Blog #4: My Take on Social Media - Module 2

     In this post, I would like to reflect on what I have gathered from the social media site, Facebook, over the years. Evidently, Facebook, plays an immense role within our current day society.  As much as I believe this engine could be beneficial in terms of communicating and networking, I find that Facebook poses more as a detriment to individual and communal perception.

      Whereas many people view this popular social media site as a community for their immediate circles as well as people they would like to stay "connected" with, I see Facebook from a much different view. From my experience, I do not find Facebook to be a community that quite literally links and connects me with those I have a difficult time staying in touch with. I find Facebook to be utterly materialistic and ultimately artificial. Despite the nice idea of the Facebook profile displaying to "friends" who you are, what you like, what you are interested in, what music you listen to, what movies and TV shows you watch, what books you read, etc., I personally see the Facebook profile as a fake representation of the individual user. I say this because the user chooses how they want to be perceived on their profile, and therefore the profile does not communicate a true portrayal of the individual user. Users want other users to view them in a certain manner. Typically, we choose the best photo of ourselves for our profile picture. However, often times, our best photos rarely capture our true identity. The process of picking and choosing through various links to describe who we are is unnatural. I described the profile as materialistic because I feel it pertains to physical concepts as opposed to emotional and personal ones. More specifically, I will allow my "friends" to see that I like these books or these places, but I fail to let these so-called "friends" understand how these books and places make me feel or why I am so intrigued by them. There is a lack of connection between interests and why users are interested in them. This materialism makes the online community shallow.

     Above all of this, I feel Facebook limits users from developing personal, natural, relations with others. The concept of "friending" an individual without actually being physically present with the opposing party seems strange when given thought. Facebook eliminates a real atmosphere by creating a virtual world with "friends." My question is what kind of friend are you if you can only reach out to me via a computer screen? Personally, it's a bit too on the surface for me. I am one who enjoys real conversation and truly getting to know someone. Facebook completely diminishes the importance of socializing face to face, thus creating a shallow community (again).

     In moderation, I feel the use of Facebook is totally acceptable. Under certain circumstances, it is understandable to use Facebook frequently. Situations such keeping in touch with loved ones who do not live close pertain to this. Facebook is also a great way to plan events with a large mass of people.

     However, in daily living, I feel Facebook use should be kept at a bare minimum. Stop inventing yourself online and go out into the world and find who you are. Have a conversation with a stranger. Read a book. Travel. Network IN PERSON. Participate in charity work. Create a name for yourself outside of the online domains. In the long run, you'll probably be happier you did this.

Blog #3: Analysis of a Twitter Chat - Module 2

       It was quite difficult to determine which Twitter chat I would analyze, simply because there are so many fascinating topics being explored through this social media engine. I finally narrowed my choices down and decided to complete an analysis of users incorporating the hashtag, #BeautifulPlaces, within their tweets. I chose #BeautifulPlaces as my focus for the Twitter analysis assignment because I am greatly interested in traveling the world. I thought a travel hashtag would be too vague. I wanted something more in depth and specific, and I found just what I was looking for... and more.

     To begin with, I noticed that the use of the hashtag, #BeautifulPlaces, within tweets was not aimed towards discussion. Therefore, I concluded that this hashtag was not necessarily a chat, but rather a thread of tweets all bound to one common interest, that interest being gorgeous locations around the world. Despite this, I think it is important to note that the hashtag still created an environment in which Twitter users could share their personal thoughts and experiences about the topic. Although most users were not actively participating in discussion by tweeting one another about beautiful places in the world, all users ultimately shared their views on beautiful places through the hashtag. In this case, and in most cases with hashtags, communication between users is not necessary because the hashtag serves as the engagement source.

     The motivation behind this stream/thread was above all, to inform Twitter users of the absolutely breathtaking locations our world has to offer. This hashtag accomplished this by individual users displaying a gallery of captivating regions around the world through tweeted pictures, as well as posting links to inform users of certain sites. Whether this hashtag was aimed towards users with great wanderlust, users who are travel monkeys, or users who simply find peace and inspiration within the captured photos of these places, it provided a space on the site specifically for those fascinated by this particular topic. When searching this hashtag, one will find an assortment of tweets, about half being pictures of various sites, a quarter being informative links that discuss certain locations, and a quarter being personal experience tweets in which users share their immediate involvement with travel in a particular location. For example, in the column I posted below, the first two tweets display photos of locations and the third tweet shares a link to the user's personal blog post that discusses her experiences as a photographer in beautiful places.

     From my observation, not every person has the same opinion concerning  #BeautifulPlaces. More specifically, not every person views all places equally. Some might find certain locations more appealing than others. The purpose for this thread is not to share the same opinion on particular sites in the world, but rather to share a virtual exploration with others that might also be interested. This chain of tweets linked with #BeautifulPlaces allows users in the Twitter world to immerse themselves within the idea of travel.

Blog #2: A Reflection On My Use of Digital Texts and Tools for Collaboration - Module 2

           A collaborative tool I often use online is the almighty, Facebook. Although the current status of my account is deactivated, Facebook has always served as a helpful and quick way of getting in contact with people to complete something or make something occur. For instance, I was able to collaborate a surprise party with a few friends for our best friend's birthday via Facebook without her knowing. We simply planned an event on the social networking site. One of my friends made the event group, the other made a list of who to invite and invited fifty of our best friend's loved ones on the site, and I inputted the event details so everyone was aware and up to date about the special occasion. Whereas if we were to plan this surprise party outside of Facebook and physically send invitations in the mail, the process would have taken nearly five times as long.  Social media can help us better function together when attempting to collaborate because a literal click of a button is the only obstacle in between point A and point B. Moreover, social media is fast information. Additionally, there are hardly any ambiguities online, for the text is in plain site and all the information is given. And if a question ever does arise, it takes only a matter of seconds to type it out and press "send." Personally, I feel Facebook, above all social media is one of the best tools for collaboration because it is easy to operate, it is not time consuming, information can be delivered and shared within seconds, it is straight to the point, and most importantly, many people actively use Facebook.

Blog #1: Analytical Response to "The World Is My Textbook..." - Module 2

         The World Is My Textbook: Participatory Learning and New Media for Connecting, Creating, and Collaborating with Students is an informative slideshow on how active, collaborative, and technology based learning can be incorporated in the educational setting. It majorly focuses on the use of new media literacies as well as social media.

         This slideshow displays to the audience exactly why evolving our educational methods so that they pertain to the student who has grown up "digital, mobile, as a multi-tasker, continuously connected, social networked" as stated in slides 2-7, is so significant. I strongly agree that transformation needs to occur within our current educational system. Constantly, I hear the saying, "technology is the way to the future," and it could not strike me as more than true, especially within our current age. Simply put, our world and the way we communicate has expeditiously changed over the last decade. I do not think it is too far fetched to claim that this technological shift in the way we function and communicate is eternal. We can still manifest the old ways, i.e. reading textbooks and newsprint, writing handwritten journal entries, etc. However, I think it is vital to our rapidly advancing society that the new ways, the new media literacies, be incorporated. If done correctly and appropriately, focusing the ways in which we learn to be part of a larger network, an online and socially connected network, I think, will promote more discoveries. The more we incorporate new media literacies, the more access to information we have, and therefore, the more knowledgeable we become. The possibilities, truly, are endless.

         However, there are a few areas in this slideshow that I did not particularly agree with. The author of the slideshow seldom discussed the face-to-face aspect and how that should still be incorporated within new media literacies. While it is a nice idea to shift the way we educate and learn in a place where everyone is connected in the world within our computers, tablets, smartphones, etc., I personally do not find it to be efficient. I do not think a learning environment that almost completely centralizes itself amidst new media can be as active and participatory as it claims to be. For some people, yes, learning in a predominately technological based environment can be more than efficient. But for others, it may not materialize. The point I am attempting to make is that every student learns differently. From my personal experience, I know I would rather be in the classroom and having an open discussion because that is what gets my mind flowing. I would rather be in the classroom and actively listening to the instructor, because it is easier for me to learn socially and aurally. Moreover, establishing a balance between physical learning and new media learning is significant to ensure each students' individual needs are met.

     Nonetheless, I think that conforming our learning style to the style of the future would be beneficial for many reasons. I think it is also important to recognize the obstacles and challenges that emerge from new media literacies and to question how we can overcome said obstacles and challenges.

To Do List for Module 2

     Here are a list of things I need to complete for our current module:

1. 9/18 - Read all assigned readings by tonight
2. 9/18 - Write and post blog #1 - An analytical response to the readings
3. 9/18 - Write and post blog #2 - Reflect on my use of digital texts and tools for collaboration
4. 9/22 - Participate in Twitter Chat
5. 9/22 - Write and post blog #3 - An analysis of my Twitter chat
6. 9/21-9/27 - Figure topic of blog #4. Write and post blog #4
7. 9/21-9/27 - Respond to the posts of my peers
8. 9/22 - Form writing group in class and write a collaborative essay that analyzes a learning community.
9. 9-24 - Check Google+ Community for instructor post to respond to.
10. 10/01 - Completed Essay is due

A Personal Experience With Technology - Module One Reflection

   
     I would like to reflect on my first experience with YouTube. About seven years ago, I discovered various users who created some of the coolest videos I had ever seen at the time--Stop motion pictures and lip syncing clips decorated with the corny effects and transitions of Windows Movie Maker, all going to the beat of a popular song during the frame of time. It seems pretty lame now, but my eleven-year-old self was all over the idea. These music videos were plain fun and on top of it, the video editing was actually quite good. I wanted to get in on the production process and thus, I grabbed my horrible Toshiba laptop, recorded myself lip syncing to one of Katy Perry's first singles, and took a bunch of photos that matched the lyrics in the song, without moving the camera to create the stop motion effect. I stayed up all night one evening piecing the video together, and after about six and half hours of my To-shi*-ba (get it) crapping out on me (see what I did there) approximately four times, VOILA! My first music video was created. I made an account on YouTube called "bananapancaakes" (in reference to Jack Johnson's song, which was my favorite of the time.) I uploaded my video to YouTube as well as Facebook. The feedback I received from these particularly lame videos--which I am extremely embarrassed of now--was incredible. People loved these music videos because they were technical, fun, and simply cool to watch. I continued making videos for quite some time. Eventually, I put down the mic and stored away Windows Movie Maker along with all of its corny effects to make room for a professional video editing software. To this day, I stillcreate and edit videos, just not as lame. And to this day, I still use YouTube (under a different username) to upload my creations and share them with the world.

     Since I was a very young girl, YouTube has been such an immense part of my life. Not only did it introduce me to the art of video editing that I previously would not have been exposed to, but YouTube allowed me to understand the process of networking, sharing videos, and being a part of a community on line, through videos.

     I am glad that I am writing this reflection past the date it was due, solely because of last night. I had a three customers come into my work whom I did not know. They asked me if I was bananapancaakes from YouTube. It was a shock to me mainly because they informed me they lived in a different town than the one I had lived in at the time and that they were three years younger than me. They said they used to love my videos and apologized for being creepy. I could not believe that my corny creations reached out not only to another town, but to a different age group. Despite how great this was, it's kind of embarrassing to think that I probably still look like an eleven year old. But whatever, it's fine.