Week 8 Social Media and Discussion Questions Assignment

1) After reading our lecture 8 items and watching The Curly Fry Conundrum, discuss the term "self regulation".

This can mean a few different things but I think the main point is that we are in control with what others see us as. Online can be a very scary place but if we do not want it to be a place where someone might be able to find out negative things about us then we should regulate what we share. Sometimes it can be difficult because others might post something about us and then others can see it that way. The only answer to this would be to not put yourself into situations where you are not comfortable explaining it to a future employer. 

2) Currently, there is a huge battle between 1st amendment privacy, information sharing, and data mining online. In your opinion, should we do away with online privacy and self regulating? Or should the government step in and start regulating online content?

I think the internet is amazing and at the rate it has progressed is something I dont think we ever knew was going to be possible. With that said there are sometimes going to be things out there about us that we do not like. It is open for virtually anyone to access and edit. I think for the most part the internet can be private if you want it to be. For people who are famous I know it is much more difficult to be private because people sometimes have nothing better to do than to spread drama. 

Week 6

1. Examine pros and cons of technology use in education. Student and Teacher use of technology in classrooms.

There are many pros to technology in the classroom. For one we have information at our fingertips in seconds. Anything that we may have needed to look up in a book for instance prior can be accessed immediately. Having virtually any kind of information accessible in seconds allows for student to learn at a rate that in the past was much slower. 

A con to having such advanced technology for students is that there are certain types of information that we now disregard and do not take in. We see it as a non-priority to remember certain things because we can just look them up on our phone. We are too reliant on the easy access of information that remembering certain phenomenon’s becomes obsolete.

2. Look at issues such as the Digital Divide (haves and have nots). People who cannot afford and have no access to technology or media are left out? Are schools assuming that we all can afford technology and requiring the use without taking into account affordability or accessibility?

This is a subject that I have never really given much thought until not. People that do not have technology in the world do have less information available to them, obviously. Nevertheless I believe that their quality of life is much more pure and their connection to others and the world is more meaningful. They are not attached to their cell phones and they really look at life differently.

As far as people that want to go to college but aren’t able to afford the technology that’s is necessary for certain courses in my opinion isn’t an issue. Schools usually will have the resources to get one through college successfully and even though it may take a little more effort to find what one may need in the library and what not, it can be accomplished. Having the latest and greatest phone and computer is a luxury and not a necessity.

3. Propose for more media literacy or more technology or media training.

Having the capability however to have access to a computer and a cell phone does make life for a college student much easier. Having that technology at your fingertips does make it so we have access to information and can accomplish things at the click of a button.

4. How about more education and training for both students and teachers in terms of proper use of technology.

Slowly but surely people are getting the hang of using technology and the core purposes of the advanced technology that we have today. Kids nowadays are so technologically advanced that they are teaching the adults how to properly look up and browse the internet and accomplish daily tasks online. It’s just like anything, the more you practice the more comfortable on will get.