Q & A
- What device do you use to access the internet usually?I use my Iphone or IPad, but usually my IPhone.
- What social media groups do you participate in and how many hours do you spend per day on social media?Facebook, SnapChat and Instagram, about 4-5 hours a day.
- What social media do you utilize the most and why?I use Snapchat the most because after 24 hours the pictures vanish which makes it more private and they also have cool effects; if someone screen shoots your picture you will know!
- Are there certain times you cannot use your device (phone, tablet, computer)?We are not allowed to use our devices during class. As long as they do not take my phone I'm OK with it because we can use it during lunch, in between classes and sometimes at Gym. At home I cant use my phone between 9 and 11 because I do homework and study.
- Is your online identity different from or the same as your real identity?Are your profiles an accurate representation of who you are?I use my first name, but not my last name and I always give an accurate description of myself.
- Have you or someone you know experienced cyberbullying?I was never actually bullied however, someone created a fictitious profile using my name.
- Do you prefer texting or talking? Why?I prefer texting because it gives me time to think about what I'm going to say and I can reply on my own time or not even respond at all.
- Do you use technology in your classes? Does the use of technology make the lesson(s) more interesting or easier to learn?Yes, I use technology in my classes- which I do not like. It takes up too much time, sometimes the device breaks down or stalls.
- Does the internet play a big role in your academic if, if so how?Yes, no one has physical books anymore; everything is mostly online. I use the Internet for research daily.
- Would you like to use technology more or less in your classroom and homework assignments? Personally I prefer the old-fashioned paper and pen, there's no confusion with submission. If I give my assignment to my teacher she can never say she did not receive it. Sometimes the computer crashes and loses my work that I’ve just spent three hours on!
I was surprised
at the student’s rationale for question #7 “do you prefer texting or talking?”
She stated she prefers texting as it gives her time to think about and compose
a response or not respond at all. In conversation she would not have the choice
to compose a message nor spend time thinking about what she wants to say. This
is very interesting because teens are constantly worrying about how they appear
to their peers. Texting also gives her the flexibility to ignore a comment or
conversation, in this way technology works in her benefit.
In addition,
question # 3 was also surprising, the student enjoys Snapchat because (unlike Facebook)
pictures are deleted automatically after 24 hours. There remains no history or
trail after 24 hours in the event that one changes his or her mind regarding
what was previously posted. This actually gives the poster a bit more freedom
and less accountability and responsibility in posting because older posts cannot
be traced or tracked.
I found the
student’s internet/social media use of 4-5 hours to be a lot, not excessive by
any means but the student is definitely spending a significant amount of time
during the week on the internet and social media. At 4-5 hours per day on the
internet, this equates to 35 hours per week, 140 hours per month, 840 hours per
month engaged in social media and internet use. In my opinion, I think this
probably pales in comparison with other teen's internet and social media use,
however, this is a significant amount of time that can be used for more meaningful
and rewarding tasks and pursuits.
In question
# 4 the student stated: “as long as they don’t take my phone, I’m ok with it”; inferring
that taking one’s phone would be the ultimate definition of cruelty and harsh
punishment in a teen’s world of cyber social interaction and endless internet
use. The student stated that students are not allowed to use their phones in
class, but can use them during lunch and gym. I am picturing a lunchroom full
of teens sitting side by side with their heads buried in their screens and
being so engrossed that they barely interact in meaningful ways with each
other. This would be a sight to behold (although it may seem normal to the
individuals who constantly engage in this behavior).
In regards the
student’s use of technology in her class, she actually doesn’t prefer it and
desires the more traditional way of submitting homework. She also identified
some areas of concern with broken equipment, decreased speed time, waiting for
pages and documents to load- which she internalizes and expresses as frustrations and distractions.
She does however seem to enjoy using e- books and does not desire to use
regular text books.
In closing,
the adolescent interview was an eye brow raiser. I enjoyed strategically
analyzing her answers which gave me further clarity and depth into the “why” of
her answers. It also afforded me an opportunity to see technology from a 17 year olds perspective and understand the importance of staying social connected and relevant within a digital world where ones' posts, pictures and comments can quickly become insignificant within a mere 24 hours.
