While Pinterest is a visual platform which focuses on images, Pocket focuses on written articles. I found Pocket to be quite an effective tool for managing information, however I felt it lacked the efficiency I found when working with Pinterest. In Pocket, there is an option to save, recommend, and favourite articles. Although I enjoyed using these features, I felt that they were not as extensive and personalised as Pinterest. I would have preferred for Pocket to include an option for users to create their own folders where they can save specific articles relating to specific topics. The most similar option to this is the “favourite” feature, however I feel that articles will be ultimately lost within this section without a feature which enables users to better organise their favourites. 

Although I preferred Pinterest to Pocket when it came to organising information, I think Pocket is a good tool and platform which encourages users to both read and keep track of the sort of articles they like. With Pinterest focusing exclusively on images and videos, it is important to have a tool similar to Pinterest for other forms of media, such as articles, which is what Pocket offers.

The first platform I was introduced to was “Padlet”. Padlet is essentially a digital noticeboard (Edwards, 2022). I am an avid list-maker and I feel that Padlet provides an efficient alternative to pen and paper, as it contains a feature which allows users to format their information by organising it into a grid system. I intend to use this feature to create a section for each weekday, and under each day I can then create a daily to-do list. My experience with Padlet was therefore positive as it has genuinely affected how I will do my day-to-day tasks in the future. In this way, Padlet supports my online engagement as a digital citizen.

The first two platforms we focused on were Pinterest and Pocket, both of which focus on managing and sharing information. While Pinterest is an image-based visual platform, Pocket focuses on collecting digital articles. A 2006 study found that 40% of college students were visual learners (Hansen, et al., 2012). I feel that Pinterest is a perfect platform for visual learners as it provides a space in which sharing images is the favoured means of communication. This assessment reminded me that I can use Pinterest for planning and brainstorming ideas surrounding my academic assignments as opposed to just using it for my personal interests. Pinterest allows me to be an active digital citizen as it encourages visual learners such as myself to use new and innovative ways by which we can learn and study. While Pinterest focuses on images, Pocket allows users to collect and digital articles. Pocket enhances its users digital citizenships by building upon a traditional practice such as reading articles, and created a service which allows users to complete this traditional practice through a digital mean. 

Another platform we used as a part of our assessment was Datawrapper which I found to be extremely helpful. Although difficult to navigate at first, I felt it was a very beneficial tool that I could use throughout my academic career. As an Information & Communications student, I have had to complete many projects which centred around giving presentations. Including graphics while presenting data increases structural thinking, improves communication, and improves learning (HEAVY.AI, n.d.). The inclusion of graphics is therefore structural to a good presentation, and I will use Datawrapper in the future to create suitable graphics for my presentations. Datawrapper supports my development as a digital citizen by providing me with the digital tools I need to improve the quality of my academic presentations. 

            The final platforms we worked with was Screencast-O-Matic in combination with YouTube. Screencast-O-Matic is an online software which allows users to screen record their laptop screens. As a part of this activity, I created a “How-To” video and posted it to YouTube. Screencast-O-Matic has encouraged me to grow as an active digital citizen, as I enjoyed recording my “How-To” video so much that I would like to continue to do so in the future. Utz and Wolfers (2022) discuss a report that claimed “35% of American adults consider YouTube as very important for finding out how to do things they have not done before” (p. 960). I believe I have a variety of important skills, and YouTube provides a community where I can present these skills to others, while Screencast-O-Matic facilitates this process. 

The concluding task for our assessment was a peer review activity we had to complete through the platform titled peerScholar. As a part of this, I had to provide feedback to two fellow classmates, and the same was done to my own work. One of my colleagues noted I sounded informal at some points during my reflection, and they noticed a spelling error so while creating my final draft, I made sure to focus on keeping my tone formal. Furthermore, I proof-read my work several times to make sure I did not miss any errors. Constructive criticism has the ability to “guide you away from bad practices and towards good ones” (Thomas, 2012) so therefore I am pleased to have been a part of the activities on peerScholar as I feel my reflection has now been improved thanks to my peers. 

Edwards, L. (2022). What is Padlet and How Does It Work? Tips & Tricks. TechLearningMagazine. Retrieved March 3, 2023 from https://www.techlearning.com/how-to/what-is-padlet-and-how-does-it-work-for-teachers-and-students. 

Hansen, K., Nowlan, G., & Winter, C. (2012). Pinterest as a Tool: Applications in Academic        Libraries and Higher Education. Partnership: The Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research, 7(2).            https://doi.org/10.21083/partnership.v7i2.2011. 

HEAVY.AI. (n.d.). Graphical Representation. Retrieved March 3, 2023 from https://www.heavy.ai/technical-glossary/graphical-representation.

Isman, A., & Güngören, Ö. C. (2013). Being Digital Citizen. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 106, 551–556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.12.063  

Thomas, M. (2016). Six reasons why criticism is a good thing. The Guardian. Retrieved March 3, 2023 from https://www.theguardian.com/culture-professionals-network/culture-professionals-blog/2012/feb/09/reasons-tips-criticism-arts. 

Utz, S., & Wolfers, L. N. (2020). How-to videos on YouTube: the role of the instructor. Information, Communication & Society, 25(7), 959–974. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118x.2020.1804984. 

Prior to this module, I had never availed of the platform, “LinkedIn”, however I am now aware of the benefits of networking and have an active account which I intend to continue using throughout my academic and professional career. “Networking” is defined as “a set of behaviors aimed at building and maintaining interpersonal relationships that possess the (potential) benefit to facilitate work-related activities” (Utz and Breuer, 2018, p. 180). LinkedIn supports the practice of networking by providing easy-to-use tools which can be used to connect with potential employers and others in your field. As someone who is planning to stay in academia, my digital strategy will be maintaining my active status on LinkedIn to provide myself with greater professional opportunities and prepare me for my graduation. 

As previously mentioned, having a digital strategy is all about using technology to your aid and utilising it the best you can. This does not however mean merely being an active digital citizen which was demonstrated by our focus on privacy policy which showed how many platforms can actually impede your rights through their privacy policies and their belief that you will not read it. Part of my digital strategy will be to begin holding platforms accountable by reading their privacy policies, and avoid using them if I am not satisfied with their policy regarding my privacy. I will furthermore educate and encourage others to do the same. 

As a part of our assessment for E-Portfolio B, we were required to create an infographic detailing our personal digital strategy. Completing this activity was extremely beneficial as it allowed me to integrate my artistic skills and love of graphic design into my academic work which I have not done prior to this activity. Alves (2022) notes that presenting a visual story in the form of an infographic is an aesthetically pleasing way to summarize data and share information which can result in a person retaining more of your work than if it was presented in the written format. This module allowed me to find and utilize platforms I was previously unaware of, such as “Canva”, which I intend to continue using beyond the assessment for this module. My personal digital strategy will entail utilising Canva to create my own infographics about issues that I am passionate about and increasing my online presence by posting them onto my social media accounts.

Furthermore, the overarching focus on “micro-influencers” was further beneficial as it demonstrated the power dynamics present on social media. I was always under the impression that the larger your following, the greater your influence, however I have now been educated on the power of micro-influencers, who can have as little as 1,000 followers (Wessel, 2018). One study found that those with one thousand followers received likes on their posts 8% of the time while influencers with over 10 million followers received a total of 1.6% likes (Wessel, 2018). This disparity in engagement is due to micro-influencers having niche audiences who are highly engaged and loyal (Wessel, 2018). Part of my digital strategy will be to integrate viewing the content of micro-influencers into my daily routine, as they can often digitally teach me skills for the physical world. 

It is further important to note that the “peerScholar” part of the assessment was extremely beneficial as it replicated the process of peer-reviewing. “Peer-review” is the current system used to “assess the quality of a manuscript before it is published” in a given journal (BioMed Central, 2023). Benefits of the peer review process include a "seal of approval" which clarifies that the work meets a certain standard (Ware, 2008, p. 12) and furthermore, manuscripts are often improved and filtered before publication (Ware, 2008, p. 12). My peers acknowledged in their feedback that I had not integrated enough popular and academic sources into my work, which I worked to improve in my final reflection. My final reflection is now of a higher standard than prior to the peer-review process, which demonstrates its benefits. 

The DigiLife course as a whole has taught me a great deal about the productive ways in which I can utilise technology to aid my career and personal life. Through the assessment activities on the module, I was encouraged to broaden my digital citizenship through stimulating tasks which were discussed above. My digital strategy will entail using all the different skills I have developed throughout the past few months, in order to make my online presence beneficial to myself, my community, and the internet as a whole. 

Alves, C. (2022). 10 Big Ways Infographics Benefit Your Content Strategy. Search Engine Journal. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from, https://www.searchenginejournal.com/infographic-benefits/267781/.  

BioMed Central. (n.d.). Peer review process. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from            https://www.biomedcentral.com/getpublished/peer-review-process. 

Jones, L. M., & Mitchell, K. J. (2016). Defining and measuring youth digital citizenship. New media & society, 18(9), 2063-2079. 

Utz, S., & Breuer, J. (2019). The relationship between networking, LinkedIn use, and retrieving informational benefits. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social             Networking, 22(3), 180-185. 

Ware, M. (2008). Peer review: benefits, perceptions and alternatives (p. 2008). London: Publishing Research Consortium.      

Wessel, K. (2018, October 26). Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Micro-Influencers, And How To Partner With Them. Forbes. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from,             https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2018/10/26/why-you-shouldnt-ignore-micro-influencers-and-how-to-partner-with-them/?sh=43d225ad3ecc 

 

The social media tool I have chosen is “TikTok”, whose private policy I intend to rewrite in a way that addresses my needs and wishes as a user, and reflects the 5 rights outlined in Jenny Anderson’s (2017) article. Users should feel safe on the platform by feeling comfortable around other users, as well as those who control and operate the platform. In order for this protocol surrounding safety to be effective, user’s must feel that they are in control of their own content and profile. In the next note, I have outlined my policy.


Source:
Anderson, J. (2022). A lawyer rewrote Instagram’s privacy policy so kids and parents can have a meaningful talk about privacy. Quartz. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from, https://qz.com/878790/a-lawyer-rewrote-instagrams-terms-of-service-for-kids-now-you-can-understand-all-of-the-private-data-you-and-your-teen-are-giving-up-to-social-media.

Anderson, J. (2022). A lawyer rewrote Instagram’s privacy policy so kids and parents can have a meaningful talk about privacy. Quartz. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from, https://qz.com/878790/a-lawyer-rewrote-instagrams-terms-of-service-for-kids-now-you-can-understand-all-of-the-private-data-you-and-your-teen-are-giving-up-to-social-media.