If I was to recommend a book about using social media Netsmart is the one to read. It’s for people who want to go deeper and integrate physical and virtual lives. In only 3 chapters this book has been an excellent guide for how to be a digitally meaningful user of all the technologies we have available to us now...

 

“The good news is that learning to participate effectively online (like learning attention and crap-detection skills) is a matter of mind-set and practice— and the payoff can be big. Knowledgeable online participation can help you land a job, find a mate, organize a movement, or sell a product or service. As citizens, professionals, and consumers, we hit it big, manage to get by, or fail utterly in large part because of our ability to connect and converse with others by way of digital networks, from LinkedIn to eHarmony. It isn’t all about individual advantage. Done mindfully, digital participation helps build a more democratic, more diverse culture— a participatory one.” (Rheingold, 114)

 

This quote from Chapter 3 thoroughly explains my true inner feelings toward digital learning. People everyday are using devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops to create and find meaning in the virtual world. In the online world you are giving boatloads of information from various different sources. As users, we are expected to weed out the crap and use the vital information to help us excel and ultimately make ourselves better and find what we are looking for. Whether it’s connecting with others on social medias or participating in free advertising by blogging your thoughts and ideas, the world wide web is an extravagant tool with endless amounts of data. Sometimes, the process of actually learning effectively online is frustrating because even when you find what you are looking for, there are broad interpretations of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After watching the Youtube video “What is Blended Learning - from the Learning Accelerator” I couldn’t agree more with the fact that blended learning is absolutely the way to go in this thriving 21st century world. When I was in high school there was no such thing as learning online whether it was classwork, homework etc. I dreaded going to school and having to listen to my teachers talk for 8 hours a day. Nothing about being in a lecture with 30 other lifeless students was appeasing to me. Now, with blended learning students can move around not be stuck in the same spot for hours. They are getting individual attention and instant feedback on their work. Instead of waiting for days to get test scores back, they are immediately notified of what they need to improve and take those steps to do so. This allows more reflection on both ends for the student and the teacher. When you're able to critically think independently, blended learning provides more of an active experience rather than a passive experience.

 

I am undoubtably applying ideas and concepts from this course in my own life. A few of my girlfriends are in our class and COM 410 is always a topic of conversation whenever we see one another. We talk about our work for the week and bounce ideas between all of us. We help each other with blog posts, twitter replies etc. This is great because not many classes come up in conversation between us. I’ve always had the CNN app on my phone but upon joining this class I tend to find myself using it more and searching for more of the information I want. I also find myself on my twitter handle made specifically for this class rather than my private one I use with my friends. The layout combining individual online work as well as our “Google Hangout” session every Wednesday ensures that my work is completed and I am prepared for the next class. Before I began this class I had not the slightest clue what a “Google Hangout” was. Now, its the coolest class I have all week and I look forward to meeting and hearing what everyone has to contribute. I still find the Flipgrid posts awkward but nonetheless I’m always interested with what my peers have to say. I’m not exactly the biggest fan of recording myself and then repeating it back and hearing my own voice. I’m into more of a free flowing speaking environment and not one thats so rehearsed. I do not have a problem asking questions or for constructive feedback when we are in our hangout every week. I tend to find myself blurting out questions and responses the same amount if not more than others! I’m looking forward to the next 3 months of class and what exciting new information about creating an online presence we are going to be absorbing. This is my favorite class right now and I’m not just saying that for brownie points..I love being ahead of the game and COM410 is teaching me how to promote myself on all sorts of digital platforms.