ACCESS: Google News

CONNECTION: This article relates to my entire teaching education program because one of my principles in my teaching philosophy is to encourage women in STEM, especially in areas that are severely underrepresented such as computer science and technology. 

EMOTION: This article makes me feel happy because these women shared their journeys with education and careers in STEM/technology fields. While I always feel sad that women are often excluded from these fields, I felt even more inspired to encourage women to follow STEM fields after reading this article because they are so underrepresented and these women's experiences show the triumphs of women in these fields. 

ACCESS: Google Search -> GreenBiz -> Climate Tech

CONNECTION: This relates to my fieldwork teaching now, because I am helping my fellow TCR with her environmental biology class that we used to share. The students often learn concepts/content with an environmental or ecology focus, so it is important for us to be up-to-date on the current state of climate technologies and advancements. 

EMOTION: This article elicited the feeling of interest first and foremost, because I have only heard of 3D printing and not really done any of my own digging on the topic. Based on prior knowledge, I assumed most 3D printers used plastic-based materials to produce more plastic-based materials so I didn’t really think it would be a beneficial product to highlight in Climate Tech. However, this article aims to influence the reader into their option, which is that “industrial transformation” is the best way to make bottom-up positive changes for the environment. The company highlighted in this article try to “focus on electrifying its equipment depots using wind and solar power and the ability to create high-resolution parts at higher speeds than competitor technologies” using non-plastic materials. The company projects to produce about 200 metric tons of 3d printed wind/solar energy products in the first year alone. This was very surprising to me, especially since they aim to create these products using non-plastic materials! I always thought 3D printing would only exacerbate the plastic pollution problem, but perhaps it can be an interesting innovation to fight the intersecting issues brought on by the climate crisis. 

ACCESS: Google Search -> GreenBiz -> Climate Tech

CONNECTION: This reminded me of the reason we are in STEM+C3, and specifically our CS classes and our COP (science/math project) meetings. This connects to CT integration that we learn in our CS classes, because one of the key goals is to “foster an inclusive environment”. It connects to the work we do with COP because we often engage in data-centric lessons that tie directly to equity, for example the urban heat phenomenon. 

EMOTION: This article made me feel sad but also hopeful! It made me sad because I have studied these issues before, and I was reminded about how broken the system is in terms of climate justice. For example this article states “I think CEOs and companies need to start thinking about running their business in a climate friendly way, but you can’t always justify it by the numbers”, which shows that the model of capitalism is not built for long-term success but short-term gain that benefits the company or stakeholders only. However, I was hopeful because despite this broken model there are companies who are willing to take risks for the better of society and the planet. For example, Apple has worked to shift to be completely carbon-neutral which is a big deal for a large corporation. Patagonia has also begun to reduce their creation of new clothes and learned to reuse or resell used clothes. The author is trying to show that yes, climate solutions are going to be difficult to convince companies to get behind, but Silicon Valley needs to tap into their already-existing diverse assets to create sustainable and feasible change. “For the Silicon Valley types and leaders within the tech industry, focusing on the knowledge and experiences that already exist but are often left unheard can provide deep insight into climate-related innovation efforts. Innovation is what drives our society forward, but the greatest innovations come when we listen and take a closer look at the needs of those around us”.

REFERENCE:https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/momentum-computing-pushes-technologys-thermodynamic-limits/

ACCESS: Google News

CONNECTION: This article is related to my biology classes that I teach because they talk about the carbon footprint of computing and data processing technologies. This article also specifically deals with objective #3 on the syllabus given that this talks about a societal impact of technology and provides a solution for it.  

EMOTION: This article makes me feel hopeful, especially as a person whose laptop often heats up a lot when I’m running a lot of applications (which is often). The author definitely has intentions of offering this solution to heat dissipation as a means for informing others but also bringing up an issue that people might not think about. When our laptops heat up, we don’t really think about the consequences of that or how it is affecting us. However, this article really makes it clear that this is an issue, but it has a solution. 

ACCESS: Google Search

CONNECTION: This article relates to the Computer Science course that we are taking as it discusses the impacts of adding Computer Science courses into high school curriculum. In our CS course, we discussed the benefits and possible incorporation of CT and data into regular mathematics classrooms. Alternatively, this article discusses the benefits and drawbacks to schools incorporating CS. I believe that this article shows that Computer Science is necessary — not to improve test scores but to provide students with an opportunity to “understand the computational world around them.” Reading about the benefits of Computer Science courses but also the drawbacks of having to reduce other classes (such as Humanities) shows the importance of implementing CT into math and science classroom curriculum as well.

EMOTION: Reading the article makes me feel enlightened as to the need for Computer Science. It made me aware of the difficulties in implementing new courses into a school catalog and it made me realize why the implementation of CT skills in math and science classrooms is so important. I believe that the author of this article wanted the readers to view Computer Science as a necessary component of education; however, the author was also fair in explaining potential setbacks in incorporating Computer Science courses at schools.

ACCESS: Google Search “tech news” on 4/16/2022

CONNECTION:  

This article connected to the Critical Media Literacy course we are taking this quarter because Musk is talking about buying twitter in order to loosen their speech rules. If the rules for hate/banned speech on twitter are relaxed, the platform will be home to more misinformation and harassment of marginalized groups. Elon Musk has created a specific public image for himself as a genius engineer and businessman and he has a lot of fans and followers who will defend anything he does. These people aren’t thinking critically about the image he is presenting to them. He is most famous for Tesla, but he was not the actual founder of the company

EMOTION:

I get annoyed anytime I read about Elon Musk. I have been an active twitter user for 10 years and have seen lots of problems with the platform and how people use it. Personally, I think there needs to be more content moderation on Twitter, not less because there are active hate groups on there that have harassed and doxxed people. The article gave a lot of different opinions about the situation, both showing how popular Musk is on twitter and quoting concerns from tech professionals that he doesn’t fully understand what he would need to do if he were in charge of Twitter. 

ACCESS: Google search “tech news” -> techcrunch.com->scroll to find article 

CONNECTION: This article was about the use of AI in different industries and it connects to our other CS course and the book Artificial Unintelligence. The book talks about the limitations of AI and how it is not going to take over the world like a sci-fi movie. This article showed actual applications of AI like analyzing large data sets that a human could not and grouping the data according to similarity. In this article, they talked about looking through international development data from disaster relief and housing projects. 

EMOTION: I enjoyed reading this article. I think it provided a lot of information about different ways people are using AI and Machine Learning in different contexts including paper cutting models and coloring infrared images. I think the author wanted to show the variety of ways AI can be used in order to get people to care about the technology and see potential applications. This article is on TechCrunch, which is read mostly by people who are already interested in tech news. 

Nora McDonald, Helena M. Mentis. (2022, March 22). Older Americans are Given the Wrong Idea About Online Safety- Here’s How to Help Them Help Themselves.  The Conversation.

 ACCESS
              Google Search

I found that this article relates to the objective in our current course, Data Flow in the Digital Age.  The objective states “Debate societal impacts of networked systems including net neutrality, information flow, and communication and collaboration.”. I specifically paid attention to “Evaluate the ways computing impacts personal, ethical, social, economic, and cultural practices.”  I feel this part of the objective pertains to how the articles is focused how scammers seems to scam the elderly easily.  Another part of the objective that stuck out to me is “Explore how user behaviors and system interactions (stand-alone and networked) create a feedback loop with benefits and consequences.”  The article discussed how because of certain advice such as the SSA does not send emails so don’t open the email, people miss out on important information that may actually be sent in an email.  

When reading this article, I felt concerned about my own parents and their tech savviness.  Especially my mom who is mostly computer illiterate.  My dad tries to stay on top of technology, he never slowed down in learning what’s new.  My parents realized the other day about how the tables have turned.  The children are now showing the parents how to use and understand technology.  I’m always afraid my mom will click on something she shouldn’t.  

I felt like this article was trying to deter people from relying on AARP for tech savviness in avoiding scams.  Claiming they aren’t focused on basic principles just anecdotes. Meaning they teach people how to avoid certain situations instead of teaching how to avoid most situations with basic tech knowledge.  

Anna Brown. (2022, April 6). Most Americans who are ‘single and looking’ say dating has been harder during the pandemic.  Pew Research Center

 Access
              Google Search

This article relates to my first courses in receiving my CS authorization, “Computational Thinking with Data Science” and “Foundations in R Programming for K12 Educators”.  A specific objective I would relate this article to his from Foundations in R Programming for K12 Educators, “Create documents using RMarkdown and Rstudio that contain research results, including: graphical visualizations; tables of descriptive statistics summaries, and accompanying interpretations.”  In both courses we learned how to create graphical visualizations of data collected by other as well as by ourselves.  I see many visualizations in the article used to interpret all the data collected.  The visualizations in the article vary depending on different variables of information collected.

This article made me think about my own dating life and how it looks grim reading this article.  It made me wonder if dating life will ever go back to how it was before the pandemic and if not will I be able to adjust to the knew dating scene.  

It does not appear that the article is trying to influence the reader in any kind of way.  The author seems to address many different perspectives without giving an opinion.  

ACCESS: Google Search -> News -> The Berlin Sun

CONNECTION: This reminded me of the Introduction to Green Technology course I interned with during my undergrad to fulfill my education minor hours. It also connects to what we see in California, despite this article being from Berlin because we are seeing a big push for EV vehicles due to the new electricity goals set forth. This also connects to the development of new green technologies because as the push for EV vehicles increases, the more companies are trying to create them to match the demand. It also connects to our PBL course, because students are creating an EV vehicle as part of their learning. 

EMOTION: This article made me feel hopeful, because EV vehicles are being recognized as important to even teach in a traditional automotive program. It was really interesting because students will not only learn about how EV vehicles work, but they will also be constructing a working mini EV vehicle! What a great way to implement project-based learning through engineering and modern technology if your school has the resources. It does appear that the author is convincing the reader that the educational program is a good thing for students, and that it provides a host of new opportunities. However, from my positionality I do think that this course provides a new and important perspective on the importance of EV vehicles so I did not feel particularly persuaded to think in a new way. Perhaps someone who believes gasoline vehicles are a better option might feel pursued to think another way, which is why positionality does influence the way we consume media. 

ACCESS: Google Search -> News -> Brookings

CONNECTION: This class connects to our CS courses in STEMC3 because it talks about computer science education specifically. It does provide an interesting perspective on the reasons for pushing CS into the K-12 classroom, because it does seem to be a little different than how we see CT. 

EMOTION: This article made me feel a little overwhelmed, so I really appreciated the graphs and visuals provided to help me understand and break up the reading. It also felt a little overwhelming to read because in STEMC3 we will be authorized to teach CS along with our single subject content, and reading this article showed me how much of a responsibility that can be. Teaching CS is a big undertaking because there are a lot of systemic issues to tackle, on top of the normal systemic issues we face as educators in our spaces. It does seem like the author is trying to show that CS is important to teach, and that it is important for underrepresented students to engage in CS to then eventually join the workforce to encourage diversity. From my positionality, I did not feel like I was being influenced since I do also agree that minority groups need to be welcomed in CS and STEM in general. The article also does seem to push the importance of specifically AP Computer Science, which I will be authorized to teach but personally do not see myself doing. 

ACCESS: Google Search -> News -> The Daily Targum

CONNECTION: This relates to my fieldwork because my PT has an environmental biology class that my fellow TCR is teaching in, and I have recently been helping out as well. The students are really interested in climate issues so I think it would be important for us as educators to keep up with new climate technologies, to then be sure we are culturally relevant to the students. This also relates to our CS classes because the new technology relies on AI to tackle climate issues. It also connects to my prior experiences in undergrad because I took a GIS class that specifically had us creating maps using ArcGIS mapping, which is similar to GPS tracking. In this class we did need to use massive data files to then sort through to find the important aspects to include on our maps to tell a story. 

EMOTION: Reading this article I felt intrigued, because it seems to be an algorithm attempting to tackle climate change issues which I don’t think I have seen before. Interestingly, in my GIS class we did create a map that showed fragmentation of the Amazon Rainforest using recorded logging pathways and overlaying satellite images. However it was an extra credit assignment so it did feel like it was seen as somehow unimportant in a way. This company that the article highlights seems to use a combination of AI and GIS to then track vulnerable locations, for example where it is more likely to flood after storms. The article does seem to highlight the good parts of the company, so it does seem to be trying to convince the reader that the company is doing good work towards climate change. However the article does not seem to be sponsored by the company so I did not feel like the positive points were pushed. 

EMOTION: This article made me feel angry because the sheer amount of money being used to own a social media app feels out of place and wrong considering wealth disparity and poverty. It also made me angry that a billionaire is seeking more power and control through the use of technology, and a little weary of what changes are going to come to Twitter as a result.

ACCESS: Google Search -> News -> Triple Pundit

CONNECTION: This connects to my current freshman biology class because it discusses ecosystem interactions, and the impacts climate change has specifically on marine ecosystems, along with how their technology aims to eliminate and even positively impact the marine ecosystems. 

EMOTION: This article made me feel conflicted between hope and skepticism. The company that is supposedly creating this new climate technology does seem to have quite large goals in terms of ocean protection and carbon sequestration. However it simultaneously identifies that ocean acidification is an issue but wants to have more carbon stored in the ocean. They aim to create a substance that can be added to ocean water to balance out the amount of carbon they want to contain in bicarbonate or carbonate ions. I am hopeful because the way that the technologies are explained seem very interesting and a potential option in terms of fighting climate change. However I am skeptical because the article does not actually describe the technology in great detail and there seems to be some logical holes in their plans. The author certainly did seem to be convincing the reader that this company is doing good things but I was not totally convinced. It did not seem like a paid promotion but certain parts definitely felt like it. 

ACCESS: Google Search -> News -> LawFare

CONNECTION: This article connects to the Critical Media Literacy course and the Computer Science courses we have taken. It is an interesting and new take on social media because of the way it is structured, individuals can run their own social media platform instead of just creating a user on an already-existing platform. Individuals can use open-source software to then create their own networking service in which the rules and regulations are determined by the creator. This requires a certain level of understanding in terms of computing, and a level of media literacy. However, if users are not critically analyzing these sites, it is a dangerous place with little to no oversight or protections. There is an inherent interest by those who may want to try a new type of social media, are concerned about big companies having their data, and those interested in creating networking sites. 

EMOTION: This article made me very confused and a bit worried in all honesty. Having a space where extremist ideologies can perpetuate and attract more users with no oversight, seems terrifying. I also was confused because the concept of creating my own networking site sounds a bit difficult, especially since there is likely little to no support on how to create it. For example, sometimes it feels like you are creating a space for chatting on Discourse but there are a lot of structures provided on what that looks like and what the site can do for you. This new networking site seems to be completely open-ended, which can allow for dangerous groups to more easily find and engage with one another. The author does not seem to be choosing a side because they present both the perspectives of supporters and those who are concerned about the platform. It seems that the author is simply trying to get the reader to do more research before engaging in this new networking platform, rather than saying to join or not. 

ACCESS: Google Search -> News -> The New York Times

CONNECTION: This article connects to both the Critical Media Literacy class and my Computer Science courses because we have recently watched Coded Bias in both courses to understand the implications of facial recognition AI. Although this article was specifically in Illinois, it has had ramifications across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe. The new case that was settled allows a private company, Clearview AI, to sell their facial recognition algorithm to corporations but are no longer able to sell the database along with it. The database consists of 20 billion images gathered from various social media websites like Instagram or Facebook without users consent. Initially the company was also selling to governmental agencies but they currently do not have future plans to continue those sales. This also connects to Algorithms of Oppression because this company was exploiting vulnerable groups on the internet for their own gain, and the people had no idea that the companies’ technology and algorithms were being used against them. 

EMOTION: This article made me feel a bit uncomfortable and upset. The idea that whatever I post could be subject to usage by another company that I did not agree to share information with seems unsettling. I understand that as a user my posts are then out on the internet to those who may share or use it, but I assumed that those were other users, not other companies who are collecting my information to be used for whatever they please. This article also made me upset because the company was essentially found to be exploiting the most vulnerable people in Illinois, and the people had no idea. The author did not seem to be convincing the reader of one side or another, but they did include more quotes that are supporting stricter privacy laws for this company.

Reference: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/10/technology/apple-ipod-phasing-out.html
Access: Google Search
Connection: This relates to this CS course since it discusses the development of the iPod throughout the past decade as influenced by consumer demands. We are investigating how the internet has changed how we collaborate with information that connects to the article because the iPod was originally designed for consumers to listen to music. However, with the creation of the iPhone, the main function of the iPod was integrated into the new device which has become one of the main forms of communication in the present day. With increased access to the music on the internet, particularly with streaming services such as Apple Music and Spotify, the iPod has become futile.
Emotion: I was actually surprised that the iPod was still being produced and sold so I am not shocked about its discontinuation because I believe that it has lost its relevance a long time ago. The growth of the internet over the past decade has increased access to music services that provide a greater variety of choices for consumers. There is also a lot of data and analytics embedded into apps such as Spotify and Apple Music that cater to the consumer’s preferences and provide a breakdown of the entertainment that they consume to provide suggestions. 

ACCESS: Google Search/New York Times

CONNECTION: We often talk about misleading data in class, so I thought this lesson would be interesting to share. The lesson is titled The Misleading Math of Prenatal Tests as it discusses why the advertised “99.9 percent reliability” of prenatal testing companies do not accurately depict the accuracy of tests. The lesson relates statistics, more specifically Bayes Theorem, to relevant data surrounding pregnancies. I especially loved that the focus of the lesson was not just on mathematics. Instead, it used statistics to help students better understand where the numbers come from and have richer, more informed discussions around the ethics and effects that these numbers have on expecting mothers. The lesson unspokenly incorporates CT as it asks students to critically analyze and question their given data. Students are able to use pattern recognition in discovering the actual percentage of true positives for certain syndromes, and this can become a cross-disciplinary activity as it provides opportunities for students to learn about Punnett Squares and specific mutations/syndromes. 

EMOTION: I felt surprised when I read this article because I hadn’t known that the 99.9% reliability that was advertised by prenatal testing sites did not actually mean what most individuals thought it would mean. This is definitely a lesson that I am highly interested in learning and showing to my students because pregnancy and prenatal testing is a topic that is not only relevant but highly debatable based on current events. 

ACCESS: Google Search

CONNECTION: This article argues for the importance of non-STEM subjects, more specifically civics-related topics, in education as many of the new technologies and STEM-based innovations are also dependent on politics and the different laws governing our countries. Many times, kids step into a math classroom and all they think about is math because teachers don’t show them the connection between math and history and other non-STEM topics. This is partly due to the fact that curriculums are designed to focus on specific content without space for cross-curricular activities that can connect students’ understanding of content. Computational thinking would be helpful in bridging this gap as it provides students with a set of skills that can be used across all disciplines. Recognizing the existence of those skills would create space for more complex projects that incorporate multiple classes and discuss culturally relevant topics that are personally meaningful to students.

EMOTION: I felt excited when I read this article because it did a great job of highlighting the issues that cause students to feel disconnect between different subjects and their personal life. I value the emphasis that education places on developing important STEM identities in students; however, I worry about the trade-off that it is making with non-STEM subjects, so the issues and the points that are brought up in this article makes me feel excited as it shows me that there is a campaign to focus on those aspects of education as well. 

ACCESS: New York Times/Google Search

CONNECTION: This is a great resource for engaging students in Computational Thinking skills. The NYT article provides an engaging and relevant question about the effects of climate change. Students can read changing histograms (math) and relate it back to climate change (science) thus creating a cross-curricular connection based on the given data. Using CT, students can analyze the changes in mathematical terms as well as the relevance it has to their community. They would be able to consider factors that lead to climate change and brainstorm possible solutions to address the issues. I especially like the interactive version because it gives students the opportunity to explore different data sets that are meaningful to them. This would be a great resource for teachers to use in order to engage students in different CT skills to discuss and address societal issues relevant to their lives. 

EMOTION: I feel grateful to have online resources such as this where students can use real data that is collected from a large sample size in order to connect their ideas and the skills that they learned in the classroom. I like CT, but sometimes I have a hard time coming up with lessons, collecting/finding data for the activities, etc. so having this resource readily available encourages me to incorporate more CT lessons into my class.

ACCESS: Google Search, UCLA Digital Library

CONNECTION: This website is an online database that documents memes that have appeared on the Internet. From our critical media literacy class, we have learned of the persuasiveness of online media content. Thus, I believe that this website would be a great resource for students to access and explore in order to better understand how to analyze and create media pieces that express their values and opinions on societal issues that are relevant to them. The qualitative database can also be explored through a CT lens as students explore how data can be collected and used qualitatively rather than quantitatively. 

EMOTION: When I found this website, I felt surprised, intrigued, and amazed that someone would spend time to create an online database to document memes shared on the Internet. I noticed that there were several memes that were posted today, which means that the website is consistently updated. Those memes were also relevant to current events, such as the steep decline of cryptocurrency in our current stock market. As such, I felt interested in sharing this website with others and seeing how it could be used in a classroom setting to encourage and educate students. 

ACCESS: Google News

CONNECTION: This aligns with learning objective #3 because it talks about how quantum computing as a system can be used to save the planet through the power of quantum computing.  

EMOTION: This article gave me some hope but also made me think about how much we rely on technology now to solve our man-made issues such as climate change. I think the article is really positive and makes it almost seem like quantum computing is the ultimate solution to global warming. I think that it sounds like a great idea on paper, but how long will this take? If we end up using it in the long run, will it be too late for us? This article really made me think about how much climate change has been minimized and it made me anxious about what solutions we’ll implement if any. 

ACCESS: Google News

CONNECTION:  This aligns with learning objective #3 because it talks about how quantum computing as a system can be used to solve issues within the aerospace industry. 

EMOTION: Being a UCLA student, this made me feel proud of the school for receiving this much money to solve aerospace industry issues. It really made me see the importance of quantum computing which can be applied to several fields like medicine, environmental science, engineering, and so on. I think that I now see the potential of quantum computing, but still leaves me to question how much of what was said is actually attainable. 

ACCESS: Google News

CONNECTION: This article relates to the learning objective about being critical about visualizations of data that we see in the real world.

EMOTION: This article was interesting to read because it felt like I was looking at a lot of visualizations rather than just reading. Some of these visualizations were about how the shift to 1:1 computing (every student having a computer) has been interesting in the first year back to school. I think in my own experience, it's been really nice to have all students have their own chromebook. However, one visualization really stuck me because it had to do with behavior and technology. The graph seemed to show that behavior got overall worse when kids were using their technology. It made me feel like maybe it was misleading because that wasn’t my own personal experience, but the more I thought about it, the more I came to realize that there are probably many factors that can affect behavior other than technology. 

ACCESS: Google Search

CONNECTION: I was inspired by the sample lesson plan on Net Neutrality shown in U3.5, so I wanted to find more possible lessons and activities to do with my students to educate them on the issue. This is a blog that I found from Ian Bryce Jones who teaches “in the areas of new media, cinema, and the arts.” This link specifically discusses his lesson on net neutrality and how he engages students in conversations and debates on the topic; however, his blog has many other lesson plans relating to media and the Internet. Thinking ahead to when I will be teaching ECS next year, this is definitely a blog that I could look at and learn from as it comes from a fellow teacher who finds importance in educating students on the benefits, detriments, and controversies of Internet access. It also connects to the main ideas that we have learned in Unit 3 of our CS course as it relates to ways in which students can better-understand how these legislations personally impact them and their community.

EMOTION: I felt excited to read and explore this blog as it comes from a fellow educator who prioritizes raising awareness of social issues to students. I believe that it is a great source of information as it shows sample lesson plans that can be adopted in my own classroom space. I look forward to exploring more of this teacher’s blog and finding other lesson plans that can be modified and adapted in my classroom as well. 

Reference: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-61550776
Access: Google Search
Connection: This connects to what we have been learning in this class about the ethics behind using technology. Clearview AI, a facial recognition company, has invaded the privacy of UK citizens by collecting data about them unknowingly. Their personal data that is made public online through social media accounts, such as Facebook and  Instagram, allowed this company to take these images and upload them to a database.
Emotion: This makes me more cautious about what I post online because some of my photos can be used without my consent on websites that I have never even heard about. This also makes me think about the fine print that I often see when agreeing to “Terms and Conditions” that may explicitly say this. However, I typically scroll through without reading and press “agree” so I’m not sure what potential dangers can lie in using certain websites or apps.

Reference: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61505102
Access: Google Search
Connection: This connects to the Critical Media Literacy class about advancements in science using technology. By using gene drive technology, inserting a lab-tweaked gene into an organism, Liz O’Neill hopes to drive out malaria-carrying mosquitos. We discussed independent science and technocratic science in which the intentions behind the implementation of scientific technology differ greatly. It appears that this organization aims to eliminate this invasive species and reduce the number of people who die from malaria.
Emotion: It’s incredible to see that technology is so advanced now that we are releasing genetically-modified organisms into the wild with the intent of prohibiting diseases from spreading. However, there are many risks with introducing a human-made organism and ethical concerns about how it could affect the food chain.

ACCESS: Google Search

CONNECTION: This website connects with what we have been learning in our Critical Media Literacy (CML) class as it expands on what critical media literacy is, why it is important, and how it can be incorporated into a classroom setting. I especially appreciate the DIY activities tab on the website as it exemplifies actual sample work of activities that teachers can incorporate into their own lesson plans in order to invite students to practice CML. Another feature of the website is their “playlist” tab which shows possible podcasts and videos that individuals can watch to learn more about the impacts of CML on the digital age of our society. If there are specific cultures, backgrounds, or identities that students or teachers wish to explore, the website also differentiates between such identities and it provides lesson plans, worksheets, and more information about how each identity is affected by digital media. Overall, this website is an informative and excellent resource to use to learn more about the effects of CML on certain identities as well as how this can be reiterated to students in a meaningful and impactful way. 

EMOTION: I really enjoyed looking through this website because it depicts the passion and importance in which the creator of the website has for CML. I was happy and excited knowing that I could introduce CML to my students without worrying about having to face teacher burnout through creating my own lesson plans and activities. This is definitely a website that I will return to in the future for inspiration in how CML would be incorporated into my classroom. 

ACCESS: Google Search -> News -> Medium 

CONNECTION: This connects to Computer Science, Computational Thinking, equity, PIP, COP, and all of the courses we take for those in STEMC3. Despite these connections to our program, it is a new way to think about computer science that centers the same ideas we hope to center in our program. 

EMOTION: I found this article actually really engaging and interesting! I thought it was really nice to hear about computer science from a different standpoint because it has always been daunting and still seems that way to me. I have only heard computer science from the viewpoint of STEM professionals and people with STEM backgrounds, so this was a fresh perspective. Seeing computer science as a liberal arts subject does center the same ideologies we hope to center in STEMC3 but we just haven’t seen it that way before. “People associate the phrase “liberal arts” with college degrees that do not map to specific trades or clear career paths (and are therefore “worthless”), but liberal arts is about critical thinking, logic, picking apart complex problems, and ethics.” The author is persuading the audience to try and see computer science from a libteral arts standpoint, to allow for a more holistic view of the field. 

ACCESS: Google Search -> News -> MIT Management: Sloan School

CONNECTION: This connects to Computational Thinking, Computer Science, and the courses we take in STEMC3 that highlight these ideas.  

EMOTION: This article specifically talks about the future of artificial intelligence, and how the data needs to be centered in these algorithms. A direct quote from the article states that “These different sorts of data need different custom AI systems”. Although this does make sense in terms of decentering big data and centering smaller data systems that are applicable to the task, the article seemed to dance around the idea of equity-centered data sets. The article seemed to be leaning towards that idea by saying that big data sets do not always reflect what is needed for a specific task and location, but it never explicitly stated that the inequitable algorithms that are used then push those data sets to be inaccurate and inequitable. For this reason the article made me semi-hopeful, because it does seem like there are people other than those we learned about in class that are pushing for more equity-centered artificial intelligence and unbiased algorithms. However it was a bit interesting that they did not outright say that in the article. The author is definitely trying to convince the reader to create more data-centric AI that can become more efficient and be better equipped for the tasks at hand. 

 

Access: Found with a Google Search for “Technology and computing”

 

Connection: This connects to me because it seems like this technology of “cognitive computing” seems very similar to computational thinking. This time, rather than having a human do it, we want to teach a computer how to solve these problems like a human, so it’s almost the flip side since I perceive computational thinking as a way for humans to solve a problem like a computer.

 

Emotion: This makes me a little bit wary. I think overall, having a computer simulate human emotions sounds like a good idea to find more equitable solutions versus a more impersonal AI, but in adding the sentiment analysis, I can’t help but wonder how the computer will react and based on whose emotional intelligence and responses it will mirror. Will the responses be able to respond to a person’s culture or will it still serve to keep those in power in power and doesn’t help those who are already marginalized based on who makes the program. I think this seems like a good idea, but I still see an issue in how the new technology can still marginalize a community 

 

Access: Found with a Google Search for “Technology and computing”

 

Connection: I thought this the final point of this article related a lot to the CML class and the core principles involved. While we aren’t necessarily talking about hacking in there, I think when looking at a smart device we should look at who is making the technology and why. Whether that’s in terms of what parts of their technology they protect from hackers or whether they provide other additional security measures for their technology, I think that’s something we can connect to CML.

 

Emotion: While some of these internet laws are things to be cautious about, reading this article was oddly comforting in a way. A lot of times, I’ve thought of the internet as somewhat of the “Wild West,” so in finding trends and ways that the internet works and seeing those patterns makes is less of a scary place in a way. Systems are always easier to navigate when you know how they work, and although I don’t think the article shows the complete workings of the internet, I thought this was a good beginning in how to think of the internet’s structure. 

 

Access: Found with a Google Search for “Technology and computing”

 

Connection: For me, this article seemed to chronicle how the evolution of computing really was a series of “debugging and evaluating” the current technology to improve it, and eventually that technology reached the point where companies were able to do more complex analysis with that technology and gave birth to the rise of some of the other computational thinking practices such as communicating with and about data and using abstraction.

 

Emotion: To be honest, I’m not entirely sure how I should feel. This article to me felt somewhat dry since it seemed to be mostly summarizing another story that different people wrote, but I was comforted in a sense with the idea that really there was no breakthrough that wasn’t preceded by something. No one was really creating anything new but just adjusting what already came before. That actually helped to take some of the mystery out of how some of the breakthroughs that I perceived to be out of left field really came into play. 

 

Access: Found with a Google Search for “Technology and computing”

 

Connection: I think sometimes looking at computers can be a little rigid because they can only do what people tell them to do, so sometimes it doesn’t make sense to use the computer while we’re still waiting on information. If we want to make decisions before, we have to use our own reasoning and computational thinking skills before deciding what to run. With quantum computing, the computer can do those probability analyses for us and can adjust its thinking as it receives more results and more information.

 

Emotion: I was somewhat excited by the idea of quantum computing because I do think it addresses more of the realities of our world in that we won’t have all the information immediately available. However, like I’ve mentioned before in some of my journals, the idea of machine learning still is something that makes me apprehensive because I still think there are places that whoever is coding the machine learning can still have some of their biases in it, so while the idea of quantum computing is cool, I think there are still potential issues with the technology.

 

Access: Found with a Google Search for “Technology and computing”

 

Connection: This article was all about debugging and using data to help us make decisions which I feel like is one of the biggest reasons to use technology and we’re trying to teach our students to use technology when necessary but also to recognize when the technology may not help them. It also showed how we can use technology to really push boundaries and make innovations.

 

Emotion: This article frustrated me as well similarly to the military article I read during unit 1. While space exploration is cool and I do like how the technology and computing is being used to make space exploration easier, especially in the aspects of speed, looking at some of the potential issues we have in our environment and our planet, why are these resources being poured into space exploration when we could definitely use those resources to help us preserve our planet here? It just makes me wonder what are the priorities of the institutions that allocate the money, so that frustrates me a little bit. 

REFERENCE: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/12/technology/google-chatbot-ai-blake-lemoine.html 

ACCESS: I saw people talking about this on Twitter, so I googled “lamda ai” and clicked on the link from the New York Times 

CONNECTION: How does this relate to one or more of the courses that you're teaching/ taking or one or more of the objectives of this course?  

This article connects to the book Artificial Unintelligence. In the book, the author talks about how movies and fiction make us scared of sentient AI but that is so far from what the technology is actually capable of. I am also reminded of the little AI activity we did in the CML class where we trained an AI to recognize different photos. The LaMDA AI obviously has access to a huge amount of data sets and uses that information to create conversations like a human, but it is still a program. 

EMOTION: How did this article make you feel? Does it appear that this publisher/author/hosting site had intentions to influence the reader in any particular way?

I think this article did a good job of presenting the facts of the situation and explaining why AI cannot gain sentience and why experts in the field think that. It was interesting that the article brought up other researchers who were fired for publicly disagreeing with colleagues. I’m interested in learning more about that situation. There is definitely shady stuff happening within Google and the applications of their technology, but sentience is not the issue. 

 

Access: Found with a Google Search for “Technology and computing”

 

Connection: I think this article definitely connects most to our CML course because we want to look at who this is meant for. In my opinion, this article was meant for people who are already in the tech industry because of the technical language involved in the piece rather than for someone like me who isn’t familiar with the inner workings of computers at all. Had I actually been using this as research for something, I would not have been able to access the point that this article is making because I don’t have the background to comprehend it, and I want students to be able to know for whom an article is written because it can help them do their research and find pieces that are accessible to their existing knowledge.

 

Emotion: I find this article to be a little bit hypocritical honestly because it called for “honesty and transparency,” but so much of the technical language involved meant that it was realistically inaccessible to me. I had an idea of what quantum computing was because one of my unit 2 articles was about quantum computing, but this article assumed that the reader knew what it was, which does make sense, but it seems to be less transparent than it could be because there’s such a high barrier to entry. 

Access: Found with a Google Search for “Technology and computing”

 

Connection: I thought that the charts reminded me of what we were able to do with some of the data visualizations in RStudio, but I don’t think that a lot of the data that was collected went anywhere. Whereas we were taking our data to create data stories and communicate about data, this article just placed the data in different data visualizations and left the reader to their own conclusions.

 

Emotion: I was initially excited for this article because 1 to 1 technology is a pretty recent idea in K-12 schools, at least from what I know, so I was disappointed that the article felt incomplete. There was a lot of data there, but no real conclusions were made. It felt like the author thought that their work was done just presenting the graphs and charts whereas for me, I was expecting them to say what their conclusions and analysis were from the charts.

 

Access: Found with a Google Search for “Technology and computing”

 

Connection: This article again made me think of CML because this went into a lot more of the legal ramifications of new quantum computing technology, which makes sense because the website has the word “lawyers” in its name, so of course they would focus on the legal side of new technology. Finding that lens from the start can help to frame a lot of what the article will talk about just by looking at those core concepts, so that was helpful for me to understand this article’s angle.

 

Emotion: I’m a little disappointed with this article, and maybe it’s because I’m not really looking hard enough, but this is the third article I’ve seen about quantum computing and it’s not really clear how viable this technology is and whether it’s something that could even become viable for individuals. I also think because there isn’t much known about how a lot of the technology is developed, especially something more cutting edge like quantum computing, it leaves people without a technological background potentially vulnerable to being taken advantage of because we have no choice but to accept new technology as it comes. 
 

REFERENCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXf04bhcjbg&ab_channel=LastWeekTonight 

ACCESS: I watch Last Week Tonight with John Oliver regularly so I saw this story on HBOMax, then found the story on YouTube to share

CONNECTION: How does this relate to one or more of the courses that you're teaching/ taking or one or more of the objectives of this course?  

This reminded me of Coded Bias, Algorithms of Oppression, and the importance of being critical and aware of technology. He goes through the power that tech companies like Amazon, Facebook, and Google have over how we use the web. Google especially keeps you on its sites instead of showing the most relevant or popular pages. This connects to the ideas in class about who controls information and who isn’t benefitting. 

EMOTION: How did this article make you feel? Does it appear that this publisher/author/hosting site had intentions to influence the reader in any particular way?

This is an HBO comedy/news show and John Oliver is never shy about sharing his opinion. He adds a comedic effect to the story but does still provide important information. He always ends the show with an action item - in this episode he is supporting bills to break up big tech companies and stop the monopolies Google and Amazon hold. 

 

Access: Found with a Google Search for “Technology and computing”

 

Connection: Once again, this reminded me a lot of some things that my partner teacher and I have discussed as far as including technology in our classes goes. Not every lesson or every unit will benefit from having technology, and in fact some are restricted by trying to force technology in them. This article made the same point about quantum computing, focusing on the two sectors where it would make an impact while also stating that it won’t make an impact everywhere.

 

Emotion: This was an article that finally made it clear to me how quantum computing could be relevant to my life and where it can appear without me directly using it. Realistically, as a teacher, I won’t be on the cutting edge of the technological world, but understanding where this quicker processing and ability to run multiple simulations at once can be helpful for me to understand the greater landscape of the technology world. I’m pacified for now that I can understand the general idea of quantum computing without needing to know every detail since I realistically won’t be directly using the technology. 

 

Access: Found with a Google Search for “Technology and computing”

 

Connection: This article connects to the CT principle “communicating with and about data” because to me, the whole point of a cloud database is to encourage and enhance collaboration around computing. A cloud would make collaboration much more straightforward and less time consuming than it would be without a cloud system.

 

Emotion: Reading this article, I wonder what the author’s job is and whether they potentially work for a company with a cloud database. The article only focuses on potential benefits of cloud computing, such as lower costs for a business and increased security without beginning to address any sort of risks and why these benefits outweigh potential risks. I’m a little skeptical of what the article says because I feel like the way it’s written shows that the author has a bias toward using these cloud computing services.

ACCESS: Google Search

CONNECTION: This article discusses the military’s current experiments in swarm drones that could potentially reduce the cost and quantity of aircrafts. The goal is for the mentioned drones to have a collective mind/goal, but also be able to autonomously function as individual robots that can make its own decisions. The idea for swarm drones is derived from the natural behavior of birds, bees, and ants. It is often easier to make connections between computer science and mathematics as compared to computer science and biology. I believe that this article shows how those connections don’t have to be contrived as there are strong, equity-based connections between the two topics. As someone who only knows the basics of life science, I found this article to be interesting and informative about what behavior we model our technology after. 

EMOTION: I felt interested and surprised when reading this article because I had not realized that AI technology behavior is often modeled after the behavior found in animals. I found the connection between biology and computer science to be really cool, and I would love to see the information in this article adapted into a biology and/or computer science lesson. 

ACCESS: Google Search

CONNECTION: This article discusses the use of new technology in improving our traffic light systems. Instead of a manually programmed system, researchers at Aston University are testing new AI technology that autonomously adapts to new traffic situations and conditions through its live feed. The program is trained through simulations that offer positive and negative rewards based on how well the program interprets and responds to spontaneous traffic conditions. I think this article showcases how AI technology can be used to improve existing computerized systems, especially in low-income areas where traffic jams occur more often because of its high population density. Since most, if not all of our courses discuss ways in which students can apply what they learn to their community, I believe this article represents a great example of how computer science can be applied to drastically improve the living conditions of students’ surrounding community. 

EMOTION: I felt intrigued and inspired reading this article since it relates artificial intelligence to something that I experience in everyday life. I often sit at traffic lights frustrated by their inability to analyze the situation and adapt to the fact that there are no other cars in the cross traffic, so seeing this issue being addressed using improved computers and technology is very inspiring to me. 

Access: Google

Connection: This article relates to this class, “Data Flow in the Digital Age: Networks, Devices and Their Data.” The article discusses how Senator Elizabeth Warren has proposed a sweeping ban on location and health data sales to protect people’s privacy. In this class, I have learned about the internet and how we are all connected by the network. With everything we do, we are leaving data for companies or other individuals to use. As I have read articles for this class and looked up my IP address, I have felt uncomfortable and wondered how companies can get away with collecting our data. Many people are disturbed by this because they do not want people to have access to their personal information. 

Emotion:

I would like to say that I felt good reading this. However, I feel more sadness, anger, and disappointment because I am sure this is something that unfortunately will not pass. Companies have been making so much profit off us and if there is something that can hurt their profit, they will do whatever they can to protect it. 

Access: Google Search

Connection: This article connects to the “Designing Software Experiences for Classroom Interactions with Data” course we are currently taking.The article discusses a feature on Google Maps that allows IOS and Android users to check the air quality in their current location or other locations of interest. It uses government data gathered from agencies such as EPA and PurpleAir. We are currently in the process of designing an App that has widgets for our students to explore data on a topic. In this example, Google Maps is the app and the feature that allows users to check the air quality is the widget. 

Emotion: Overall, I felt good reading this article. I think it is great that people can check the air quality of their locations and other locations they may be looking to go to later in the day. As I think about the software we have to develop for the class, I am wondering if this is a tool I can use. I am interested in the topic of stadiums in LA and one component I am considering is the air quality of these surrounding communities. Since the data from Google Maps is supposed to be updated, I think it could be a great tool to use in the classroom. 

REFERENCE: That smiling LinkedIn profile face might be a computer-generated fake

ACCESS: I heard this piece on NPR’s Up First podcast one morning, then found the transcription on their website 

CONNECTION: This article explores an investigation into AI-generated profile pictures on LinkedIn, launched by disinformation researcher, Renée DiResta. I first thought about this media piece in relation to our critical media literacy class this quarter. In this article, DiResta noted the photos looked like a typical corporate headshot. Therefore, the people who developed these AI-generated avatars coded the avatars to match our expectations of what a corporate American looks like. In this second article about fake LinkedIn profiles, they include a collage of such avatars. It's interesting to note the general characteristics of the stereotypical corporate employee- primarily white or light-skinned, mostly straight hair, plain features, and a wide grin. It made me wonder why we think this is what a corporate employee must look like? What schemas have we developed around the corporate employee stereotype, that we so readily accept these profiles? In regards to software, this is a reminder that the biases of the creator are coded into the programs we create. 

EMOTION: I thought this article was interesting, but didn’t go deep enough into the social issue. Much of the social issue I’ve touched upon in my connection reflection wasn’t included in the article- rather it focused on the use of AI in disinformation campaigns. The way the title of the article is written also seems to intend to incite fear- but for what reason? I think the media likes to make AI out to be this scary thing that we should be afraid of, but if we had even a basic understanding of how AI works, we’d know that the onus of this emotion should be on its creators.

REFERENCE: AI software called DALL-E turns your words into pictures 

ACCESS: Seen these images via twitter, looked up an article about their origins 

CONNECTION: I think this is a comprehensive article that balances the fun of such outrageous images with the potential for biases, which relates to our focus on social justice in software in CS 492. Our CML class reminds me that we have to be cognizant of this software’s origins, and what intentions they have in creating it, as well as who is/is not benefitting from it. As with other AI technologies, biases are built into the program, so as we encounter these images online, it’s helpful to understand how they were created and from what source material.  

EMOTION: The novel applications of this software so far have made me laugh, as images that get posted to twitter are mostly funny and clearly AI, given how imperfect they are. I think this article was well intentioned in addressing the pros and cons of such software, and mainly focused on its limited user access so far. 

ACCESS: I heard about these claims via my boyfriend, who was reading a twitter thread about this AI software and the engineer in question; then I found a relevant article online 

CONNECTION: The philosophical concerns about AI outlined in this writer’s argument were helpful in understanding the following standard for this course: 

9-12.IC.23 Evaluate the ways computing impacts personal, ethical, social, economic, and cultural practices.

In comparing the ethical concerns around computing to those around animal and human welfare, this article thoughtfully articulated the humanity in computing and bridged the so-called “objective” world of CS with the emotional world of subjective philosophy. It shows that our qualms about AI come from a very real human reaction, and that even engineers, who clearly understand and work with this software daily, are not infallible. 

 

EMOTION: I found the framing of this article to be very compelling, as its author did not simply interview engineers about what AI is logically capable of, but rather connected the question of AI sentience to other scientific ethical issues, such as animal welfare and human development. Because of this comparison,, I found this incidence to be much more nuanced than a typical shut-down of AI sentience claims. 

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/50cd/47f0d88a27f6cf9657ef710b14696b1299d2.pdf 

ACCESS: I was wondering if anyone had done any studies on the topic, so I searched it online 

CONNECTION: I think this is an example of the simple, but powerful ways in which we now communicate online. I am very excited that my district elected Eunisses Hernandez, a community activist, for city council. Thinking about the messaging that led to my decision to vote for her, among the majority in my district, I considered the role of digital media. One of the forms of research I conducted was on voting guides, which are published online, often by non-profits, that align with a set of values. This article highlights the fact that, while the actual impact of these guides alone is limited, promotion and access of such information is what truly empowers citizens, much of which is mediated by online communications. In connection to our CML class, this article highlights the importance of investigating who publishes these guides and for what gain. In connection to this course’s standards ( 9-12.IC.23 Evaluate the ways computing impacts personal, ethical, social, economic, and cultural practices), this article is a simple reminder that computing has a real life impact on our society, even in the simplest of ways, such as information dissemination. 

EMOTION: This research excited me, as I am very interested in finding new ways to empower my students, as young citizens. I want them to know that they can have an impact on their community, even if they cannot yet vote. Highlighting the importance of shared knowledge and critical media literacy in evaluating voter guides will guide them towards future critical thinking. 

REFERENCE: https://www.techtimes.com/articles/277040/20220622/microsoft-will-longer-allow-companies-access-facial-recognition-technologies-heres.htm 

ACCESS: I searched “tech news ethics” and this was the top result under news tab on google

CONNECTION: I think it’s great that Microsoft is limiting access to their facial recognition technology, mainly by implementing an application for use of the software, to ensure companies requesting use meet their AI ethics policies. This article is a reminder that the power of computing has ethical concerns that need to be integrated in the design of the technology, not considered after the fact. 

EMOTION: I found this article to be underwhelming, as they merely stated the basic facts. I think the author could have gone farther in outlining what Microsoft’s AI ethic policies are, and what sort of misuse or advocacy may have led them to limiting access to the technology. 

Access: Tumblr → Science daily site

Connection: This is an interesting use of technology in the field! Hydrophones are deployed to capture the sounds of the corals to understand the health of the environment. They also used computing to make an AI that can learn these sound patterns and tell the scientists what is going on. 

Emotion: This was a really interesting use of AI! It makes me hopeful to see articles like this where scientists are trying their hardest to preserve and sustain the environment using new and innovative methods.

Access: Google Search

Connection: This article talks about the women behind the moon landing, namely the Navajo women that were asked to assemble the microchips. Their unique rug weaving skills came in handy as the same precision and creativity was needed for the microchip creation. Without this work, the core memory of the project would have had to use a much older and would have slowed the overall performance of the computers. This article talks about the intersection of technology, computing, and art.

Emotion: I was amazed to hear about this! I knew many women worked on the computing part of the moon landing, but I had no idea that Navajo women were essential due to their skills! I love to hear about the intersection between art and science, I think we often overlook that and I want to help my students see it also. 

REFERENCE: Can crumbling cookies sweeten UK data-protection plans? https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-61865575 

ACCESS:I searched “tech news” and this article was recommended at the top of google 

CONNECTION: 9-12.IC.30 Evaluate the social and economic implications of privacy in the context of safety, law, or ethics. This course standard asks us to engage with technology in more thoughtful and safe ways, as the internet becomes increasingly opaque and our information becomes decreasingly private. I wonder how I would think about internet privacy if I were to opt in once to tracking at the browser level, rather than having cookie opt-out pop ups on every new site I visit. Privacy proponents take up the issue with the reform bill potentially placing the onus of consent on individuals to prevent their data from being tracked instead of opting into it. 

EMOTION: This article made me curious, because I had to consider my own privacy practices online. I think the author was fairly comprehensive in presenting both sides of the issue, but the framing, from the title of the article, to the presentation of the information, was confusing and lacked meaning. 

REFERENCE: https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/21/twitter-to-expand-into-long-form-content-with-upcoming-twitter-notes-feature/ 

ACCESS: This article was found by searching “twitter tech news” on google 

CONNECTION: 9-12.IC.27 Use collaboration tools and methods to increase connectivity with people of different cultures and careers. This course’s standard asks us to consider how network systems allow us to communicate across physical space and with people from varied backgrounds. Twitter’s platform has played a big role in the social media landscape, changing how we communicate, and has launched people’s careers. The ability to use Twitter for long-form writing will change the existing culture of twitter threads, which are a beloved and highly recognizable way of utilizing the platform. I wonder if this new feature will increase opportunities for communication or become an ineffective tool that users do not embrace. 

EMOTION: This article made me wary as I feel like longform reads are not the point of Twitter, and this type of content belongs elsewhere. The appeal of threads on the platform is that it creates a natural conclusion and chunks information into bite-sized pieces, thus the audience can choose how much they’d like to engage with it. Readers can better abstract the key info from the thread in this format, as compared to having to read a long essay and then summarize the info. I feel that this article is fairly neutral in its presentation of the information. 

REFERENCE: https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/17/tech/google-abortion-misleading-results-lawmakers/index.html 

ACCESS: CNN 

CONNECTION: This article reminded me of our critical media literacy class, as well as the book Algorithms of Oppression. The opaque way that search engines work, specifically google, makes us believe that the top results are the most trustworthy or relevant to our search. Which is absolutely not true, as Google’s algorithm is still a reflection of the biases that exist in the humans that created it. It’s scary to think that tech can have such a major impact on our bodies and access to healthcare. We have to be reminded that search engines are a product with a purpose, much of which is ad profit. If the top results for a search for abortion services are anti-abortion clinics, it’s clear who is profiting off this result and that Google is complicit in attempting to govern bodies. 

EMOTION: This article made me angry, as there is already so much misinformation when it comes to abortion. If people are being limited in their ability to conduct their own research and make this decision, this could have a major impact on people’s lives. The fact that a search engine or web browser is complicit in limiting access to abortion is so heartbreaking. 

Connection: The scientists behind this project worked at creating a code that allows these little bots to communicate with each other without any network or bluetooth. They took inspiration from Fireflies and figured out how to create tiny bots that produced electroluminescence. The bots can track each other through the lights, keep data on each other’s motion, and respond according to their programming to locate targets of interest and call for help. 

Emotion: At first glance this seems like a cute idea but makes me doubt the scientists thought about the ecological ramifications of this. On further inspection this is a really interesting idea for projects that need a simple track and communicate function from the devices, it could be useful for field studies where network function is low. 

Connection: This article explores the algorithms and biases still present in Google today. Search engines are a part of technology we use daily yet the algorithm it uses continues to have biases that can be harmful to its users. This is something important to remember! Algorithms are made by humans and humans have biases. 

Emotion: I am becoming more and more aware of the biases in the Search Engines and it disapppoints me to see how Google does not always respond or take action when they are pointed out. 

Access: Science Daily

Connection: This article explores a new feature that may potentially be added to self-driving cars, an ‘hindsight’ feature, where the car stores memories in its local database so that it can better approach a situation and/or location after encountering it a second time.

Emotion: My sister is a big fan of self-driving cars and I picked this article up because I thought of her. This seems like an interesting idea because hindsight works well for us humans, we tend to do similar tas

REFERENCE: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-61828900 

ACCESS: Googled “technology news” and clicked this link to BBC

CONNECTION: How does this relate to one or more of the courses that you're teaching/ taking or one or more of the objectives of this course?  

This article is about teens using social media and new ways for instagram to verify their ages. This is something that would affect our students and I am really interested to get student’s opinions on this. One method of age verification presented is a “video selfie” that uses facial recognition technology to confirm a user’s age. This also connected to the conversation about facial recognition in Coded Bias. 

EMOTION: How did this article make you feel? Does it appear that this publisher/author/hosting site had intentions to influence the reader in any particular way?

This article was presented very objectively. They presented the different methods of age verification and interviewed some of the people working on the technology. I think it is really important for minors to be protected online. I grew up with pretty unlimited access to the internet and knew lots of people who lied about their age and got into dangerous situations online. I think some kind of age verification system is good because young people do need restrictions for their own safety. For example, adults who aren’t accepted followers shouldn’t be able to message minors. 

https://www.theverge.com/2022/6/23/23180819/twitter-video-closed-captions-ios-android-accessibility-subtitles 

ACCESS: The Verge 

CONNECTION: The contents of this article reminded me of our CML class, as I had to think about who benefitted from this feature, as well as the positionality of the article’s author. The author definitely agreed that it was a good thing, as they noted, “Hopefully, the toggle being available to everyone will encourage anyone uploading a video to Twitter to consider adding captions.” Because I agree with this statement, it made me more inclined to read the article. Highlighting the ways that tech can push us towards equitable access is important to my classroom goals, as well as the goals of this class, as exemplified in the course standard below. Clearly twitter received feedback that pushed them towards implementing this feature. 

EMOTION: I think it’s really important that we push for more accessibility features like this, and that we make them more visible. The article states that captions may have been available if you had them enabled in your phone’s settings, but pushing for them at the browser and site levels will increase visibility and help make them the norm. Unfortunately this doesn’t include an auto captioning feature, so it’s still up to the person who uploaded the video to include captioning in the first place, but it makes me happy to see options like this more widely available. 

ACCESS: Tech Radar 

CONNECTION: The content of this article was focused on additional security features within this password manager firm, that allows users to send time-limited confidential records. This reminded me of the importance of protecting your shared information against not only human error, but also malicious hackers. This definitely related to what I’ve been learning in module 4 of this unit, and aligned with the following standard: 9-12.NI.6 Compare and contrast security measures to address various security threats. I am reminded that cybersecurity is constantly evolving and adapting to new threats. The fact that this feature can be utilized across a variety of sharing methods and with others who don’t have a Keeper account is great because it lowers the barrier to accessing this important safety feature. 

EMOTION: Something I really liked about this article was an accessibility feature on the website, where you could choose to listen to the article. Having this feature easily accessed and prominently displayed increases equitable access to the content. It’s in everyone’s best interest to have information available in multiple mediums. It made me feel like the website had a wide audience in mind. 

Access: Newscientist 

Connection: This article talks about how user data is sold to data brokers. On something like a period tracking app, could this user data be used to to find the users location and report them in states that aggressively push the anti-abortion legislation. 

Emotion: I hate that this is something we have to worry about. These apps and services were meant to help women but that data is easy to access as, like any other app, user data is dispersed for marketing and such. 

Thinking about our discussions around critical media literacy, I think this article depicts the importance of students being able to think critically about the internet and how it is being monitored in different areas of the world. We can use this article as an entry discussion on the internet and peoples rights to it but also thinking about whether limitations should be imposed on by the government and when those laws are fair or unfair. 

I found this article to be shocking and I was surprised I haven't heard about this happening. It really puts into perspective the role of the internet has on shaping societies and how some governments are scared of this kind of power. The internet when used correctly can really unite people to find a common objective and generate social change. Passing these kinds of laws would make it difficult for people to come together but also make it hard for their realities to be shared with the rest of the world. It goes to show just how oppressive some leaders are and how politicians will say anything to get elected and then go back on their promises. 

Thinking deeper about social media’s role and the way that these apps work. Students and people overall have social media but may not know exactly how it works. I think it is important to think about the algorithms that go into social media apps and their function. Looking at the very little regulation that exists within technology and the responsibilities that tech companies should have. When having conversations around difficult moments such as these, I think it's important that students find ways in which they can generate change. 

I felt angry and lots of grief while reading this piece because it's just crazy that things like these continue to occur. I think it's great that the app is trying to add more safeguards but the real issue isn't really that the app did not catch this person’s intentions but also why guns are so unregulated in this country. I feel like I haven't seen many articles that talk about the real issue but rather focus on other aspects. We have had many mass shootings,when will people actually regulate guns and tackle the real problem. 

This article touched on topics of espionage but at the same time Julian’s family is saying that what he did is because he is a journalist. At the start of the course when I thought about cyber security, I thought about it on a large scale such as government espionage. However, after this unit I have been thinking more about my risks and why cyber security is something that should be important for everyone. 

I don't know much about Julian Assage so I probably need to do more research on what this article is all about. What I found the most interesting is that the US is claiming he broke espionage laws but at the same time Julian’s side is claiming that as a journalist he was doing just that. I think that it's complicated to draw a line between what is considered espionage or journalism. Obviously, governments don't want any of their secrets to be leaked but what about when those secrets shed light on secrets that people want to know?

When looking at power in the tech industry, we have looked at how algorithms have the power to leave people out and carry with them the opinions and biases of those who create them. This article looks at workers being laid off from companies. Many of them had already laid off workers at the start of the pandemic and continue to do so now. It goes to show how indispensable workers are when companies are struggling to stay economically stable. 

The article for the most part seems to be informative. It provides a list of companies that are laying off workers and how many. Furthermore, it provides the reasoning that the company provided for the layoffs. However, reading this made me feel a bit sad because these are all people whose livelihoods are at risk and may not have anything to fall back on. It shows us how we are still feeling the consequences of the pandemic and how unstable employment stil is. 

Our program focuses on social justice and how our students can be agents of change. I think students can use the CML framework to analyze this article and have discussions about the ideologies in our society and power structures. It also is a great way to have discussions around the regulations on most of technology and the power that a few people who control these outlets have on dictating which information gets spread and how that shapes the way people think. 

The author seeks to inform on Musk’s intentions around Twitter but at the same time raises concerns that people had in regards to Musk. This article made me think  about the amount of power that people control social media because they don't really have to answer to anyone. In a society that probably gets most of their news from social media it is scary to think that anything can be said because someone's definition of freedom of speech means that any kind of speech is okay. Elon Musk’s plan would make it easier for people to spread fake news and hate speech. This is why it is important that students don't just consume media but are able to critique it and create their own opinions and media content. 

The article focuses on Microsoft's ability to now ban players on Minecraft even when using private servers. In the past these players on private servers had complete freedom. However, now Microsoft will be able to suspend players that are abusing the chat feature and aren't in line with Community Standards and in severe cases, players will be banned. Players will be able to access a help page that explains how to report players who go against the Community Standards or may be in a harmful situation. It seems that the gaming community is torn between those who may abuse these new features and others who say leave the game as it is. This article connects to our conversations on who has control over what they can access online and how that affects what users are able to do. Microsoft is making big changes to the types of behaviors that are expected from players and is doing so by restricting the power they have on Minecraft. 

As a sister whose 9 year old brother plays Minecraft, I actually stand in favor of this change. Many kids play this game and I think it's important that at least there is a baseline of behavior that is tolerated on these platforms. I always worry about the type of conversations that kids are exposed to when playing these kinds of games. Many play these games unsupervised and parents may not know what they are being exposed to. When it comes to technology I think there are many more conversations to be had on how children can be protected. 

Access: sciencedaily 

Connection: This article describes an AI currently in the research phase that can examine the face of a patient to see if they might have Alzheimer’s. This new technology would be used for early diagnosis but the algorithm has not been fully tested and completed. 

Emotion: I’m skeptical about the inherent bias that might be present in this system. This is still in the research phase and I hope they train the machine to identify different ethnicities as well. 

This article connects to our conversations around cybersecurity and hackers. It also connects to peoples digital data and why others may want to obtain it. This article discusses spyware “Hermit” that is targeting Android and IOS users. I don't believe that we really touched on “hermit” kind of attacks in this class. I think it speaks to the vast amounts of different kinds of cyber attacks that can happen. I was able to follow along with the language that the article was using which I think is pretty cool. Before this class I dont think I would have been able to follow along lol. 

It is scary to read articles like these because you never know when something like this can happen to you. At the same time this class has really gotten me to think about the kind of securities that I have on my devices and how I can better protect my accounts. It is scary to hear about people who are able to create things and take your personal information. Sometimes articles like this makes me think about the vulnerability of my information but also makes me cautious of not clicking on anything that may compromise my device and make it easier for hackers to obtain my information. 

Access: CNN

Connection: This article describes a new age verification feature Instagram wants to use where they ask users to take a video and a facial recognition AI determines their age. This connects to the ideas of AI, algorithms, digital privacy, and technology. 

Emotion: I dislike the idea of this and I hope they don’t implement this. I think age is something very difficult to predict and I foresee this AI having a lot of issues.

Reference: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ai-can-predict-potential-nutrient-deficiencies-from-space/ 

Access: Scientific American

Connection: This article discusses how a team of researchers are building an AI to predict and notice geographic patterns and nutrient deficiencies in local populations. They hope to look at both macro- and micro-  nutrient deficiencies. The AI is learning the patterns between geographic patterns and real lab-collected specimen data. 

Emotion: This is really interesting! It sounds like it would be really helpful for humanitarian purposes in third-world countries, but I don’t think geographic markers alone will be enough to determine nutrient deficiencies in a country like the United States where this type of health disparity is associated with historic oppression and socioeconomic status.

Access: Scientific American

Connection: This article looks at the ethical question of creating conscious AIs. At the moment the scientific community has not decided what consciousness is and what it would need to present to be acknowledged, therefore we currently are unable to understand if anything we have made is or can be conscious. This article doesn’t delve deeply into algorithms or how AIs are being created but it does explore the role of AIs as a tool and popular images of them.  

Emotion: I thought this article posed a really interesting ethical question. Because the scientific community cannot agree on a definition we can’t know whether there are conscious AI exist right now. This article also poses other interesting questions about what humans owe to AIs if they were conscious. I’m glad that there’s none that fit the description of sci-fi AIs and it always baffles me that we would want to try (it would be interesting but there would be so many questions I don’t think society is ready to handle). 

 Access: Google -> Pew Research Center 

Connection: This article discusses internet access across developed and developing nations. Within countries, internet access differs greatly based on multiple factors. The study found that age, education, computer ownership, and English language ability were the most significant determining factors of whether someone uses the Internet. In addition to these factors, being male and having a higher income also increases the probability of Internet access. This connects to our discussions on equity and the discrepancies across Internet access. There is no equal access to the web and as a result, only certain groups are able to create content on the web. 

Emotion: 

This article made me reflect on the many barriers preventing Internet access even in developed countries. I also liked how the data included “determining factors” of Internet use since it highlights underrepresented groups on the web. As a result, their perspectives are also missing. Although the authors are not attempting to influence the reader, I do think the user-friendly visualizations help readers understand the extreme inequity found in Internet access. 

Access: Google - >  HIMSS

Connection: This article reminded me of Algorithms of Oppression, the film Coded Bias, and our discussions on the implications of using AI. The article provides a list of how artificial intelligence is positively changing the health care industry including clinical decision support, patient data, and precision medicine. The article claims that AI algorithms can be used to provide individualized treatment plans by using large quantities of genetic, social, and preference data. Although AI can analyze large data sets much more quickly than medical researchers, AI cannot consider ethics. 

Emotion: 

I am extremely hesitant about further embedding AI into health care since the decisions made will directly impact individuals’ health. Although AI is able to analyze large data sets and pick the most effective treatment, the data available on health outcomes is largely based on white individuals. The limited data on black and brown communities and health treatments needs to be considered before decisions are made. 

Access: Google Search 

Connection: This article highlights the ever-growing presence of AI in the hiring process. I was not aware of how certain AI functions are used to evaluate and analyze a candidate’s facial expressions and mannerisms during video interviews. There is a growing hesitancy regarding these functions since emotions and facial expressions vary greatly across different cultures. In response to the complaints, several states have passed transparency laws that regulate the use of AI in interviews. For example, the laws in Illinois require jobs to receive consent before interviews and explain to candidates how AI will be used to analyze their interviews. 

Emotion: This article makes me wonder in what other ways AI was used during virtual interviews during the pandemic due to the limitations regarding in-person interviews. I think analyzing facial expressions and mannerisms will always have consequences since AI does not consider culture or other determining factors. It was surprising to read that only a few states have regulations on the use of AI during interviews and It also reminded me of the film Coded Bias and how individuals’ faces were being scanned as they walked without consent.

Access: Google Search 

Connection: This article highlights the use of negative effects of technology on children including higher obesity rates, lower self-esteem, limited social skills, and decreased attention span. According to a research study conducted in Canada, the average attention span has decreased from 12 to 8 seconds since 2000. This article reminds me of our class discussions on technology in the classroom. 

Emotion: I was very surprised to read about the average attention span being 8 seconds, how can students learn with a limited attention span?! I also began to think about how phones were a big issue in the classroom coming from the pandemic. I am still trying to figure out how much technology I want to embed in my classroom. 

Access: Google Search 

Connection: This food article summarizes the effect devices may have on our eating habits. A small scale study found that participants that had access to a phone ate significantly less than their counterparts who ate without access to a device. In addition, those who had access to a phone were on average less satisfied with the food. Although it was a small scale study and there were many confounding variables, it was interesting to read about the complex impacts of technology has on our eating habits. 

Emotion: 

I am not surprised that participants with access to a device demonstrated more mindless eating habits. I am interested in reading more about the complex impact technology has on our eating habits; for example, low self-esteems have resulted in more eating disorders. Healthy eating habits greatly impact an individual’s school performance; it is important to discuss healthy habits with our students. One of the health modules we watched encouraged teachers to only let students eat healthy snacks (fruits, granola bars) in class. 

ACCESS: Google News

CONNECTION: This relates to all of the CS Courses we’re taking because it talks about how technology is changing and allowing for different applications to arise such as this one. 

EMOTION: This article makes me feel a little weird about my privacy. The article talks about technology that can help the Israeli military see through walls. However, this makes me think about how they can deploy this type of technology into a much smaller, commercial scale where just anyone can buy it. The thought of that makes me afraid because I don’t want people being able to see through walls, especially when they’re there for privacy. 

ACCESS: Google News

CONNECTION: This relates to my science classes that I teach because it talks about energy and how solar power can be harnessed more efficiently. 

EMOTION: This article made me feel hopeful that renewable energy sources are becoming more and more integrated into homes instead of just having solar panels. I think that this type of solar panel engineering is really great for homes because not all roofs are eligible for solar panels. 

ACCESS: Google News

CONNECTION:  This relates to the biology class I teach because it deals with tech and the human genome. 

EMOTION: As a person who loves seeing scientific advancements, this made me feel hopeful that technology is helping scientists see how the human genome works and how it can help us understand ourselves better. I really enjoyed reading about how the technology can help scientists better understand how the genome works and how it could be used to understand diseases.