Recent Forum Posts
From categories:
page 1123...next »

I must say that my experience with history my junior and senior years of high school in IB classes wasn't this rote, fact memorizing method Shaffer talks about. We learned to look for sources, to compare events and leaders, to look at situations from different perspectives. At the same time, though, even though it wasn't just memorization, there were definite rules to the game of IB History. It seems incredibly difficult to teach someone how to be innovative. Anything you try to teach them will have some rules because every system has rules. Perhaps working WITH simulations, as opposed to memorizing information, which isn't working with anything so much as it is having something imposed on you, can help move a child in the direction of innovation, but it seems like there will still be more rules in a gaming simulation than in the real world.

My project engages the history, perpetuation, and implications of menstrual etiquette. I want to talk about this most taboo topic: women's periods. I think it's arguable that my project fits under Castells' idea of policy change through technology. However, rather than something specific like government policy, the policies I'm trying to challenge are cultural norms. While some cultures and religious traditions have real, enforceable policies on menstrual etiquette, the typical, contemporary experience for a woman in US culture, at least, is not based off rules written anywhere explicitly but an overwhelming silence.

In the same movement, I believe I am attempting to challenge policy using horizontalism. My video consists of 15 college women discussing their experiences of their own periods. It was important to me to do my best not to lead their answers in any way. The point was to give them a space to voice their experience. Each interview spread far beyond that, being more girls to interview or simply more conversations beyond the interview. The thought is that with more men and women discussing the topic, spreading horizontally, the cultural "policies" of silence will change themselves.

In my research, I found hundreds of others talking about the topic and linked to some of their sites. This is similar to the idea of horizontally connecting large numbers of people without the need for a bureaucratic ladder.

I'm using technology to speak up about a topic I've found shrouded in damaging silence. At the same time, with this technological project, I'm reaching out and connecting to others on and offline to do my best to further a movement.

My civic engagement project is to inform people about the model minority myth which entails that Asian Americans have achieved the American dream through hard work and determination without engaging in political or physical confrontation. Castells emphasizes the importance of an educated society. My project begins by analyzing the demographics of Asian Americans and why one might believe in the model minority myth. It shows that when all the subpopulations (Chinese, Korean, Indian, Vietnamese, etc.) are represented under a single homogenous group, their statistics rank higher than the national average in some categories. However, when each individual subpopulation is analyzed, it is apparent that many subgroups fall short in areas such as college education or English proficiency. I also show how the model minority stereotype creates additional stress for Asian Americans because it assumes that all Asian Americans should be academically inclined. My project also supports Castells example of a relationship between technological innovation and social values. Through the use of websites and Youtube videos, I will be able to reach a much broader audience.
Both Juris and Castell state that the people in power have the greatest influence. My civic engagement gives a couple examples of this such as how in the year 2000 when John Mccain stated, “I hate the gooks, I will hate them as long as I live”. You would think someone with so much influential power would refrain from saying statements such as these since it may be politically detrimental. The fact that he still had so many supporters during the 2008 election shows that his use of racial slurs was simply a minute character flaw. I also post pictures of Time and Newsweek magazines that lead their readers into believing the model minority myth. Juris is also interested in the “opportunity for small groups” to use network technology, which is exactly what my website is trying to do. Asian Americans nationwide are affected by the model minority stereotype so that on its own promotes assimilation.

My civic engagement is on a term called timesizing. It is the idea that we should be shrinking our workweek in order to create more jobs and less stress in American individuals. Such a notion would go under “horizontal expansion,” a mass movement based on common interests, values and goals. A “shared growth” through timesizing in our economy has the potential to reverse our current downward spiral.

Timesizing is based off ideas from Korean netizens (organizing with organizations). We already have unions and businesses in place. What is needed is a spark across the nation. There are a people who have started this movement already. Ron Healey and his son Nicholas are management consultants in Indiana who sell their 30/40 Plan to regional business and industry they key on the plastics industry. "30/40" indicates 30 hours work for 40 hours pay, attractive to companies and industries that have been having difficulty finding quality employees on the usual 40/40 basis. In theory, workers will want to work for one company over another if they can work for less and receive the same pay. This allows the company using the 30/40 plan to pick the best employees for their business. This is also attractive to potential employees who can't handle an eight-hour day, but could handle a six-hour day, especially if it offers full pay and benefits. A majority of American works would like to see a shorter work week. I’m willing to bet the rest of those voters only want a long work week because they need the full pay. Both of these can be accomplished by lowering required work hours while keeping benefits.

“School is a game in which what it means to know something is to be able to answer specific kinds of questions on specific kinds of tests” (37).

Shaffer’s example of the debating game is an excellent way to examine the dilemma of “thinking like a historian.” The key difference that students need to get experience is the transition from reading facts, to experiencing what was read. Actually acting out scenarios allows students to experience what happened in history. “Characterized as hard fun: the kind of fun you have when you work on something really difficult, something that you care about, and finally master it" (21). This aspect is lost in students today.

Chapter five looks at having students prepare for the real world by being able to have the same mindset as someone in that specific field. Full Spectrum Warrior is a game based on U.S. army training. In order to win, one has to think and act like a modern soldier. Once those actions are complete, the mission of successfully destroying targets can be completed. Games like these produce a great base for when students enter the real world. Students realize what is "justified and how to justify action within the profession." The ability to understand a situation or how to address a problem goes a long way compared to learning exact facts of the business.

The first game I played was crayon physics. The first 20 minutes were very basic and simple. However, after a while it took longer to figure out how to complete tasks. The hard part was understanding how to use the new “tools” they give you, and to draw them in the correct dimensions. Basic physics and gravity were the only aspects to this game, but it was still very entertaining. Schaffer’s aspects of gaming fall along crayon physics as a “learning by dong” tool.

The McDonald’s game was much more complex than crayon physics. Having to control all the aspects of the corporation was surprisingly difficult when I started. I didn’t expect the game to be that detailed and broad. It was interesting to see what the game designers were trying to get you to see in multimillion dollar corporations. Terdiman's writings talk about these "anti-advergames," and how they show the true aspects of American big businesses. A stereo typical McDonald’s games would only have the register / kitchen interaction. Trying to keep up with order and keep the customers happy. The McDonald’s game really opened my eyes to how much effort and cover up is going on in the fast-food industry.

I played the “Killer Flu Game” which was quite fun. The game teaches players how viruses affect the population. How strands mutate and infect local citizens. As the gamer you can spread the virus by sending infected people to school or work. There is a tradeoff between increasing the sick and spreading the virus. If you wait too long, people begin to become immune. Games like this can give the industry a bad name. the whole point is to infect as many people as you can, which in real life would be a terrible thing. But at the same time players are learning how viruses and interactions work while still having fun. Gee explains this as players not just learning the words; but learning how to use them and how these words function in different situations.

Drawbacks come from overuse and over confidence of video games. Many students explain write about games not mimicking real world, and as a result, gamers wouldn’t know what to do in a given situation. Such scenarios could only happen in extreme conditions when people only learn from playing games, and such a notion is very unlikely. We learn every day, through every interaction without knowing it. Simulations create a new perspective for learning and interaction. But these simulations are simply another leaning tool, not THE learning tool. Video games are built on a set of rules, so their capabilities are not endless. A simulation game is just that, a simulation. It is not meant to fill in real life interactions, but rather present scenarios that get people to reason and learn in order to have a another learning aspect.

The positive aspects of “value-laden” experiences in gaming provide great opportunities for learning, but the reason they work is because people want to play them. I worry that designers will continue to pack in “value-laden” experiences which results in the game not being any fun. All of a sudden the positives of simulations will be mute because no one will want to play them. There needs to be a balance between a fun game and “value-laden” experiences.

Gee's model of thinking as the simulation of a complex system is a great model for our hypertexts. One point of a hypertext is to get people to experience the same information in a different medium hopefully broadening their learning on a given subject. Adding embedded links to internal and external sites forces readers to not only read the material, but interact with it.

In many ways we are responsible for it yet those who create the technology are as much at fault as we are. Our would is a quickly evolving sphere, it is survival of the fittest, most convient, and widely accessible. I personally read both the paper and the internet news but mostly the internet.

Many of the different services offered on the internet ( including virtual worlds such as second life) are continuously monitored but have servers which can easily be hacked into allowing hackers to do as they please. It is difficult to locate hackers and their IP address certain steps must be taken to even begin to find a hacker. Due to the lengthy process in locating a hacker it again makes it difficult to apply punishment to those who break the rules. As kms 517 says there really isn't a way to keep you out; even if you aren't a pro hacker.

Some things about a teens life should definitely be revealed to their parents. Teens are still learning and still make some choices which are a bit questionable and should have parental guidance. This guidance should have a limit though. Every single detail does not need to be reveled to one's parents.

Re: Technology and Privacy by 15906641590664, 12 Jun 2009 07:00

These social networking sites are created to connect with those who are distant or even close. People do update their moves because that is what these sites are for, updating those who are not with you and keeping in contact with those who may be out of the loop. Some people post so much because they want to feel they belong, they want to know someone cares ( or on a harsher note they want to believe someone cares and usually someone does!). Other people just live for the gossip that is displayed on these pages. People just want to feel like they are in the loop.

Re: Social Visibility by 15906641590664, 12 Jun 2009 06:57

Someone has to put all the material together as well as create all the lessons. Teachers are valuable in so many ways. they not only teach the required curriculum but also life lessons. Teachers all have their own ways of approaching different matters, subjects and students. Online classes even require an instructor despite the different environment/ method of teaching.

Like most everything that was once a vital in the lives of those who lived before us I think print will slowly be phased out almost completely with a few exceptions. Most of what is available in print is already available in the virtual world ( i.e. journals, news, recipes, dictionaries, business and personal listings, letters, photos, books in general [ eBooks and Amazon's Kendal] ect.). Having some documents in print will always seem to be stronger than virtual copies such as loans, leases and other legal issues. Print also has it's benefits of not only the physical aspect but also reliability. As someone mentioned before print is usually more reliable over the popular virtual media. It is also very easy to lose virtual media in a computer failure or something of the sort.

Amateurs will technically will always replace the professionals Like many things in life you have to start at the bottom and strive to work with the professionals eventually replace the former pros. Yet it seems that more and more amateurs are popping up on the scene making it increasingly difficult for professionals to obtain jobs and deals. It is so easy for anyone to make professional quality images and stories with all the resources available to our society. In many ways amateurs do pose a threat to the professionals.

It seems that we do tend to really reveal a vast amount of our lives on these networking sites even if it is about our breakfast. Many of these sites do seem to consume so much of our time I recall reading an article which mentioned that college students involved with these networking groups tend to have a lower GPA. These sites are not only documenting our lives but they are some people's lives! It seems that they are great for documenting events, emotions and everyday lifestyles which can be great for historians and future generation in due time. Everyone can learn from our successes and consequences from a very personal level. The mass media such as newspapers, magazines, videos, and other multimedia resources will not be the only documentation of our lives.

Re: A Digital Legacy by 15906641590664, 12 Jun 2009 06:51

My civic engagement hypertext will focus on athletics and higher education at the undergraduate level. More specifically, I will address how varsity athletes are recruited to come to a school with their priorities set with sports instead of education. I will base a lot of information on my own experience of being a varsity athlete and having to forgo a normal university student's lifestyle in order to perform at peak performance at my sport. Going off this idea, I will also discuss topics surrounding how schools are positively and negatively affected by sports and the public's perspective of a university based on sports teams.

Although I'm not sure if my hypertext will deal at all with policy, the thing I take away most from Castells is his focus on education. Castells makes it very clear that he believes the school system must change in order for the new "values-rooted" worker he proposes to exist. Although athletes may value education, the demands from their sport, coaches, and peers may not allow them to attain the level of learning they might wish to. Without significant time and effort devoted to their education, these athletes will be unable to earn an education surrounding creativity and innovation, which Castells says is the most important in creating social change. Rather, assuming athletes graduate, (which less than 50% do) they will receive an education that is unlike what Castells deems necessary for the benefit of our society and the network society.

Juris's discussion of horizontal politics as opposed to vertical politics was particularly inspiring to me. After following the last presidential election and trying to keep up with the political scene recently, the stories covered in the media are often times frustratingly tedious, petty and socially irrelevant. I hope network technology can change this like he states. The more power activists are given, the more positive social change becomes possible. Anyways, in relation to my hypertext, I see my site being a source of awareness rather than political. Through Juris's idea of horizontal consuption, if enough people feel a connection to the values and issue I address, a supported movement could spread. I believe so many people are engulfed in the entertainment of college sports that they never remotely think about the athlete's lives as a university student. My goal is to provide information from this perspective as well as other perspectives surrounding the university and their sports' programs. While I'm not trying to start a grassroots movement like Juris talks about, if enough people feel engaged in my topic, hopefully word and awareness can spread.

My civic engagement project has to do with medical volunteering and how medical teams across the world are in need of non-medical skilled professionals / students to join their teams to promote awareness about the disease. I am using the infectious eye disease Trachoma as an example and case study. There are many people out there that want to volunteer to go on medical volunteering trips but are sometimes intimidated to join because of their lack of medical experience. They should not be intimidated at all! With respect to Trachoma, there are many types of individuals that would greatly enhance the rate at which awareness and prevention can be spread throughout disease-stricken areas. Teachers can participate by teaching their students how to wash their hands properly to prevent the spread of the disease from person-to-person. Construction workers are especially needed to build latrines and wells so that villagers have access to water at least within a mile of their homes and that they can have clean water at that as well. Any type of graphic designers are welcomed as well, as their talent can aid in the murals and posters that can be distributed around the villages showing how to effectively stop the spread of the disease from person to person. Prevention is as important as treatment and volunteers who can aid in any way can join.

My video will be a PSA that will be a "call to action" for people to join the Trachoma medical teams in action right now. I will speak to undergraduate students, artists, radio broadcasters, contruction workers, t-shirt makers, soap makers, and any other profession I can think of that can contribute.

When I think about my project, I immediately think about Juris' paper about how technological advancements have contributed to global activism. I don't think I am trying to necessarily "change policies", but I am definitely trying to change the public's mindset about the medical volunteering field. Ultimately, the change I am pursuing is one that opens opportunities in people's minds—that they have the ability to think about these new opportunities in a different light. I want people to realize that they can indeed join medical teams and should not be intimidated. It is only advantageous that we all select different paths in our lives but that we can all come together to use those skills for the betterment of society. This is my activist goal. I hope that when people read and look through my hypertext, they become more aware about the disease, as it is not really talked about here in the United States. I am definitely trying to spread the word about it in a horizontal fashion, trying to reach as many types of people as possible.

I really liked Juris' articles and the topic of the differences and diversity between actors in these justice movements are used as a binding agent in forming movements and the many protests he mentions. People become apart of justice movements and protests for many different reasons and agendas, and this is due to the belief that within justice movements there is an aspect, goal, or central principle that is shared by each individual within the movement and network.
This directly correlates to our civic engagement hypertext. My topic of the financial crisis and college graduated employment does not speak or touch everyone on this earth, but there has to be at least one aspect of this problem that does grab a fairly large amount of people. If it is not just college graduates, its those what have unfortunately been a subject to the financial crisis with the loss of a job or the loss of money, etc….
I also like the fact that Juris proclaims himself as an ethnographer and activist. Me being an anthropologist, much of what Juris has to say directly correlates to what I have been studying these last four years. Being an active part of a movement and at the same time observing and researching movements is a direction anthropology is going in and I take pride in that.

Here is what I hope is my concluding post.
With all of the talking we've been doing about people having access to most anything, being able to do most anything, the wonders and resources of the Internet, I think that my focus is mostly on trying to remind everyone that with all of this information running free, we have to be careful about what we let matter to us. Being connected in the way that Juris describes in important, but we need to recognize what we're in a position to create something that is bigger than all of us. I am using reality TV as the model, because I can look at the way that our culture has changed with the development of technology and how television has changed with reality TV. If we are interested in the future, we will work to find new ways to educate everyone to manage the wealth of what is in front of us in the form of technology. Basic values, such as respect, thoughtfulness, family, education, etc. may or may not be preserved as we continue in a world of increased independence and ease of access to anything we need. Certainly, networking allows us to connect with others, but as some of my readings note, children are learning more from their peers and from technology than they are from their parents. Change may be good, but not all good, and in this case we need to pay attention to where the changes are occurring and what the consequences of such a change might be. If there is a noticeable gap in the way that my brother and I grew up, and us only being a few years apart, one can estimate the gap between children and their parents, and children and their grandparents. This threatens the family model of closeness and dependence, connection and respect, communication and close relationships, which has been a treasured part of communities and family groups. I am refining how I will tackle this project, but remembering that network societies cannot take the place of real societies is critical. Additionally, Juris provides good examples of how networked societies can be used to make real changes in society, progressing towards a better world as opposed to using the networking capabilities unthinkingly and for negative reasons. Without the ability to network, massive social changes could not occur and would not be making the changes in the world that can only occur as the result of a massive group movement. This movement being in the right direction demonstrates that a meeting of minds can reinforce the values that society needs to continue to be a true community. Responsible citizens actively maintain the community they live in, and networking improves this capability.

My civic engagement hypertext is about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. It's a very personal topic for me because my mom had cancer my junior year of high school, and I also feel that not enough girls my age, around the world, have the resources and knowledge about the importance of mammograms and such. As I read Juris's piece, I realized that it did apply to my topic. His comment that "global justice movements are global" struck me because of the inconsistency to which that idea has been implemented worldwide. Thinking about my topic personally, we still have a long way to go in the education about breast cancer awareness. At this point, his point, "Some have objected that these movements are restricted to middleclass youths with Internet connections and resources to travel. This is largely true for direct action-oriented sectors, which tend to be youth-based and located in major or secondary “global cities” (Sassen, 1991), along important transnational trajectories of power." makes a lot of sense because the money simply isn't there in a lot of the developing countries to give them the accessibility to the doctors and technology they need. As spoken about in all three readings, we are truly in the process of a social transformation, and have been in one for a long time. This social transformation has both positive and negative aspects, thinking about the growth of the media (in strength) and their ability to rationalize what will and will not be shown on the different networks. This has definitely affected how the media portrays illnesses like cancer. It can be done tastefull and it can also be sensationalized and overdone.
I would love to be a part of the change in perception and ideas about breast cancer. I think it has to come from below, building those groups who can go to Washington or to their local governments to ask for more money for research. Breast cancer is one of the top killers of women, and the age of women getting diagnosed is getting younger and now. Now that my mom has had cancer, my chances of getting it, along with my sisters, has more than doubled. I would love to be a part of the group who puts Juris's ideas about the grassroots movements into action

page 1123...next »
Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License