2bloggeddown-blog

[2bloggeddown-blog]

The Digital Divide and Digital Equity

In a society which relies on technology so heavily these days, both availability and accessibility to the internet are essential resources for the majority of the population.  Sadly, it is easier said than done, and providing accommodating access to this technology and digital outlets for all regions and people has become an issue, thus creating what is known as the digital divide.  The issue, discussed by Angelica Pazurek and Solen Feyissa in their article for The SAGE Encyclopedia of Educational Technology, informs readers it is to be understood the concept’s definition and purpose has evolved and shifted over the years due to the implementation of the internet and its expansion in our society.  Originally referring to the right to have equal ownership of products such as telephones and computers, that problem is no longer as important.  With the rise of technology and its impact, ownership is now longer the main issue, but rather it now refers to the accommodation of access to the technologies and programs which come in hand with these products (Pazurek & Feyissa, 2015).

Often brought up in the same conversation when talking about the digital divide is the concept of digital equity, which speaks on fair opportunity to these resources regardless of social status.  In their post from, https://www.benton.org/blog/what-do-we-mean-when-we-say-digital-equity-and-digital-inclusion, the NDIA formally defines digital equity as a vital good which, “ensures all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy, and economy. Digital Equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services" (The National Digital Inclusion Alliance,2016). 

As I have stressed in my writing, technology has virtually become a way of life for us at this point; to be able to have the opportunity to access and be knowledgable of these tools is essential.  The issues I have touched on are a growing concern and are conversations which need to be had.  Personally, as I look to enter the workforce upon my upcoming graduation, my degree in marketing will be heavily influenced by the rise of digital technologies.  As I continue to broaden my understanding of these concepts discussed, it will definitely have an impact on my decisions moving forward, especially if we fail to recognize them as serious issues as a society moving forward.  

[2bloggeddown-blog]

Digital Citizenship and Its Importance in Today’s Education System

As I have stressed the importance of digital literacy in the past, and believe it is a topic all students should be proficient in these days, it leads me into a similar concept which should be acquiring just as much attention in the school systems across America.  Although both concepts may look and sound similar in theory, How I differentiate the two is, digital literacy is the understanding of digital content and how to access this information academically, whereas digital citizenship is being able to acquire this information and effectively and appropriately apply it in your life.  

“A strong understanding of digital citizenship is essential for students of all ages to be able to make smart choices online and in life. Meanwhile, technology is constantly changing and becomes outdated quickly, so there are always new and important skills that must be taught” (Ottesen, 2018).  Julie Ottesen sums up the need for this curriculum perfectly here in this quote from her piece on https://edscoop.com/new-digital-citizenship-curriculum-helps-students-become-responsible-tech-users/, and as we continue to shift into a digitally focused society, it is without a doubt essential that a concept such as digital citizenship is prioritized moving forward with our educational practices.  I have experienced this shift firsthand as I am finishing my final year in college, and wish I would have been exposed to these kinds of courses earlier in my academic career.  Now, more than ever, schools and businesses have put an emphasis on working digitally, and at times it can still be a tough learning curve to get the hang of some programs, despite feeling comfortable in my understanding of technology.  Moreover, I believe that if these type of concepts were covered throughout curriculums earlier in academic careers there would be an immediate impact on students and better prepare them for their futures.  

Moving forward, students are not the only ones who should seek proficiency in digital citizenship, but adults as well.  As seen in her piece here,http://www.josieahlquist.com/2014/01/27/infusing-digital-citizenship-into-higher-education/, even in university setting, Josie Ahlquist notes that many of times this curriculum is taught by students through clubs or teams, but not by a professor.  Obviously noticing a problem she suggests, “higher education administrators who supervise students would need to take the lead in laying expectations and role modeling to students digital citizenship” (Ahlquist, 2014).  Not only do I stress students being given the opportunity to learn these concepts, but adults and educators alike must be able to fully grasp these ideas to ensure our future is well set down the road.  Technology affects everybody these days, and should not be overlooked, no matter your age. 

Looking through a more personal lens, being a business-marketing major, technology and digital marketing have taken over the field by storm and is currently a staple in almost all companies.  The point I am trying to make here is that these concepts matter and as I continue my job search to find a potential career, it would have been a great advantage to be exposed to these ideas earlier in life, rather than jamming them all into my last couple years of school.  Businesses are as accessible and social as ever, and it is important to  have an understanding of digital literacy and citizenship both in the classroom  and business, as noted by Vala Afshar in his Huffington Post article (Afshar, 2013).  

[2bloggeddown-blog]

Social Media & Participatory Culture

HoHenry Jenkins defines participatory culture as a culture, “which embraces the values of diversity and democracy through every aspect of our interactions with each other - one which assumes that we are capable of making decisions, collectively and individually, and that we should have the capacity to express ourselves through a broad range of different forms and practices."(Jenkins, 2016).  Referring to social media, Jenkins shows how the two concepts work hand in hand to create the landscape we see in today’s society.  

As I continue to learn about the importance of digital literacy and the role that social media plays in our current society, another important factor of this concept is what Jenkins has stated above, participation.  As a refresher, digital literacy is basically how we obtain and understand media through digital platforms, such as social media.  But, in order for any of your favorite social media platforms to be able to work, they must have people using, interacting, or participating in whatever it is they offer as a digitally social platform.  For instance, for Instagram to work, they must have x amount of users who want to create a profile and share photos, comment on and like posts, and actively use their platform for it to gain any steam.  Luckily, we are so technologically advanced these days that it is as simple as ever to use these platforms, and allows us to consistently be interacting whenever, wherever.  Moreover, for social media to thrive, there must be actively participating users who are digitally literate and willing to actively use these platforms .  

As someone who has grown up in the ever changing digital landscape we have today, I am definitely an active user of social media platforms.  When I was first introduced to Facebook back in middle school, it was mainly a new place to interact with friends after school ended for the day.  As our technology has continued to advance from then, platforms like this became more relevant with the introduction of smart phones, allowing us to use these sites on the go with our phones. Nowadays, I would say the platforms I consistently use on a regular basis are, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Facebook, and YouTube.  As I have grown older, I have seen my usage of some of these apps go down.  Instead of posting or interacting as much on the more entertainment driven social media sites, most of my time these days is spent on a platform like LinkedIn, which is more business orientated, allowing me to help build my network and further my job search.  

When using these sites, the things we share and post which drive the platforms are called user created content, or UCC for short.  Formally, the textbook defines UCC as, “content produced intentionally by users, usually for the purpose of consumption by other users” (Hinton & Hjorth, 2013).  What makes these platforms so great, is how user driven they are.  They encourage a participatory culture, thus making digital literacy as important as ever.  With how technologically driven our society is today, these sites are necessary, and help further connect our world.  

[2bloggeddown-blog]

Exploring the Human-Technology Relationship

“It's not that we use technology, we live technology.” ~Godfrey Reggio

Whether you like it or not, technology is now embedded into the flow of our current society, and by no means does it look like it is going to change any time soon.  What Reggio is saying, is that we are now so invested in our technology and devices, that we no longer just use and consume it, but live our daily lives through it.  Every year, we continue to break ground with new technological advancements, and day by day these technologies continue to become the norm and basis of how we operate through our daily schedules.  

It is no surprise that the younger generations and millennials are much more proficient and comfortable in social media use.  As they (we) have grown up, these platforms like, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc, have become sort of the norm for interacting with friends and family, without being face to face.  Because we were introduced to this at such a young age and what seems like the perfect timing for these businesses, we were early adopters and got to learn on the go as each platform got bigger and bigger.  Unlike our parents or the older generations, for whom it took much longer for to catch onto and had a steeper learning curve, we were already actively taking advantage of this style of technology and comfortable on the platforms from the get-go.

 As these platforms have become more of a staple in our lives, we have seen an increase in adults creating accounts and actively using them, but still far less than the younger generations, as expected.  When furthering my research on the topic of adults and technology, I noticed that their intake of these platforms is much more varied throughout the sites.  For instance, adults are going to be more active on sites such as Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn; presumably, I think this may be because they can be used in more of a business practice, rather than for entertainment.  

Moreover, it’s hard to deny the fact that technology is in the forefront of our societal landscape, and is a driving force in how we go about our day.  As technology has continued to advance, the outlets for taking advantage of this has also skyrocketed.  No matter who you are, where you are, or how old you may be, we our connected to our technology, and will continue to be for a long time.