Week 3

     My digital presence has always been a subtle one. I was taught from a young age the consequences rash decisions would result in, and so I've always been cautious of how I presented myself on the internet. My personal accounts (Instagram, snapchat, twitter, and facebook) are all--though relaxed and personal--representations of the best sides of my personal life. I have never shared information that could be seen as unprofessional, or inappropriate, (none that comes to memory, at least), I restrain myself from speaking about my workplace, and even what I'm doing in college, and I have rarely spoken of low times I endure/endured in life. 

     Though this all makes me sound as if even my personal accounts are all uptight, I, personally, believe these are all the bare minimum when it comes to rules you should enforce in yourself when it comes to your internet presence. Your accounts are not truly private. Mostly anybody can find and see them, and it is your responsibility to keep your accounts (and by doing so, your in real life reputation) as intact and clean as possible. 

     Talking about these rules is important, but it is even more crucial that I follow these rules if I want to be considered a role model. Just because my accounts are personal does not mean they need to be inappropriate, scandalous, or anything of that sort. Social media is the place you should attempt to make your life appear as appealing, and put together as possible (without losing sight that you actually still need work).

     Influential Technology

     Technology in all aspects and ranges influences my life daily. Whether that technology is the toaster for my morning toast, my Google Home that tells me the weather, or my phone that I carry with me everywhere I go and which holds most of my confidential and private information. Technology is a part of life and has been since I was a child--though, more so now than then. My phone unsurprisingly, and unoriginally, is the biggest influence on my daily life. It holds information I need for my job, my schooling, my bank and a dozen other important aspects of my life. It holds sentimental memories and entertainment, mail, and maps, reminds me of upcoming events, keeps track of my diet and exercise so I don't have to keep a mental map of it all, and the apps I have installed on my phone cater to my hobbies, wants, and needs such as helping me study language (am in the process of learning Korean), and keeps me connected to my family, friends, and colleagues. My phone, without a doubt, is the most influential technological device in my life.

       Despite this, the phone is not the technological device that I could not go without implementing into my classroom. The phone is efficient, crucial in this day and age, and I have no ill-will towards phones, but inside the classroom they can become a huge distraction, and in an environment where we should all--teacher and student alike--should be attempting to do our best to learn and pay attention, the phone can be detrimental to our ability to do so. 

      What I would like to see incorporated into the classroom is kindles or other technology that allows for easy access to books from all around the world. Firstly, I would like to see this because of the importance I place on the environment and although I have a huge love for books (three bookshelves in my bedroom) I do not want to continue contributing to the harm of the environment when it is not necessary, and keeping that mindset within the classroom can maybe help promote my students to attempt to waste less, as well. Secondly, during my middle school and high school experience, the textbooks we were given were more often than not, falling apart. They were used, old, written on, the bindings crumpling away and breaking inside our backpacks. With a simple, sleek, easily accessible device that holds ALL of the needed books, we would be taking the weight off of our student's backs (improving our students/children's health) and giving them clean, enjoyable, and fair devices to use in the classroom. Thirdly, an outdated classroom is a distracted/disruptive classroom. If we as teachers can create an updated classroom suited for twenty-first-century students in a technology-driven world, we are creating an engaged classroom with excited students ready to use, explore, and learn. We would be presenting a new and modern look while promoting environmental awareness and providing our students with equal and fair materials for learning.

     Mobile Device Usage

     Technology is found everywhere and has quickly become crucial parts of all of our daily lives. Technology is entertainment, connections, work, school, etc. Nearly everybody uses some form of technology in their day-to-day life, but the mobile device can be considered, by far, the most consumed and distributed piece of technology in this day and age. Children receive them at young ages, the majority of teenagers own one, adults may rely on them for work and other important responsibilities, and even most elders own one despite not having been born into the age of technology. Across the generations, we all share in the fact that most of us are reliant on our mobile devices.

     My own phone possesses much of my confidential and personal information--government files, school files, work information, etc. Alongside these pieces of crucial information, it also simply holds many personal possessions: photos, music, apps, notes. orders, and more. I am the type of person that needs to write down a lot of information on paper, but that does not mean that most of the useful information is not found on my mobile device.

     I use it for remembering, learning, creating, connecting with family, friends, and colleagues, and exploring. Many of my creative pursuits are advanced forward with the use of my phone; I use it for photography, cinematography, video editing and producing, and writing.

     The mobile device is an expected piece of technology--and this fact was made even more abundantly evident when at work one of my coworkers did not have a cellphone and everybody was not only confused by it but were frustrated and annoyed to the point that one person even suggested that this person should not have been hired if they did not have a way to be contacted by. 

     I rely on my phone for many things, but simply, I enjoy having it. It's entertaining and helps me with personal projects, school place assignments, and workplace goals.