Weekly Report and Reflection #12

Today in my feedly reader I came across an article about the 3 mistakes parents make using technology with their children. In an ever-increasingly technology-centered world, this bold title caught my eye.

The article details the importance of setting limits on "tv time" with children, claiming that it may be causing them to lose touch with the real world and disrupting their social development. Technology can become an addiction like anything else, and the author of the article explains the importance of children having hobbies and going outside for both their physical and mental health.

It also touches on the idea of having technology permitted only in certain places, implemented through rules such as "no cell phones at the table", or "only in the living room". This creates an environment in which children can devote their full attention to tasks instead of only half participating in them, and can be helpful in facilitating dinnertime conversation, or even helping them have a good night's sleep if they are not allowed to have devices in their bedrooms.

"Technology Blackouts" are also mentioned in this article as helpful tools in keeping children in touch with the real world. It is  time in which everyone, including the parents, shut off their devices in favour of interactive playtime and family activities. This not only gets children moving, but allows bonding to happen within the family.

I agree with this article entirely, and believe that being aware of your own child's personal limitations when it comes to technology and facilitating social development is imperative to their growth and development as digital and real-world citizens.

Okay, so I guess that's all.
It's been good blogging to you.

Goodnight and goodbye,
Amy

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/when-kids-call-the-shots/201604/3-mistakes-parents-make-technology

Googled Myself

When I Google myself, these blog posts show up. Apart from that, not much has changed since the beginning of the course, except that I have changed my Instagram profile from public to private to ensure my privacy and so it does not show up in the results. My Facebook profile is still available in the searches but access to it is restricted if I have not "friended" the individual viewing it.
I have made these changes as a function of becoming aware of my digital footprint. I do not want my information to be accessible to strangers, and I am also very selective now of what I post on social media platforms so as to ensure a good impression on potential future employers and the like. I post much less now on social media as I recognize that not everything requires my comment. As a digital citizen, I will promote appropriate behaviours in others by setting an example of discretion and creating a safe and comfortable online environment for all who interact with me. I have found one website in particular that supports this idea of what it means to be a good digital citizen. I have provided the link to it below.

http://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/digital-citizenship-the-future-of-learning/20-basic-rules-for-digital-citizenship/

As a digital citizen, I will inform my friends about the importance of being a good digital citizen through posting on my social media platforms a link about the issue.
I will join forums discussing the issue, and share some conversations and articles about privacy and appropriateness with my close friends and family so they can learn how to protect themselves on the internet.

Thanks for your time,
A

Weekly Report and Reflection #11

As you know, this week we learned about the creative tools, screencast and podcast. These tools are unlike many of the other ones we have explored in that they have an expressional flair to them. They are typically used for entertainment, but can be repurposed and used as educational enhancements. They allow for quick and easy expression of ideas and a free way to export media. They are not like the collaborative work tools, but they do have a similar function as voice thread in that audio content can be shared between project partners. I would definitely add this to my PLE, probably under Information Platform. It is useful for absorbing information, and can be accessed without the use of internet, which makes for easy, passive learning. I often listen to podcasts in the car or as I am exercising, and the ability to learn without have to watch or read anything makes these tools especially effective in that they do not require full attention. Because of these features podcasts especially are ideal for busy students who are always on the go.

This week in my feedly reader, I came across a couple of podcasting sites, one of them being the "Science Friday" podcast that airs weekly. While I probably wouldn't have read an article of this kind, given the passive nature of podcasts, I find that they are easy to sink into, and the podcast covers everything from the bacteria in cheese to the war on cancer. One particular podcast, one about the Zika virus caught my attention. In the podcast, the speaker outlines that the type of mosquito that carries the Zika virus is at an all-time high in America, which may be a cause for concern. I find this interesting because yesterday I came across an update that there may be a confirmed case of Zika in America. If you'd like to listen to this yourself, I have provided the link, and urge you to subscribe to some educational podcasting channels on your iPhone, as I find that this tool is particularly useful in helping you learn without even trying.
Have a good night everyone!
-A https://feedly.com/i/explore/%23podcasts

Podcast

This week we learned about Podcasting, and how it can enrich your academic life. I was previously aware of podcasting, but had only ever considered its function as a source of entertainment used for when you are otherwise occupied and can't watch the screen of your phone.  However, I have explored some tools today, and found that simple websites like RecordMP3 and Sound Cloud can be very effective/efficient ways of teaching and learning about given topics in a timely manner. Using podcast or screen casting (showing short clips of your screen), provides you as a digital citizen with interactive tutorials- screen casting for the people who need to see what to do in order to learn, and podcasting for those who like to listen. I often listen to sermons through podcasts, and my mother listens to book reviews. Conversely, my friend who is very hands-on, likes to see exactly what needs to be done in computer programs, and so prefers to watch screen casts. Such tools can also be effectively used in presentations of material and understanding how to use them effectively can enhance your teaching style for class requirements and even for legitimate teaching positions.Like any other content however, when you share your work on social media, it is important to properly license it to protect your work. A creative commons license can do this. Here is mine!
Until next time,
A



 
Working and Living in the Digital World by Amy Holliday is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2546536089257469953#editor/target=post;postID=3467762548491382104.

My Slideshow- Weekly Report and Reflection #10

This week we learned about how to properly credit individuals for their work in slideshows. I created my slideshow using Google Docs because it is what I am most comfortable using, compared to Prezi and other tools, and while I had been previously aware of copyright in a very ague sense, this new information has changed how I will present information the future.

I had always believed that plagiarism only applied to words. You get taught from a very young age that it is inappropriate to use other people's thoughts and ideas in your essays, but very rarely did I hear anything about other people's photos, or even music. In fact, I would often post photos on instagram or pinterest that did not belong to me, without any consideration.

Every piece of media content on the internet was created by someone, and learning about creative commons laws and copyright a little more has showed me that it is important to give people credit for all of their work. Not only does it make you a better and more respectful digital citizen, it's the only legal way to share others' content.

I discovered that there is a function on Google search in which you can limit your searches to only the photos that are available by the creator to share with others. However, it is very important to note that there are often "some rights reserved" sections in these creative commons licenses that allow them to collectively grant others to use their content, and it is important to remember to always cite the sources of your selected work.

I have also explored Creative Commons and Prezi, and still found Google Docs to be the easiest to use. Prezi is a wonderful tool for fancy presentations, but I do find Google Docs slides to be the most user-friendly.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1iF30je2lEO4c58kPs_WIZ7J5mKlNdpyCagwLpLOrs0g/edit?usp=sharing

Retrieved from https://www.bestthinking.com/trendingtopic/relateditem/647

An article I found this week in my reader that caught my attention was about how the use of technology can be a factor in anxiety and depression. The article explains that those who turn to their devices when things get tough, and use them as distractors from the real life issues they face are at a much greater risk for developing anxiety and depression than those who use them purely for entertainment purposes. I can see why this would be, because just as not dealing with issues and using other distractors like work can enhance issues, there will be a lot of unresolved emotions resulting from the ignorance towards difficulties.

Okay, that's all for now folks!
-A

http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20160315/could-too-much-cellphone-time-signal-anxiety-depression?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Weekly Report and Reflection #9

This week, in learning about Voice Thread, I realized the usefulness of being able to share, in real time, information with classmates on given topics. This tool would be particularly useful in a collaborative project in which each classmate has knowledge about different topics, such as the technology use scenarios we had all written about in our previous posts. In this way, we would all be able to conveniently share our knowledge with each other, in whichever way is most comfortable for us, unlike other collaborative tools such as Google Docs in which we only have the option to type additional info. I used both text and audio files for my comments, as I am comfortable talking and writing about topics, but less so being in front of a camera (especially in my pyjamas). It is particularly helpful to have options available to ensure the comfort and efficiency of the tool. I would add this in the collaborative section of my PLE for sure, as it is both useful and not at all time-consuming as compared to some other methods of information sharing.

This week in my feedly reader, an article about the detrimental effects daylight savings time may have on the body caught my eye. Specifically, the article details an increased risk of ischemic stroke, largely as a result of a minor disruption to individuals' internal clocks as a function of turning the clock back or forwards. In recent studies, it has been shown that the Mondays and Tuesdays after daylight savings time saw an increase in cardiovascular related deaths of roughly 10%. However, after these two days immediately following the change in time, there was no difference in probability of heart attack or stroke, and the risk was significantly higher for those aged 65 or older. While I don't consider this to be a huge effect, I will certainly be weary if I get a pain in my chest for the next few days.

Have a good week folks,
-Amy

Technology Use Scenario #14

Technology Use Scenario #14:

Mr. Hutchinson wants to keep his students' parents aware of classroom activities. He remembers hearing about using Twitter posts at a technology conference. After doing some research, Mr. Hutchinson finds both positive and negative viewpoints related to using Twitter in the classroom. He believes that for what he wants to do- inform parents of their child's daily work- these posts would be appropriate. Before setting one up, however, he consults with the principal and technology support person to see if there are any legal issues. Both say that what he wants to do is perfectly okay. Mr. Hutchinson then sets up a professional Twitter account and informs his students and parents about where to find the information. Is social media a good way to share information? (Ribble, 2014)

Mr. Hutchinson's use of technology in this situation is entirely appropriate. He was thorough in establishing the safety and lawfulness of his choice, with special consideration to its professionalism. His method is not only convenient for students and their parents alike, ultimately allowing them to check on what is going on in the classroom without having to directly contact the instructor himself, but may also be beneficial to learning for his students. In my personal experience, if you make work seem like play, i.e. using something that is normally only used outside of the classroom to inform and seek opinions on learning activities, his students may take more interest in them. As long as Mr. Hutchinson's posts remain professional, and their is no inappropriate interaction with his students online, his method of informing parents is acceptable and efficient in the educational

setting. 

VOICETHREAD

This week in ADED 1P32 we learned about voice threads, and were able to use one as a class.
Voice threads allow everyone in the class to add comments using audio or video clips, text or photographs to enrich and further develop every classmate's understanding of a given topic. Adding to a voice thread is fast and easy to accomplish and adds a dimension that is suitable for every type of learner to a project.

I would likely place voice thread under collaborative work in my PLE, as it really is a platform for information sharing and an efficient method of knowledge enhancement for every group member. It is similar to collaborative Prezi or Google docs in that the comments are added in real time, and all group members can view the contributions of others. Voice thread even provides the options to share or embed the finished projects, which I have done here.

I hope that you find this new tool to be as enriching to your learning as I have.
Have a good week!
-A

Weekly Report and Reflection #8

This week in ADED 1P32 our class learned primarily about Wikis, which are online pages containing information about a given topic that can be directly accessed and edited by peers. Wikis allows for the convenient sharing of knowledge and are essentially a pool of information, where individuals can collectively learn about areas of interest. Wikis are more easily accessible than other tools in that some require explicit permission for any posts to be made on the website. These restrictions are in place to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on the webpage, but for the trusting, Wikis are certainly a more convenient option.

Also this week was a lesson on the rights and responsibilities a digital citizen has in their online environment. While I tend to weigh more heavily on the importance of understanding one’s responsibilities, I recognize that knowing what you should not be denied as a citizen can also be extremely beneficial. In my concept map, as pictured below, I include freedom of speech/expression as I consider it to be of particular importance, as well as a variety of responsibilities I believe are of significance.

This week in my reader I came across an article detailing the positive effects of tea on heart health. This caught my eye because I am actually a consultant for Steeped Tea incorporated, and I realized that such a claim by medical professionals may be of further support to my business. The authors claim that a cup of tea a day reduces the risk of calcium build up in the arteries, and states that a recent study has found that these individuals were 35 times less likely to suffer a heart attack. I guess a cup of tea a day keeps the doctor away. And also the grave.

Bye for now.

-Amy

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20160301/a-daily-cup-of-tea-may-soothe-your-heart?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Weekly Report and Reflection #7

This week in ADED 1P32 I was able to spend some time working with a tool called Google Docs. I have had previous experience doing collaborative essays and the like using this, so I was fairly familiar with its functions, which is a nice change for me.
Google Docs provides a convenient way to work collaboratively, by allowing every contributor of the project to see their partners working, in real time (not through video of course, but by allowing them to see the typed content that is being added). It also provides a chat window, which can be used to discuss minor errors or to provide brief instruction or encouragement.
My partner and I used the Brock email system to contact each other and eventually got to TodaysMeet where we set up a time to meet on GoogleDocs. I can say with confidence that I would take Google Docs study dates over emailing or Skype sessions any day. For one, there is no pressure to not wear pyjamas (phew), and there is no delay in response. I have already added Google Docs to my PLE but it serves a more specific purpose than I had considered. Until tonight, I was unaware that it was possible to collaborate on basically any piece of writing. I had previously held the belief that team editing features had only applied to word documents. Having the ability to work with my mom on perfecting a resume, or building a powerpoint presentation with someone slide by slide allows a level of convenience and productivity that messaging and sending photos of each other's work cannot come close to providing. Ultimately, Google Docs provides facilitation of teamwork as well as an automatically saving version of Microsoft Word that has your email connected to it to make it easier to share with other contributors.

One article that caught my attention in my reader this week was a study summary published by WebMD, a medical news website, about the effects of marijuana use on the brain. The article outlines the differences in brain structure observed by neuroscientists in marijuana smokers who had become regular users at the age of 16 or younger, compared to those who started smoking marijuana later in life. Though the article wasn't very specific about the age that they considered "older", and the study did not appear to include non-marijuana users at all, the scientists observed notable differences in the brain structures when compared using an mRI. It seems that regular users that had started at 16 or younger possessed fewer "wrinkles" in their brains, and less distinction between grey and white matter than those who had begun smoking at a later point in their development. Basically what this means is that the way in which marijuana affects dopamine levels in the brain may influence brain development. Perhaps the reason that such a distinction has been observed between the two groups has to do with neuronal development. Of course the brain's work is never done, but development significantly slows down in your twenties. My opinion is that this difference may be in part due to the drug's effect on the brain during critical maturation period.

Well, it was nice talking to you, but in the spirit of digital health and wellness I must be going because I have been staring at a screen for much longer than is considered healthy for my body and mind.

Until next week,

Amy

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20160226/pot-habit-early-in-life-may-alter-brain-study-suggests?src=RSS_PUBLIC
http://ylegalizepot.com/sites/default/files/teen%20brain.jpg

Weekly Report & Reflection #5

Hey everyone,

This week we set up Twitter accounts for educational use. Since I wanted this Twitter account to be separate from my own personal Twitter account, and I was not able to use my current email, I had to create a new email address and a new Twitter account. However, it did not end there. I typed in the wrong email address, and Twitter would not allow me to "tweet" without email confirmation, so I had to make another email, and another account. And then another Twitter account for some other reason. So needless to say, I will be getting several emails from Twitter every day until I die, probably. 

Apart from the inconvenience of setting up my Twitter account, which shouldn't apply to the average user, I consider Twitter to be a very effective method of communication and educational exposure. I enjoy Twitter particularly because of its 140 character limit (it makes things short and sweet and lets me get back to my life quickly). Additionally, it is far superior to email when connecting with peers, as it doesn't require correspondence, and allows individuals to follow other classmates' opinions and perspectives in shared courses without having to wait on responses. Hashtags make this infinitely easier still, by efficiently categorizing the tweets of individuals based on topics. While I have already included Twitter in my PLE under Social Media, with the discovery of its use as an educational tool, I would add it to my Information Platform as a means to which I can gather information from educators and peers about my topics of interest. I have also connected LinkedIn to my educational Twitter page, which will allow potential employers to have a more complete view on who I am as a professional.

I discovered something interesting in my feedly reader today as well that I believed would be relevant to this class. This article, titled "When Self-Monitoring Becomes Uncomfortably Intimate", published by the Guardian, outlines the impositions new fitness monitors put in place, and how, instead of improving our health, they cause an uncomfortable parental influence, with some universities and workplaces requiring students and employees to wear these watches, as if personally ensuring their wellness and even sexual purity. This article had me thinking about whether these fitness monitors as a new fad in technology really do have an adverse effect on our health as a whole. I myself own a fitbit, and I had considered it an integral part of my PLE (I was thinking healthy body, healthy mind I suppose), but I see how the pressure to succeed in all areas of life, and feeling like you're being judged when your weekly report gives you a sad face, can affect our personal growth and induce feelings of failure. 

This article may inspire me to carry out a healthy lifestyle without the influence of technology, and allow me to set specific limits on what areas of my life should be affected by technology. Speaking of which, I also came across an article this week on Pinterest that said that you will sleep more soundly if you don't look at a screen less than 30 minutes before you go to bed. So there's a weekly tip, and with that I'm signing out.

Hope everyones exams go well.

Until next time,

Amy

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/feb/07/do-we-need-app-to-monitor-premarital-sex

Weekly Report and Reflection Blog Post #4

Hello everyone,

This week I would like to reflect upon an article that caught my eye on my reader this evening. It was published by the Huffington Post and titled, "New Study Finds Link Between Children of Divorce and Obesity". Naturally, this sparked some interest for me, as my parents are no longer together. It turns out that Norwegian scientists studied 3166 third graders based on their weight and the marital status of their biological parents. The results were astonishing: children of divorce are apparently 54 percent more likely to be what is considered "generally overweight"  and have an 89 percent greater chance of abdominal obesity than children whose parents are together.
While these results seem rather large, I suspect that there is some third variable influence in this case- but maybe I'm biased. Not only in my (clearly unprofessional) opinion do all kids go through a "fat stage" (see below), I also strongly believe that if that is not the root cause of this large difference, it may be due to an unbalanced routine or even hereditary thyroid issue. In any case, I'm not sure I can back the researchers on this one. And what's with all the fat shaming.

(Okay, I was maybe a bit larger than most)

This week I also learned about the usefulness of bookmarking items of interest using various web tools. On a program called Diigo, I was able to add various resources to a list and provide "tags" and descriptions as an efficient way of organizing my web-related thoughts, so to speak. I'm generally a pretty simple person when it comes to computer usage, and the idea of bookmarking had never occurred to me. If I wanted to read a blog, I would try to remember it and type it into google. If I wanted an academic resource, I would search it in an e-library. If I had come across something interesting and wanted to share the idea with somebody, I would summarize it to the best of my ability. The bookmark tools take me to another level. I can now send people my saved links, I can find things based on their tags, and all of my favourite resources are in a nice online folder *happy sigh*.  No longer do I lose my place when I log off, and no longer must I aggressively search for the source I argued that undoubtedly proves my point. Life is good.

I also discovered a curation tool called Google Alerts this evening. It is kind of like bookmarks but better. It provides you a broad range of topics, all in nice little categories for your choosing convenience, and then provides you with alerts (clever) that inform you when something has been posted on that topic. This would be a useful tool for anyone who is not particular savvy, as you can access all of your interests in one place, and it provides organization to your online presence. My boyfriend's father, because he is obsessed with fishing, and is on an endless search for the next big idea about how to catch the big one. Perhaps this would stop him from calling me asking about how to use the internet. :)

These new tools I have discovered could easily be incorporated into my PLE that I created in Week 2, and would probably fall under a cross between entertainment and academic-type resources. These tools are shaping me as a digital citizen in that I now have the capacity to stay better informed about my topics of interest, and thus can form an educated opinion on matters of importance.

Until next week folks,

Amy

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/05/obesity-and-divorce_n_5454453.html

Weekly Reflection Post #3

Hello everyone,

I would like to formally welcome you to my second post of the night, where I will be summarizing yet another article that my fabulous Feedly has brought to my attention. While not quite as light and happy as Ted's achievements, this message is a gripping one, and perhaps one that we are still all too familiar with in the twentieth century. You may recall my previous post regarding RSS, and what a wonderful tool it can be to have the world (or at least your world) at your fingertips, and that claim is not lost on this editorial.

And now, without further ado, let me introduce you to.......(drumroll please)......... modern-day racism and blatant discrimination in the film industry!
And.... the crowd goes silent.
While not at all shocking to most, the article my reader presented to me this evening by the New York Times has captured a reality that is both dismal and alive for too many wonderful, talented individuals. The piece discussed a recent protest that had taken place as a result of there being exclusively Caucasian nominees for the Oscar acting awards for two consecutive years. While the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made what they declared to be "radical" changes, claiming a goal to double the number of women and minority group members by 2020, Oscar balloting has yet to be discussed by the governing board.

While not necessarily an educational resource, this piece, as well as many New York Times articles has provided me with a message that I often consider to be infinitely more valuable than "Study Tips That Will Change Your Academic Career"-type posts, as I truly believe that interacting with real-world issues will change your life, and maybe even the world. I'm a bit dramatic, sure, but you can't help if you don't know what's wrong, and staying informed puts you one step closer to being able to address major issues in a profound way.

This article in particular reminded me that equality is still a fight, and women and minority members are still an afterthought. The very fact that an entire governing board of professionals has had to set a goal to make things fair proves to me that the system, our system, is corrupt. White-washing, which is the use of a white individual in movie productions to play a culturally diverse part, is just one example of this prejudice. Many individuals have been overlooked, forgotten and shunned in the film industry because of the colour of their skin, or their gender, and this modern-day discrimination has an effect that is lethal. Like a wolf in sheep's clothing, industries mask their distaste for minorities and women by putting a smile on their faces while they stab them in the back.

Get a feedly, get informed and involved!

Until next time,
-Amy

To read the article, click below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/23/business/media/oscars-diversity-academy-voting-rules.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

My Experience With RSS Feeds

Hello everyone!

I hope this week was as good to you as it was to me.
Well, by now I'm sure you've caught on to the theme of these posts, so I'm just going to jump right into the hard stuff.

This week in ADED1P32 we learned about RSS feeds, also known as Rich Site Summary or Real Simple Syndication. But, I'll save you the research and just say that RSS basically means notifications. You know, the kinds of notifications you receive when someone "likes" one of your Instagram photos, or comments on a video you shared of dancing puppies- only functional. These types of notifications are for blogs, or podcasts, or news websites that you keep up with but can't be bothered to check regularly. RSS is an incredible resource for busy individuals, as instead of having to frequently visit your favourite web addresses to see whether any new content has been published, you will be informed when it has so that you can view it at a time which is convenient for you (nifty, huh?).

In browsing my own personal reader this week, I came across an article published by Brock News regarding the discovery of a certain type of lizard called the tegu that creates warm blood for itself during its mating season. Now, normally I would be appalled by reptiles and lizards and basically anything that can live without warmth (why do I live in Canada?), but seeing as this particular creature is not 1) 3-dimensional and 2) is not an unnatural toxic waste colour, I not only respect this little guy (I've decided he should be called tegu Ted), but also would like to know his secret. Additionally, seeing as heat-production is a feature I myself look for in a man, I'm sure this tactic will be very successful with the lady lizards. Tegu Ted, I salute you. 

As you can probably tell, this reader (I use feedly) can be very effective in exposing you to content that you would normally not engage with and that will undoubtedly impress your parents at the dinner table. I would probably not have come across Tegu Ted on my Facebook newsfeed, for example. Online readers are a great way to keep up on current news and your favourite blog posts, and the podcasts you can access through it can be a great alternative to the rap you listen to on your way to school in the morning. But then again, anything is. 

Until next week at approximately 11:59 p.m., 

Amy 

P.S. Don't be embarrassed about the dancing puppies. In fact, I think something's wrong with anyone who doesn't delight in freakish fluffy shenanigans.

P.P.S. Heat-production is not actually a feature I look for in a man.

P.P.P.S. To learn more about Tegu Ted's time in the spotlight, click below!

http://www.brocku.ca/brock-news/2016/01/new-brock-led-research-discovers-lizard-that-creates-body-heat/

Media delivery, almost as good as pizza delivery... Almost.

Ted, you're being a little obvious, don't you think?

Weekly Reflection Post #2- PLEs, Wordles and Life Goals, Oh My!

Good evening everyone,

I hope you had a fabulous weekend and are settling down with some hot chocolate and fuzzy pajamas right about now, mentally preparing yourself for another work/school week.

In case you were wondering, my week was an all-over successful one; my first ever Polaroid camera came in the mail, and I learned about how to increase my academic growth through the proper understanding and use of my Personal Learning Environment (PLE). You can probably guess which one we are going to be talking about today (Hint: It isn’t on Taylor Swift’s most recent album cover).

So, without further ado, let us jump right into what PLEs are all about. A personal learning environment refers to the use of online educational and social tools that allow for the self-regulated enhancement of individualistic and collective learning efforts. It is essentially a digital venue for learners to set and reach goals in a supportive and unrestricted environment, with a flexible schedule. Or, in human words, the applications and programs that people use to build connections and expand knowledge in a digital context.

No two people will have exactly the same PLE, as we not only vary in our interests, but also in our learning styles. For example, some individuals may be frequent “how-to” blog readers, and find that they learn well from written instruction, while others may prefer to watch tutorials on Youtube. In any case, the customizable PLEs encourage interaction within the Personal Learning Network (PLN), the online communities that media users are involved in, as well as provide an ever-expanding source of insight for media users. I have created a diagram of my own PLE on Poplett, and have it displayed below for you to see.

 Holliday, A. CC (2016). 

 As you have probably noticed, I have referenced a wide array of academic resources in my PLE diagram, most of which I consider to be essential tools for my academic maturation. However, while important, those sources alone will not facilitate my personal growth satisfactorily. I have what some may consider high aspirations for the not-so-distant future and as such, require mental and social stimulation of varying degrees. In five to ten years time, I aspire to be established as a (hopefully employed) Clinical Psychologist with a husband and child(ren), as well as have my first book published, which I am currently in the process of writing. For me to accomplish these very optimistic goals, my PLE needs to include a variety of resources that may not apply to many others, such as a Kindle (the more you read, the better you write, right?), and Prezi, which will be important for the creation of vibrant and original class presentations as I progress in my degree. I will also likely need to create a media presence for myself on professional forums such as LinkedIn, and perhaps become a social blogger in order to establish an Internet personality so as to encourage blog followers to read my book.

In order to make such changes, I may need to alter my learning environment and eliminate, or at least lessen distractions. Setting a schedule for how much time I will dedicate to each area of my PLE in a day may produce a more balanced schedule and allow me to focus more deeply on my personal goals. This schedule may also help me to avoid academic issues such as procrastination (did I mention that it’s 11:43 on Sunday night?) and encourage me to limit my Netflix time to one episode of Gilmore Girls per day instead of approximately 44 (just kidding… sort of).

Another important tool we learned about in this week's activities was the function of word clouds. Not only are they an aesthetically pleasing way to present information, they effectively summarize and draw attention to the main concepts of blog posts. I used Wordle for my word cloud as I enjoyed its professional appeal and found it to be easier to use than other generators I had searched online, not to mention the fact that it looks like a foot when it is presented horizontally (coincidence, I think not). Anyways, that's all for this week everyone, I'll catch you next Sunday night!

Holliday, A. CC (2016).

Digital Driver's License -Navigate With Care

The Digital Driver's License (DDL), used to evaluate just how well-versed individuals are in proper online conduct, revealed some startling news to me. I truly believed that I was a well-rounded, functioning social citizen when it came to online forums before taking the exam. I scored an 18/20, which, for all intents and purposes is a good score (a 90% to be exact). But what was particularly surprising about this outcome is not the grade itself, but the areas in which I did poorly: Digital Health and Wellness and Digital Law. Downloading music and television from the Internet has become so integrated in my lifestyle that I have failed to recognize the effects and the implications of engaging in such behaviour. Additionally, I have allowed media to have control over, and interfere with many of my relationships.
Ultimately, this test, and this week's activities have informed me about what being a responsible Digital Citizen really means, and have challenged me to be more cautious and considerate when posting my opinions in an online setting

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Reflection Post- Week 1 "Be Careful What You Click For"

The primary focus of this week's activities is the technological mark we make as humans, referred to as the digital footprint. As the name implies, a digital footprint is essentially the trail an individual leaves on the internet in their lifetime. As such, it can consist of personal correspondence, such as emails, instant messaging, and other forms of social media, as well as posts others make referring to that particular individual. 

Personally, I consider a digital footprint to be functional, if not inevitable. It can be useful in a variety of contexts, both professional and personal, and yield a wide range of social benefits. Programs such as LinkedIn offer individuals an opportunity to present themselves as qualified and polished to prospective employers and as such, provides them with a social connection without the demands of meeting face-to-face. However, what some individuals fail to consider while subconsciously forming their digital footprint, is that employers, relatives and the like often have access to other media outlets in which they are more expressive, and subsequently less discrete. 

While I believe that the Internet should be a forum for self-expression, I feel that it is necessary to adhere to certain social norms when engaging with others online. Albion's "Core Rules for Netiquette" summarizes these standards efficiently, stating that the same rules should apply for online behaviour as do in the 3-dimensional world (Albion, 2011). While values and morals will vary between individuals to a certain extent, I agree with this claim, and believe that it can be beneficial for social media users to consider how they may be perceived by others before posting opinions, as when the wrong things are shared online, there are often very negative implications for the user as well as the subsequent consumers of that message. Asking themselves questions like, "Would my pastor appreciate this?", and "Will my future job prospects overlook me because of this post?" before publishing ideas or arguments on the Internet may reduce such risks. It is not at all uncommon or difficult for employers to search for applicants on social media outlets such as Facebook prior to hiring, as I discovered through completing the Digital Footprint Scavenger Hunt, available at http://handy4class.wikispaces.com/Digital+Footprint+Scavenger+Hunt. When I searched for myself online, my Facebook profile was readily available to whomever may choose to view it, and in fact, my current employer even admitted to doing so before offering me the position at the company.

That being said, not all social media applications necessarily need to be linked to the individual as a member of society. Blogs such as tumblr and Pinterest can allow individuals to adopt an online personality separate from their personal identity. Such outlets facilitate reasonably uninhibited expression, often among strangers, and should be considered as an alternative to Facebook and Twitter for sharing controversial opinions. However, the rules of etiquette should still apply, I believe with particularly attention to the humanity of other users, to avoid cyber-bullying, and make for a safe, comfortable social environment in which people can share their thoughts and opinions with respect for one another. 

Introduction

Hello everyone,

My name is Amy Holliday. First of all, I would like to sincerely welcome you to my blog. I am overjoyed to have been given the opportunity to share some information about technology and its influence on society with you, but before we get into some educational information, I would like to introduce you to who I am, as both a student and as a person. 

Let us start with my roots. I am from a town about three hours North of St. Catharines called Walkerton. Most people recognize the name due to the water crisis, which took place there about 15 years ago. However, despite its reputation, I always look forward to my visits home, and consider myself to be a small town girl. As such, moving away was a challenge of epic proportions for me, and in my first year of post-secondary education, you could often find me crying over burnt dinners and wandering around school feeling lost beyond belief and wondering how I would ever make it out of University alive.

Yet, here I am. I am currently in my second year as a Psychology Major at Brock University. I had originally planned to go into Criminology, but very quickly realized that I neither had the heart nor the stomach for that line of work. I decided that lifting others up was what I was being drawn to, and quickly accepted that a general Psychology degree would be most fitted to my personality. Thus far, the Psychology program at Brock has both challenged me as well as motivated me to reach beyond my perceived limits. 

One such limit is social isolation. I consider myself to be an introvert. I enjoy reading, writing, watching television, Bible journaling, knitting- all activities which do not require feedback from other individuals (my knitted scarves don't usually judge me for missing a stitch). To overcome this obstacle, I chose to step outside of my usual boundaries this year, and became a consultant for Steeped Tea incorporated. This title requires me to present products at social gatherings, advertise on social media, and lead teams of new consultants. The position at Steeped tea, as well as my growing faith has allowed me to become more comfortable in social situations, and thus led to my enrolment in courses which facilitate communication with other students, such as ADED 1P32. Now, instead of being afraid, I am looking forward to seeing what 2016 has in store for me, and am excited to learn more about how technology can change the way I interact with others. So I would like to
thank you for coming along on this journey with me, and I hope that you will learn something valuable from my subsequent blog posts in the next twelve weeks. 

Until next time,

 Amy Holliday