi and blogs to my teaching tools as well. I really enjoyed making the prezi and I think that my students can benefit from it as well because of how interactive it is, and one can be really creative with it. I feel as if blogs for the class would be great too, because it would have the quiet students who don't like talking to be active contributors, and also for my students who have low attendance, they can still receive credit for participation.
I feel most appreciative about the final project... I always had wanted to do some type of informative piece and voice the issues I have with the nyc education dept. But I always found some excuse to not do it, or I didn't make it much of a priority in comparison to other endeavors I had. With this assignment I couldn't avoid the fact that this was my chance to finall make that video. Now that I am familiar with my video editor I feel as if I can continue to create and inform people about issues that I find important.
The assignments coupled with the class readings most definitely challenged my skills in creating on the web but also my understanding of the web is. I thought most everyday people just consumed the internet and was losing touch with reality. But I was wrong, a lot of people are using not only to consume the internet, but also to create and share information and ideas with eachother on a much larger scale than we can in reality now. Information is only a click away... And the internet is a vast horizon on possibilities for people being acknowledged for their creations.
Leaving this class I can say that I've tried new things, created new things, and learned how to create in the digital realm, and I can take what I have created and learned and apply it to my teaching methods and my political intentions :)