Discussion Note: This week you will complete EITHER Discussion A or Discussion B. Discussion A: Important Technology Most jobs involve interaction with technology in some form. Police officers have computers in their squad cars, nurses enter your blood pressure and pulse into electronic files, and waitresses swipe credit cards at the table with smart phones. Twenty years ago, none of that was possible. Is there a profession in which some form of technology is not used? Technological innovations continue to invade nearly every aspect of our lives. George Orwell‘s prediction of “ubiquitous surveillance” may have come true. Not only can you track someone’s whereabouts with multiple technologies. Additionally, to marketing researchers armed with powerful tracking technology, you are becoming what you buy. Profiles track a range of human habits, the website you search triggers border advertisements luring us into related websites and content. The purchases you make produce coupons specific to you and your purchase history. Some of these events might be beneficial to your wallet-but how might this technology raise concerns about how are online movements are being tracked and by whom? Graphic Credit: Wikimedia Commons (2010, May 21). Map of television ownership [Infographic]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_television_ownership.svg As global is becoming increasingly local, human beings are able to view, review, and react to events happening in real time half way around the globe. In the United States, 90% of homes have televisions. Is technology a good measure of progress? You have discussed how technology changes the human experience. Work is a human endeavor that has been radically altered by helpful machines. From assembly lines to call centers, our work is tied to technology. Often, you are monitored by technology, number of customer interactions, emails sent, and keystrokes on the computer. Technology itself is work as anyone with an Information Technology department can attest. This week you will discuss your human helpmates: machines. Use the Week 4 Notes and Readings in your response. Consider technology that you consider intrusive. This could be your cell phone or computer. Both can be used for good or for evil. How does increased access to technology enhance your work life? How has increased interaction with technology complicated your work life? To prepare for the Discussion: Return to the Week 1 Check Your Tech Home Technology Inventory document. Can you classify the technology you use into categories? Think of the many uses of technology presented this week and others you might know, especially those that track you in some way. Consider how your personal and professional perspectives might influence your attitudes about technology. Evaluate (by interviewing people or online searching) the types and extent of technology used in your profession. Determine how the use of technology is changing in your field of study. By Day 3 Post a response (at least 200–300 words) to the following prompt: We are more connected and dependent on our technology than ever before. In Week 2’s Reading, Thoreau chose to live at Walden Pond without any of the modern conveniences of his time for a while. Do you think you could be completely disconnected from any type of modern technology? Would there be benefits to disconnecting? Is there a specific technology or gadget that you use in your personal life that you could not live without? Could you do your current job without technology? Why or why not? Read two or more of your classmate’s posts. By Day 5 Respond by sharing insights you have about the technologies mentioned by two or more of your colleagues or alleviate their fears about the new technologies. Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your classmates made. Remember to return to the classroom in a few days, to check the Grade Center for Instructor comments and your grade. Prompt B: Technology Takes Sides In a world of social networking, Instagrams, Twitter, Pinterest, instant messaging, and Facebook, technology can help spread the word. These networks can organize and mobilize individuals from around the globe, sometimes for political or humanitarian purposes. World perspectives on local events can help shape response, action, and policy. Have you used technology or social media to learn about or share information about an event? In this Discussion you will analyze the role of technology in global events, using this week’s Learning Resources and Week 4 Notes and Readings. To prepare for the Discussion: Consider the following: Do you follow people on Twitter? Do you tweet, use Pinterest, Facebook, or instant message your friends? How often? Revisit the “Tweeting Towards Freedom” article in this week’s Notes and Readings. Consider if there a downside to have so much access? Identify an example of how new communication technologies have had an impact on the world stage and the impact it made. Consider how the immediacy of communication can impact the spread of information about world events-both good and bad. By Day 3 Post a response (at least 200–300 words) to the following prompt: Not long ago, we had to wait for the evening news or morning newspaper to find out what happened in the world. In today’s technological world we have instantaneous access to global events. Some believe that the nature of instantaneous access to global events has strong political impact. Select a current event happening in the world or your community. Describe the event, why you picked it, and explain how technology played a role in the way the news of this event spread. Discuss the benefits and downside of having so much access to local and world news. Read two or more of your classmate’s posts. By Day 5 Respond by sharing additional insights into the context of the world event or giving a different view to two or more of your classmates. Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your classmates made. Remember to return to the classroom in a few days, to check the Grade Center for Instructor comments and your grade. To complete your Discussion this week, select the Post to Discussion link. Then, select the corresponding thread: To respond to Discussion 1, select Discussion A – Week 4.
Note: This week you will complete EITHER Discussion A or Discussion B.
Most jobs involve interaction with technology in some form. Police officers have computers in their squad cars, nurses enter your blood pressure and pulse into electronic files, and waitresses swipe credit cards at the table with smart phones. Twenty years ago, none of that was possible. Is there a profession in which some form of technology is not used?
Technological innovations continue to invade nearly every aspect of our lives. George Orwell‘s prediction of “ubiquitous surveillance” may have come true. Not only can you track someone’s whereabouts with multiple technologies. Additionally, to marketing researchers armed with powerful tracking technology, you are becoming what you buy. Profiles track a range of human habits, the website you search triggers border advertisements luring us into related websites and content. The purchases you make produce coupons specific to you and your purchase history. Some of these events might be beneficial to your wallet-but how might this technology raise concerns about how are online movements are being tracked and by whom?
Graphic Credit: Wikimedia Commons (2010, May 21). Map of television ownership [Infographic]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_television_ownership.svg
As global is becoming increasingly local, human beings are able to view, review, and react to events happening in real time half way around the globe. In the United States, 90% of homes have televisions. Is technology a good measure of progress? You have discussed how technology changes the human experience. Work is a human endeavor that has been radically altered by helpful machines. From assembly lines to call centers, our work is tied to technology. Often, you are monitored by technology, number of customer interactions, emails sent, and keystrokes on the computer. Technology itself is work as anyone with an Information Technology department can attest.
This week you will discuss your human helpmates: machines. Use the Week 4 Notes and Readings in your response. Consider technology that you consider intrusive. This could be your cell phone or computer. Both can be used for good or for evil. How does increased access to technology enhance your work life? How has increased interaction with technology complicated your work life?
To prepare for the Discussion:
Post a response (at least 200–300 words) to the following prompt:
We are more connected and dependent on our technology than ever before. In Week 2’s Reading, Thoreau chose to live at Walden Pond without any of the modern conveniences of his time for a while.
Do you think you could be completely disconnected from any type of modern technology? Would there be benefits to disconnecting? Is there a specific technology or gadget that you use in your personal life that you could not live without? Could you do your current job without technology? Why or why not?
Read two or more of your classmate’s posts.
Respond by sharing insights you have about the technologies mentioned by two or more of your colleagues or alleviate their fears about the new technologies.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your classmates made.
Remember to return to the classroom in a few days, to check the Grade Center for Instructor comments and your grade.
In a world of social networking, Instagrams, Twitter, Pinterest, instant messaging, and Facebook, technology can help spread the word. These networks can organize and mobilize individuals from around the globe, sometimes for political or humanitarian purposes. World perspectives on local events can help shape response, action, and policy. Have you used technology or social media to learn about or share information about an event?
In this Discussion you will analyze the role of technology in global events, using this week’s Learning Resources and Week 4 Notes and Readings.
To prepare for the Discussion:
Consider the following:
Post a response (at least 200–300 words) to the following prompt:
Not long ago, we had to wait for the evening news or morning newspaper to find out what happened in the world. In today’s technological world we have instantaneous access to global events. Some believe that the nature of instantaneous access to global events has strong political impact.
Select a current event happening in the world or your community. Describe the event, why you picked it, and explain how technology played a role in the way the news of this event spread. Discuss the benefits and downside of having so much access to local and world news.
Read two or more of your classmate’s posts.
Respond by sharing additional insights into the context of the world event or giving a different view to two or more of your classmates.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your classmates made.
Remember to return to the classroom in a few days, to check the Grade Center for Instructor comments and your grade.
To complete your Discussion this week, select the Post to Discussion link. Then, select the corresponding thread:
It is fitting that in a course about living in a world filled with technology, your competency and knowledge regarding technology would be assessed. This week, you will take two Self-Assessments: Technology Competency and Technology Knowledge.. The two technology Self-Assessments take about 5–10 minutes to complete. Understanding your results can inform your answers to Discussion and Assignments.
About the Self-Assessments:
Note: You receive points in this course for completing the self-assessments, but your score on the self-assessments themselves do not count toward your grade in this or any future course; rather, your score will allow you to have a productive dialogue with your Academic Advisor about a customized course sequence that will best support your success in your studies.
To prepare for the Self-Assessments:
Complete the Technology Comprehension and Technology Knowledge checks. Review your results, noting your strengths and the areas you might want to improve.
To complete the Technology Self-Assessment:
We do not learn from experience…we learn from reflecting on experience.
―John Dewey, 1916, Philosopher and Educator
As an adult, you bring so much life experience into the classroom, the connections between the life you’ve lived and the things you’ve learned are made through the process of reflection. Some of you might picture reflection as a time where you are seated comfortably, and your mind is free of all other thoughts. The truth is that life affords few opportunities to actually reflect and dwell on learning. The great part of being an adult in college is that you will be exposed to new voices, images, and ideas. Reflection might not be a deliberate act of sitting silently, but instead, you might find that ideas come to you while you are driving or shampooing or petting the dog. Reflection allows your mind to make the explicit connections between your lived experience and the academic content that you will encounter here at Walden.
This week you will begin a draft of the Week 6 Reflection Assignment using your weekly journal entries, your self-assessment scores, insights you’ve gained about what you need to be successful as a learner as you move through your program and this technological world, and by reviewing everything you have done and learned so far in this course to inform your written narrative. The purpose of this assignment is to reflect on your journey over the past few weeks and in this course.
To prepare for the Assignment:
Assignment Instructions:
Submit a 2- to 3-page rough draft of your Reflection Assignment.
Assignment Instructions:
As mentioned above, you are working through a writing process where you will compose the first draft of the Reflection Assignment paper. This week you will begin with actually writing and submitting a rough draft.
During Week 6, you’ll be guided through a revisions and proofreading process that will help you further develop and improve your rough draft by adding more thoughts, incorporating any feedback received, and ensuring you’ve followed Academic Writing Expectations. Your final draft will be due at the end of Week 6.
The required elements for both weeks are the same, but the expectations are slightly different. The grading rubrics for Weeks 4 and 6 demonstrate this. For example, this week’s rough draft represents a first attempt at putting your thoughts down on paper and only covers four weeks. By Week 6, your final paper should be longer, include obvious improvements to the rough draft, and include aspects from the entire six weeks.
Your paper should include four sections. Be sure to review all four sections before starting. Remember to include an introductory and a concluding paragraph, and to support your ideas with specific examples and resources whenever possible.
Include the following parts:
Part 1: Today I am…
The first and longest section of your essay should describe who you are today as a result of this first-term course and starting your educational journey. Specifically consider your personal plan for success at Walden. Answer these questions to develop this section:
Think about some of the course themes and big ideas we discussed and connect them to the way you will approach learning and future classes.
Make sure to get specific and point to course examples to support your ideas.
Part 2: I promise to…
In the second section, make a promise to yourself and the classmates who might need your support during the program. Think about your reasons for being here and why you are promising to work towards success. Consider the following:
Part 3: How I will become part of the Walden Community
In the third section, explain how you might identify a mentor (colleague with different professional skills, someone in your profession, or a Walden Faculty Member) to support your educational efforts. Share how a mentor would have a positive impact on your education and the role you would like him/her to take. How you might become a mentor to others in the program?
Part 4: Visual Representation [This step will be due by Week 6]
After you have completed your Reflection, find or create a visual artifact that shows your aspiration and hang it above your desk. Think of something that will motivate you and keep you engaged and focused as you complete each Discussion and Assignment as you move through your coursework toward graduation. Be sure to include a picture or copy of this visual representation with your reflection paper by copying and pasting it into your paper or attaching it as a separate file.
Submit a 2- to 3-page rough draft essay of your Reflection Assignment using the guidelines above. Your rough draft should demonstrate use of the Academic Writing Expectations, such as proper grammar and sentence structure, and address the parts described above. It should also include an introduction and conclusion. Make sure to support your ideas with specific evidence and class examples. If you used the worksheet from the Week 4 Learning Resources, you may submit the completed worksheet as your rough draft.
To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:
To access your rubric:
Week 4 Reflection Assignment Rubric
To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:
Submit your Week 4 Assignment 1 draft and review the originality report.
To submit your Assignment:
Week 4 Assignment 1
The objective of this Assignment is to provide you with a private place to think on the page; “thinking on the page” is a phrase used to describe writing as a form of thinking. Some of us process our thoughts out loud as we describe them to others. In an academic environment, you will be asked to record your ideas in writing or “thinking on the page” to show the new knowledge that you’ve acquired through reading and listening to the resources and completing the assignments. The journal is not a formal type of writing and only you and your Instructor will see the journal entry.
The weekly journals will be used to develop a personalized academic writing plan that will fit into the Week 6 Personal Success Plan Assignment.
Each journal must be at least three paragraphs long, but you are allowed to write as much as you would like. These entries are meant to be free writing, but you should revise before submitting. Your journal entries will be graded on participation and do not have rubrics.
To prepare for writing your Journal entry:
Assignment Instructions:
Think about the material you encountered in the course this week, and describe one aspect of the classroom resources (Assignments, Discussions, or assigned readings) that surprised you. Make sure to describe why the material interested you as a thinker.
Set a timer (on the stove, a clock or on your phone) and write for ten minutes without stopping. The prompts will remain the same each week, but you will reflect about a different aspect of each week’s resources.
Post an entry that addresses each of the following:
To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:
To access your Journal:
Journal
This week you analyzed the role of technology in your profession and applied self-assessment results to future learning. You also assessed technology competency and explored capabilities/limitations of technologically advanced worlds. Next week you will learn how to put your best virtual foot forward.
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