How Digital Technologies Shape Our Identity and Learning

Digital Technologies and Personal Identity

Digital technologies are changing how we see ourselves and connect with others. Bonnie Stewart talks about how being online affects our identity and interactions. For example, platforms like Twitter let us mix our personal and professional lives, making our interactions richer but requiring careful sharing. I’ve used Discord to connect with others in my field of computer science. Sharing my projects and ideas has helped me build a network, but I’ve also had to think carefully about what to share publicly.

Digital Platforms in Education

Different digital tools help with learning in various ways. Tools like Canvas and Google Docs support different learning styles and encourage interaction. For example, using Padlet in one of my courses made learning more interactive and helped us share ideas easily. However, some tools can be tricky to use and can slow down learning if they’re not user-friendly. In many of my classes, using Google Docs for group projects made collaboration easy and efficient. Likewise, in another course, using a more complex platform called Notion made initial accessibility more difficult with a high payoff after learning its uses.

Instructor and Social Presence in Online Learning

Instructor presence is crucial in online education. The reading “Where’s the Teacher?” highlights that teachers need to be active and engaged to create a supportive environment. This helps students feel connected and motivated. Instructors can use video messages, discussion boards, and real-time chats to enhance their presence. In an online course I took made for beginners wanting to learn guitar, the instructor’s weekly video updates and videos made the class feel more engaging and approachable.

Challenges in Networked Learning

While digital tools offer many benefits, they also come with challenges. Privacy and data security are major concerns. It’s important to understand how data is used and to be cautious about sharing information online. Additionally, not everyone has equal access to technology and the internet, making it harder for some students to participate fully. I had to be mindful of privacy settings when using online tools. A lot of information can be accessed by malicious users just through a name and face if internet users do not take proper precautions. Also, a classmate had trouble participating in a course because of poor internet access, highlighting the importance of addressing these issues.

Conclusion

Digital technologies are changing how we see ourselves and learn. By using the right tools and staying active online, educators can create engaging and effective learning environments. It’s also important to balance personal expression with professional goals and to address challenges like privacy concerns and the digital divide to make online learning accessible and effective for everyone.