Digital Maps
Digital Consumption
As I continue to work toward implementing technology into other's lives, it is important to take a look at how it is playing a role in my own. In order to do this, I laid out the different digital tools that influence my life using a map with four quadrants: visitor, resident, professional, and personal. The two main points of reflection are gauging where each app/website I use falls on the visitor to resident scale and the professional use to personal use scale.
- Vistor VS Resident
- When we interact with technology, it comes with the intent of leaving an impression of our presence or not. While in visitor mode, we are seeking information or completion of a task. Once we have finished our technological visit, we leave with not social footprint. On the other hand, when we use technology with a resident mindset, we are online to connect or interact with other people - it is about intentional social presence.
- Professional VS Personal
- This spectrum is a little more self, explanatory. When we are looking at our technology use. is it more for the intentions of professional use or does it lean more towards entertaining ourselves or connecting with others - being the personal side of the scale?
My Digital Map
While creating my digital map, I pooled all the apps and websites I use in my technological experience. On my map, I placed the representative images of the apps and websites in the quadrant most fitting. Additionally, I sized the apps in accordance to the amount of use. Lastly, I have placed the images deliberately in each quadrant in proximity to where it falls on both scales.
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| Author's Image |
Making Sense of my Map
Looking at this map from an outside lens, it made me realize a few key points about how I use technology. My biggest takeaway was realizing I am more of a technological visitor both professionally and in my personal life. Another follow-up point would be how very few technologies are used for multiple quadrants; Google, YouTube, Amazon, and Netflix are the only apps that can crossover but are placed in the quadrant they are used most. Overall, it was important to take a step back and figure out what technologies influence my information intake and output. Comment below if you have noticed similar patterns on your Digital Map, noticed something different, or have insight I may have overlooked!
References
522 Productions. "522 Productions GIF" [Digital Image]. (2021). Retrieved from https://media.giphy.com/media/40laOeTiJHGow5ufGF/giphy.gif.
Hello Erin!
ReplyDeleteI noticed that you are more of a "visitor" user rather than a "resident" user based on how many more apps you have on the left. In my digital map, I was a heavy digital resident. I rely on online spaces as a means to communicate, so my map was highly reflective of my digital usage. Like you mentioned, an important factor when we use these applications is intention. How can we use some of our personal apps in our professional lives? How can we take information from professional apps to enrich our personal lives? The versatility of some apps on your chart are interesting to explore. For example, a teacher may use their Instagram to post content for their friends and other educators. Pinterest can give us craft ideas for both school and home. YouTube gives us content for social and educational topics. The list goes on!
Seeing how many icons I ended up with made me feel cluttered. I am not sure if you feel the same, but sometimes I think I need to "declutter" my apps so I do not feel overwhelmed with all my options. Thanks for your post!!
Great questions! I think there is so much tiered reflection that goes into this project. First, I started to think about why I am more of a visitor over a resident and came to the conclusion that I have been so immersed in technology my whole life that I have lost the sense of potential I have with it. It's like I know the internet can do (just about) everything but I find myself only interested in exploring the depths of it when I need it. Second, is pushing myself to do exactly what you said about finding ways to use an app for more than one purpose and using it in a crossover way. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness as you read my blog :)
DeleteHi Erin! I love your gif! Definitely caught me attention. I saw that you put Slack in the visitor side. I wonder how you use it at work? At my school, we are very engaged with Slack during the school day and afterwards! We started using it during Covid as a way to send digital resources and keep in touch while teaching online. As we transitioned back to "normal" school we have continued use it to ask questions, share resources, and laugh! On the contrary, I placed Dojo on my visitor side. How do you use Dojo in your classroom? I use the points but do not use the other resources it provides. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBrittany, thanks for your insight as you read through my post! First, I feel I am more of a visitor with Slack because I become overwhelmed with the amount of channels/conversations going on a one time that I almost always read and click the next message just to get the notification away. I really only engage when it is something that directly pertains to me. I did try to put it in the middle of the spectrum, as I am aware it is the main form of communication between my coworkers and I - meaning I am leaving a digital footprint by engaging. As for Dojo, I feel like I am leaving more of an impression of 'me' because this is the best way to build a connection with parents. I post pictures of what we are doing, leave comments and conversations prompts for them to have with their child, and communicate with parents using the messaging component. Thanks for picking my brain about some parts of my map!
DeleteErin, I too found I am much more of a visitor than a resident in my use of technology. I feel like I am using technology all day, but realized I am not building an online presence or forming an online community. In my personal life this does not bother me, but I feel like I am missing out on a free resource by not being more of a resident professionally. After reflecting are you satisfied with where you currently fall on your map or are you looking to move either personally or professionally into more of a resident role?
ReplyDeleteRachael,
DeleteLove that we have some commonalities that were discovered in our digital maps! I, definitely, want to be more intentional with my online presence and take advantage of experts, resources, and knowledge that comes with being an educational resident online.
I loved your opening GIF!
ReplyDelete