Technology Challenge Paper

Complete:

Part One:

Can you unplug for 4 hours while awake and not in class?  You are challenged not to look at your phone or social media for 4 hours. Pay attention to how you feel. How many times did you look at your phone or at least want to?  Could you resist looking? Was this easy or difficult? Did you learn anything from this challenge? Did anything surprise you?  It’s suggested that you write down some observations during or immediately following the challenge as this will assist in your reflection paper related to this assignment.

Part Two:

Please observe people in a public setting for about 10 to 15 minutes and record what you see.  This could be at a restaurant, park, an outdoor event, etc.  Pay particular attention to social interactions and the role of technology.

Part Three:

Please journal/log your use of technology and behaviors (This can be done for one day or multiple days). Pay particular attentions to the way you use technology? What were the goals or purpose of your use? How did it make you feel when you used technology for these individual reasons? Did some purposes make you feel more connected? Did some make you feel less connected? How did your emotions change before, during, and after the use of technology?

Write a reflection paper (3-5 pages):

Reflection Paper on part 1, 2, & 3:

Write a reflection paper that discusses parts one, two, and three.  Discuss how you felt when attempted to refrain from looking at your phone or social media.  Was this easy for you?  Was it hard for you?  How did you feel?  How many times did you go to look at your phone or want to?  Do you feel that your technology use interferes with your social interactions?  What are some things that you could do? 

Secondly, please discuss your observation of public behavior.  What role did technology play in social interactions of the individuals you observed?  Do you feel that technology interfered with social interactions in your observation?   Lastly, what are some ramifications of technology in terms of social interaction?  What are some positive ramifications of technology?

Next, please discuss your journal/log of your behaviors with technology. What role does technology play in your life? What did you use technology for the most? What were the biggest reasons you used technology? How did it make you feel when you were using it for these individual reasons? Did some purposes have positive effects? Did some have negative? What emotions arose prior to, during, or after use? Did the purpose have an effect on your interactions with technology?

What did you learn from these activities? Did they challenge, alter, or validate your perspectives on technology?   Please link one of your observations to a concept, theory, or topic discussed in class or the book.  How does technology impact your topic or theory? What about changes in self-concept, social standing, identity, etc? What are some positive aspects and what are some potential negative aspects?

Submit: Reflection Paper by Sunday December 4 at 11:59pm (Please do not submit any notes from the 3 tasks, only your reflection paper)