This is actually inspired by several blog posts and comments of people in this class. Katie ponders on what and how we identify ourselves in terms of our degree of being digitalized, as digital natives or digital immigrants. Amy is concerned that teenagers are too engaged in digital media use that they ignore real people around them. Researchers are worried about the correlation between heavy media use and school problems. Jin Zhang would not be happy if she lost her ability to write with pens and paper to typing text into a computer or into a cell phone. I myself, trying to read and write only on computer on one hand, get annoyed on the other hand by the pain in my neck and shoulders because I have sit in front of the computer for too long.
It seems that we are still far from finding a healthy, balanced, and productive way to handle this world where physical environment and virtual environment are weaved into our life. How do we balance our time and attention between digital communication and face-to-face communication? How do we use the digital media tools productively instead of being a mere consumer of them? These may be questions that every one of us needs to figure out. (And they could also be good topics for discussion with our media-addicted students). What are your thoughts on our position in this half-digital-half-real world? What are the other questions that you want to ask about this issue?
Hey Jinjing!I really like your idea about posing these questions to our Ss and find out what they think about it. Maybe, there are some who like Yi, are not so much into technology.
ReplyDeleteEven though I'm not a "digital native" I like the idea of finding different ways to keep Ss engaged and have a benefitial learning experience using web tools. However, what if Ss do not find it as interesting as I thought they would? What if they prefer a more traditional way?
Great questions, Jinjing, you're absolutely right that balance is essential, and that it's too easy to become just a consumer of media. I think that's where literacy plays a part, and methodology that promotes active participation and creation. And as mrdz says, some students will rebel, as they're so used to just consuming, and being lectured at as passive recipients, that when the teacher forces them to take initiative and develop autonomy, it makes them uncomfortable.
ReplyDeleteJinjing, I seriously wonder/worry about the development of social skills in these students. Will they still develop interpersonal communication skills if they don't have much face-to-face social time? Will they just be a different kind?
ReplyDeleteI have to say that people in my age group seem to post shockingly socially inappropriate comments on my (and others') Facebook status updates and I wonder if they would say the same things if we were having a face-to-face conversation. Will the (pseudo)anonymity afforded by Internet-based communication result in the erosion of qualities like tact, awareness of other, and politeness?
It is interesting that Katie notes the inappropriate comments of people in her age group on FB. I am also on FB, and I can say that my peers have never posted anything inappropriate, although I find myself hiding people's feeds when they start vomitting their political ideas all over the place.
ReplyDeleteMobile communication had stressed me out even though I voluntarily use it all the time. I never turn my phone off, and I frequently spend time with issues that can wait instead of prioritizing and doing, say, my homework!
So, thank you for reminding me of the necessity for balance. I will schedule media breaks into my days and think of them as vacations.
Love your profile, pic!!!! :)
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