Week #5: PBS Films

This week in class we watched the PBS Frontline documentaries Digital Nation (2010) and Generation Like (2014). The following are questions posed to the class and my responses to them based off the information gathered during the viewing and my personal experiences.

1. Compare and contrast each documentary. What was similar or different from the first one Digital Nation filmed in 2010 to Generation Like filmed in 2014 ?  

At first I found the two documentaries to very different from one another. Digital Nation was focused on multitasking while Generation Like examined the growth of identity forming through social media. However, as each film went further in depth of its topic, it was clear that the idea of connectivity was a key feature of both documentaries. Digital Nation explains that video gaming can lead to people making connections with other players and building strong friendships. In some cases, it even leads to romantic relationships. According to the film, one-third of female players have made a romantic connection with another player. In the documentary Generation Like, people build an identity through likes, follows, and re-tweets, and use these connections to meet new people as well as build fan bases. Several entertainers, such as social media personalities and aspiring skateboarders and musicians, use the connections they made on social media to start careers in pop culture. 

2. Your thoughts on multitasking. Do you agree? Can you multitask? Do you disagree with the video on the topic of multitasking? What do you think our students think about multitasking today?

I multitask quite a bit. In fact, while I was watching the films, I had the Red Sox game on in the background (on mute) and replied to a few text messages while taking notes. I consider myself pretty good at multitasking but after watching the film and seeing the studies they conducted, I am not so sure that I am. However, my job requires me to multitask and it carries over into my personal life. At school, I may be in a meeting but I am checking my email or preparing for the next meeting by scanning through the agenda or reading through other materials. I consider myself to still be "present" in the meeting by listening and participating in the conversation but my mind is often in two or three different places. I think the key part of multitasking for students and adults is that they have to be able to manage the multitasking. While a laptop is considered appropriate in the classroom or workplace, a cell phone may or may not be. Students and adults have to be aware of the NORMS in their environment and allow for their multitasking to adhere to it. 

3. Is there an addiction happening in society today with technology or is it just a new way of living? Should we be concerned?

There certainly seems to be a growing addition to technology. The dependence on technology has led to studies of whether or not drunk driving is safer than texting and driving. In South Korea it is being treated as psychiatric disorder and addicts may be sent to camps to help relieve technology dependence. In general, the side effects of it can be poor grades or lack of job production, poor communication skills, and eye/ear complications. Only the "top ten percent" may be considered a high risk for addiction but even that percentage is enough for concern. 

4.  Do video games serve a purpose in education or are they a waste of time?

Video games seem to be the "doodles" or side tracks to classroom production today. Students have always had a tendency to draw during direct instruction or lectures but now they are gaming, snap chatting, or using the video screen to fix hair and make-up. It is a pet peeve of mine and one that I have gone back and fourth with my technology team on. We have considered further restrictions on technology devices and made plans for gradual release but students always seem to find a way around them. Ultimately, it comes down to creating a safe, collaborative, and empowering culture around technology integration, rather than a restrictive one, no matter how frustrating the "doodles" of today's generation may be.

5. How did what you watched in the two videos support your feelings about technology or how did it change your views?

More than anything else, I think the Digital Nation helped to reinforce my evolving philosophy around technology integration. Two weeks ago I would not have written the response to the question above. For the past two years I have felt that students are not prepared to be digital learners but at the same time I have enough responsibility for helping them become one. Although I have utilized several technology tools in my classroom, I have not embraced the ideas of sharing and connecting with them to appeal to "instant gratification" needs of the students in my classroom. Now that I am developing a stronger grasp for the capabilities of the tools, I think I can start to build a better culture for learning through technology. 

6. Are kids and adults today ruining their digital footprints by sharing too much information online without realizing that it may be detrimental to their future? Should they care? Are they focused on too much of what others think?

One would think after watching Generation Like that your digital footprint can only improve your stature and lead to positive connections. However, if it is not used appropriately, the consequences can be harmful. The misuse of social media can lead to fall out among friends or it can be detrimental to your career. Last week I referenced a study done by the Microsoft Safety and Security Center. According to the survey conducted by Microsoft, 38% of colleges admissions officers found something online that had a negative impact on their evaluation of a student and 70% of U.S. job recruiters have rejected candidates based on their online reputations. Whether people care about their digital footprints or not, you can't argue with the facts. 

7.  What do you feel are the dangers of technology use?  Are there any?

Most of the dangers center around sharing information such as credit card information, your location (through a picture you upload from your phone) and your thoughts and/or opinions on a topic. Students and adults are typically unaware of the dangers that the web and social media present. Sharing general information when ordering something through an online merchant or posting messages and images of yourself can be harmful to your personal and/or professional life. I would strongly encourage a digital citizenship class, or at least a crash course, for digital users to avoid the pit falls of technology misuse.