Category: Field Notes

The World We Live In Now

Having just watched We’re building a dystopia just to make people click on ads, I came away with it with assumptions reinforced and a rather disdain look towards our future in this direction society is going. I’m not trying to sound negative or upset for the sake of it or because it’s popular, but rather […]

Ch 7: Seeing Ourselves

Being Watched While Being a Queen

Post author By vickbwrites
Post date March 4, 2021
No Comments on Being Watched While Being a Queen

Daily Creates “You’re turning into a chess piece. Which one will you become? Show us an intermediate stage of your change process.” This is why I enjoy the daily creates. It gets my mind off of the stressful tasks in my life and allows me to have fun, random thoughts! To answer the question, I […]

Ch 7: Seeing Ourselves Miscellaneous

Getting In to Get Out, Getting Out to Get In

Post author By thesunthatruns
Post date March 4, 2021
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To those who know me, have met me virtually, or have seen me on Twitter or somewhere else on the ‘net, you know I’m not always the best at curbing my enthusiasm, keeping a consistent facial expression, or staying in one spot. Hyperactivity has always been central to who I am as a person; it’s […]

Ch 7: Seeing Ourselves

My Disappointment with the Discussion of Digital Diaries

Post author By M.E. O'Neill
Post date March 3, 2021
1 Comment on My Disappointment with the Discussion of Digital Diaries

I have to be honest; I wasn’t a fan of Chapter Four: “Automated Diaries” in Jill Walker Rettberg’s Seeing Ourselves Through Technology: How We Use Selfies, Blogs and Wearable Devices to See and Shape Ourselves. There are a lot of scary, uncomfortable realities that come with writing “digital diaries”—like privacy concerns and data collection—but in […]

Ch 7: Seeing Ourselves

I See Me

Chapter four, “Automated Diaries” in Rettberg’s Seeing Ourselves Through Technology, explores and discusses: how our technological devices keep track of nearly all of our information and store them, how do the apps manage to raise our attention by the specific way they represent our “stored data” to us and, How do these devices and apps […]

Ch 6: The Zoom Gaze

Gazed & Confused

The best element of this article is the term it comes out with in what is becoming a rapidly increasing tradition of giving a human-like treatment to technological tools. Despite that the argument appears the exact opposite to this, it is rather intriguing that the author decides to defend human interaction by anthropomorphizing a computer […]

Ch 7: Seeing Ourselves Field Notes

The Quantified Self in the PPU

Post author By agently
Post date March 3, 2021
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Rettberg’s chapter on the “quantified self” left me in a bit of a depressed mood. The idea of using technology to “interpret” and “represent” our lives through tracking software isn’t as bad as the notion that everything is never ending. Don’t get me wrong, the tracking software itself is unnerving. At first when I […]

Tags quantified self

Ch 7: Seeing Ourselves

Automated “Me”

Remember those days when people actually took out the time to write things and not just have technology do everything for them? Yeah..it seems like ages ago. To be honest, I miss those days. When each of us had that excitement to write down in our diaries what we had done, or put an effort […]

Announcements Ch 6: The Zoom Gaze Miscellaneous

Zoom Gazing & beyond

Ch 7: Seeing Ourselves

Digital Archives

(I’m hoping I got this right) This week’s reading is Seeing Ourselves Through Technology: How We Use Selfies, Blogs, and Wearable Devices to See and Shape Ourselves, specifically chapter 4. In this chapter, author Jill Walker Rettberg discusses the concept of digital archives, how our phones and technology have gotten so advanced enough to the […]

Tags #netnarr

Announcements

The Internet’s Good, Bad, & Ugly March 6, 2021 11:32 am

Thanks for another great evening of discussion and deliberation, and thanks to Kevin for opening up a broader discussion of the open web. By thinking through some of the issues that dana boyd brought to our attention in her On Being podcast, we started down our own #netnarr chat-path, with many loose stands of thought, revealing some of the significant challenges we face as we continue to navigate the world with the internet. Hybrid pug-bunny? I hope we can circle back to “cancel culture” with more collective reflection, and I also invite you to start formulating in your minds “an ideal experience” (what are your design wishes?) for fazing-in a new wave of instruction in the much anticipated post-pandemic university. What will our Fall classes and our overall return be like together? Let’s start to build a vision of “hybrid” class experiences – a vision of how our learning strategies can transform once again. How can we roll out a new way of doing things that is meaningful for all of us as a community? Regardless of what changes are to come, …..at this stage it is a hard fact that the internet mediates how we live our daily lives. The pandemic has made that truth plain to see. The ubiquitous reality of the internet-as-our-pathway-to-connection is something we cannot turn away from at this stage, and I was never really one to turn away anyway (case-in-point: the 5 year evolution of the Net Mirror as “collaboratory”). The open web and virtual networks have made our ability to stick with education possible. And it has made our ability to enhance our co-learning possible. And it has also made it possible to stick with people, our friends and our loved ones that we are unable to see face-to-face. But we must account for “the bad” and “the ugly”. In the recent past, the frame for “the bad” has been the ever-present threat of “predatorial” and perverse forces that live out there just to trap you. The predator that lurks online has been the dominant frame for understanding the real problems with the open web. In other words, there are evil entities on the internet, and they can trap you and ruin you. And that might be true to some extent, although I am not sure that this frame of the embodied bad guy or “the predator” has been the best way to understand what danger lurks. This predator formulation has not served us enough to prevent the real swell of another kind of evil – the power of disinformation to proliferate and persuade, to dismantle collective faith in democratic practice, and to inspire rage and violence in the name of righteousness. The problem lies in the force and sway of ideological persuasion which taps into real vulnerability and frustration – our ubiquitous societal inequity and fear. The “ugly” of the internet is that this persuasion can be delivered seamlessly in the seductive context of community and belonging. And it can be mathematically engineered through our own tracked behavioral patterns with algorithmic precision. How do we find what we are looking for? The internet knows before you do. For so many, the internet delivers something that they don’t even know they are seeking. …..The next course of our #netnarr discussion will take us deeper into that understanding. And we must grapple with this truth together. What is next? Let’s start by thinking about the attention economy and data tracking by checking out Zeyneb Tufeki’s “We are building a dystopia just to make people click on ads” TED talk. Be sure to blog about it, and Sun will trailblaze our way to important questions as a follow up. I think a round of meme making together in Part 2 of class is also in order! Also, remember to whisper if you feel compelled, and invite others to whisper into the Pandemic Whispers portal.

Zoom Gazing & beyond February 27, 2021 11:30 am

Thanks again to Autumm Caines for a fun and interactive Studio Visit wherein we considered the design implications of Zoom. In our “play” session, we explored some basic features (some that I had never really used before). I discovered that I feel vulnerable when I turn-off “view self” mode, and I also discovered that the majority of students do seem to want the instructor to have “camera-on”. (I suspected that, but it was good confirmation to receive, …no matter how much I might yearn to shut my own camera off sometimes). Through the interactive exploration, we were able to discuss the implicit assumptions (and bias) that is “baked into” the learning tools we use to proceed with our work during the pandemic. The conversation seemed to lead us to questions of technology and surveillance, which will certainly be a topic we cover in more depth as we move through the Net Mirror experience this semester. Our Studio Visit with Autumm set us up well to further discuss issues of how we see, and who is watching us. And Jessie did a great job as our pathfinder for the week when she picked up on these concerns in part two of class. Jessie paved the way for a thorough discussion regarding the power dynamics and perceptions that are refigured or extended when we assume a “seamless” transition in a new Zoom context. What inequity manifests, what new learning strategies do we develop, and what challenges do we face when we learn together from the (encroached upon) privacy of our homes? I think that Jessie’s pathfinding session ended with some profound food-for-thought. She closed out her thoughts and provocations with a video of a child who was an enthusiastic proponent of virtual/augmented forms of learning (…the new next wave of education technology just around the proverbial bend). What will we gain from virtual (programmed) travel to rarified corners of the world? Who will design these virtual worlds and experiences, and with what values and intentions? And what role will both pedagogy and our purchase power play in the rollout of these tools? Ultimately, what new challenges will present themselves for democratic societies, if (some of us) can plug into imagined places beyond our reach? And what kinds of inequities will be extended as this vision is pursued in a market-driven innovation context? Just a 30 second engagement with this Pandora’s box gives any thinking person pause. For next week: Due to the Snow Day respite we all benefited from last week, next week will be a double up regarding our pathfinding tradition. Kevin will kick off class with danah boyd’s The Internet of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (an On Being podcast) which you have already reflected on in your weekly blogs. Your to-do list: For the second half of our time together, Sheila will be our pathfinder, considering some issues that emerge from Jill Walker Rettberg’s Seeing Ourselves Through Technology (please read Chapter 4). Your blog for this week should include some reflection of this reading, and any Daily Creates or other creative turns you might take along the way. Also, please whisper into the Pandemic Whispers portal. This portal is an open invitation to whisper your own pandemic thoughts and musings anonymously. The portal will remain open to all of you (and the public) throughout our time #netnarr time together. We encourage you to whisper when you want (you can share at any time, multiple times). And you can share this portal with your own friends and networks. Pass it on to those who you care about. We hope that our #netnarr Pandemic Whispers portal becomes a lasting and meaningful participatory artifact of our human experience(s), and a tribute to “Net Mirror: The Post-Pandemic University” journey/investigation that we are all on together.

Snow Day Update February 19, 2021 4:38 pm

I am hope you all enjoyed a day off, and that the snow hasn’t created too much difficulty for you. It seems this winter has been the real thing, and I am glad we had a chance to slow down a bit. Next week I have been looking at our schedule, and for next week, we will proceed with the original plan. For next Thursday Feb. 25, Jessie will present on Autumm Caines’ The Zoom Gaze. Real Life Magazine. https://reallifemag.com/the-zoom-gaze/. Our friend and colleague Autumm Caines will be visiting us next week to share some thoughts regarding her article. Our Studio Visit time with her will start at 4;30pm. https://twitter.com/MiaZamoraPhD/status/1361358348520722433 Please pre-register for Autumm’s Studio Visit here because this session will be open to other invited guests from our learning network, so we will have a different link to enter our Studio Visit. We will enjoy a fun/engaging chat with her, and then afterward, we will take our usual break. In the second part of our class, we will resume class in our normal #netnarr Zoom room and Jessie will guide us as our pathfinder! Looking ahead I think it might make most sense to have both Kevin and Sheila do some “pathfinding” on March 4th (they can cover two different terrains). On March 4 we will enjoy two different pathfinder sessions in order to make up for tomorrow’s snow day. Kevin will share his thoughts on danah boyd’s podcast in Part 1 of class, and Sheila trailblaze with some ideas on Walker Rettberg’s work in Part 2. I will also try to reschedule the Studio Visit we have planned with Brian Lamb and Brenna Clarke Gray for later on in the semester, (more towards the end of our class time). Your to-do list: Be sure to read or listen to The Zoom Gaze: https://reallifemag.com/the-zoom-gaze/. Also check out Susan D. Blum, Why we are exhausted.Inside Higher Ed. April 22, 2020. Your blog should reflect on the issues that emerge from these readings, and for some creative tinkering, you can always do a few “Daily Creates”.

IEH and Trauma-Informed Pedagogy February 13, 2021 1:24 pm

Thanks to Amber for trailblazing some important considerations as we continue to think about digital citizenship and education in the age of pandemic, and as we dream of a post-pandemic university that is transformed. Here are the agenda slides from our discussion on 2/11/21. Body (in teaching and learning) https://twitter.com/MiaZamoraPhD/status/1359960373038895104 Amber rightfully paused at the broader concept of the BODY, and what significance this idea holds for us at this time. The concept of International Equitable Hospitality (Intentionally Equitable Hospitality in Hybrid Video Dialogue: The context of virtually connecting by Maha Bali, Autumm Caines, Rebecca J. Hogue, Helen J. Dewaard, Christian Friedrich, eLearn Magazine, May 2019) helps us think further about what we can do actively to make moves towards INCLUSION when arranging any learning gathering. https://twitter.com/MiaZamoraPhD/status/1359961212033859585 How do we welcome each other? What are the terms of belonging? What assumptions and expectations do we take to a gathering in order to learn? And who regulates the terms of the conversation? “IEH” as a strategy starts to unravel these questions/issues in the context of academic professionalization, helping us see the irony in how much gatekeeping is the default instinct in communities of knowledge production. In addition, the open resource for teaching (-Bali, M., Zamora, M, & Caines, A. et al. (2020). Community Building Online Activities in OneHE Global) offer everyday strategies and activities to counter the ingrained hierarchical culture of education, by opening up learning to listening and reflecting in creative ways. Amber also opened up an important discussion of trauma-informed pedagogy, which I think is such a critical intervention at this stage, as I believe it is fair to say the pandemic has brought upon us all collective forms of trauma. The social isolation and loneliness of the COVID-19 pandemic present significant emotional and physical health risks that make us feel disconnected and put us on high alert, triggering the body’s stress response. https://twitter.com/AmberGently/status/1360241815769784321 https://twitter.com/MiaZamoraPhD/status/1360193923235385349 I think this topic is crucial in considering what ways we will continue to move forward. And yet, I also think it is important to look closely at who we expect to shoulder the responsibility of care work. What role can institutions and communities play in addressing these extensive needs? As Maura pointed out in her blog as well in our discussion – caring work, IEH, and trauma-informed ways to teach are important. But we cannot turn away from equity policy at the institutional level as we attempt to address these widespread deficits. As Maura states, “Asking teachers to take on these additional responsibilities without giving them additional planning time or compensation creates a less equitable and hospitable classroom environment for everyone.” https://twitter.com/metoneill/status/1359235832104812545 Creative ways to continue our thinking on these matters…. Back to collaborative storytelling to have a bit of fun, while processing everything we are reflecting on. We have an online version of the Exquisite Corpse game, where you can only see the last 150 characters of the previous contribution. Use that as a prompt to add text, a few sentences, or more. For our own Exquisite Corpse story this week, we ask you to write about the day to day experiences of students, teachers, employees at a Post Pandemic University. For another creative challenge in your reflections this week, try making a recording of the sounds of where you are at a moment. Or make sounds to indicate where you are? Do ambient sounds generate a sense of place? Or just share something in a whisper. Try to be creative in using sound to express a reaction to this week’s activities. Please be sure to check out Prof. Levine’s post which guides you in these fun media activities. Your to do list: Please listen to: boyd, danah. The Internet of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. On Being podcast. 2017. And check out the web post: “Brenna Clark Gray, Digital Detox #1: Welcome to the Show” TRU Digital Detox, January, 2021 Kevin’s pathfinder exploration is next week! He will trailblaze AFTER our Studio Visit from Brian Lamb and Brenna Gray, who will meet us at 5:00 pm to discuss “Digital Detox” Please post your third blog post before next Thursday, reflecting on the above podcast and webpost, and any other material or experiences you have happened to consider from the Unit 2 theme of Digital Citizenship & Digital Wellbeing. Make sure to participate in the Exquisite Corpse, do a daily create or two, and include a vocaroo file in your blog! All the while while tinkering, you are expanding your digital literacies!! And finally, lots of love on Valentines Day!