Media Use

Were your findings surprising?
Why? I knew my media use was going to be high. I am in grad school and I'm a teacher. I am constantly using my computer to research, plan, create, as well as get distracted by the infinite chain of Youtube videos.  I was actually surprise that it wasn't higher.

How do you feel when using various media?
Depending on the media that I use I feel a range of things. I can feel calm if I'm playing a game or watching something to escape for a short time. I also get frustrated if I'm trying to find a resource for students to use or can't quite get something to work the way I want it to.  This question has more answers than I can record because of the plethora of uses of media. Listening to music alone can make me feel a myriad things depending on the song. I find this question to be extremely complex.

How much of your time is spent using passive v. active media?
I would have thought that more of my media usage was active. Much of it is, but I can put on an audiobook while I'm doing a home project or lying in bed. This is the primary reason from my media usage to be so high in the audio category. I was able to get a lot of work done while listening to music or and audiobook. Though audio media can be argued to be either active or passive I would say that in my case it is passive because my focus and attention isn't 100% on it.

Did media consumption replace any other life activity?
Using media did replace life activities. I could have, and should have been doing more for school, but was tired and decided to turn my brain off and watch some football and part of a movie. Rather than hanging out with my kids more I played a mobile game. This is a more important question for me. What could I have been doing instead of being trapped in a virtual world for x amount of time. What experiences and conversations did I miss out on? Though there are countless benefits from technology, this is maybe the biggest negative for me personally.

How did you benefit from your technology use?
I benefitted from technology because I was entertained. It is really convenient to get lost in a story as I work on physical projects such as tiling a bathroom. I watched some football as well as a movie. I benefitted because I can create lesson plans and write blogs and do homework from my laptop on my couch rather than going to a library. I can find video clips to illustrate topics I am teaching. I played games and that helps me keep my sanity. Mostly the benefits fall into the convenience category. Technology makes everything so easy to do.

How does your media use compare with that of today's children and adolescents?
According to the articles we read in class, Media use among Teens and Tween, 31% use tech for 4-8 hours. My technology use doesn't differ that much with adolescents in terms of time spent using it. What I use it for does differ some in terms of the specific content, but also maybe not that much. We both use it to do homework, play games, listen to music, watch videos, and login to social media sites. I like to believe that I know when is appropriate to use technology and can control myself. I would argue that many adolescents have a harder time putting off the endorphins that come from checking messages.

With that of other adults?
I used my media less overall that most adults, but i did think it was going to be much less total time spent than the 9 hour average. I probably would have actually used it more if I hadn't had such a busy week.

Media Tracking Infographic

Initial Assumptions and Perceptions

• What is cognition? What is education? What is technology? What is educational technology?

Cognition is the process of learning. It is how we acquire knowledge. According to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation it requires many complex functions including our senses, memories, emotions and even language (MSF, 2019. https://www.sharecare.com/health/mental-health/what-is-cognition) It is an active process. We have to put forth effort for it to happen.

While cognition is the actual process of learning, Education is the process of facilitating learning. It can be formal or informal but formal education is what most people think of when they consider Education. That is, sitting in a classroom or in another structured environment with the goal of learning.

Technology is the material and immaterial entities used to further human interests and problem solving. It can be physical such as a smartphone or intangible such as the software and apps on a smartphone. Technology helps humans fulfill desires, needs, and purpose (Arthur, W. Brian, 2009).

Educational Technology can be defined as the material, immaterial, and theory that is used in order to teach in an educational setting as defined above (Robinson, Molenda, Rezabek, 2016)

• What is the nature of the relationship between these fields?

Cognition, Education, technology, and educational technology are intertwined and perhaps even inseparable. Although we use cognitive functions every single day, the functions increase and are fostered via education. Education can accelerate cognition. Educational technology can further the acceleration of cognition in an educational setting. 

• What do you think you know about the reciprocal impacts between these fields?

I do not know much. I believe that effectively utilizing technology within a classroom will increase learning based on what I have seen and read.

• What do you hope to know by the end of this course? 

I hope to have research based evidence to back up claims that tech does increase learning. I hope to know that and know the opposing views.