Blog Post 6: Mass Communication and Social Media

Previously in communication studies, mass media was one sided, where owners of communications, talked to--or at-- consumers. Today, the consumers are the biggest communicators. The breadth of people that average folks can reach with a single tweet is incredible. The technology of such media available for free to users is changing the landscape in how we communicate. Not only are we generating search-ables with hash-tags, and tagging people in photos-- we are also connecting through very apparent and track-able networks of people.

http://www.onbile.com/info/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/social-media-reach.png

These networks have changed the ways in which mass media is utilized, no longer are owners of communication networks speaking to or at consumers, but rather consumers are communicating to each other by their own series of networks. This has allowed for new societal norms of expertise, and new methods of becoming a renowned communicator. Instead of navigating through old means to be a powerful communicator (education, wealth, ability) now anyone who can master the skills of new technology can accomplish this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U-tOghblfE

Blog Post 5: New Technology and Easy Information

Consumers of communication want their information and ability to share that information quickly. This means that communicators within culture need the most user friendly tools to be able to connect with others. Communicators of all types crave information in the palms of their hands, literally. With the emergence of tablets, and smart phones communication became as constant as the information we can access. A click of a button means communicating to millions of folks, and all this information to communicate is at our fingertips.

http://blog.optimumproductions.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/shutterstock_127472564-1.jpg

What does getting information at any instant mean for communication? It means that social media is more important than ever. Social media sites have to be user friendly for folks to communicate within the cultures of said sites. There are folks who use Twitter and folks who use Facebook and the two sites do not have the exact same culture, despite their basic functions being so similar! The most important fact is that because they are easy to use, they are easy to adopt with new technology like mobile phones. A vertical swipe means scanning communications from everywhere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A1LvXRnpVg

Blog Post 4: Communication, Culture and New Media

Communication has been an important aspect of community life since the beginning of time. With the emergence of language, and the changes and adaptations of it since its birth has created cultures and ideas. Communication creates a camaraderie between society members. These tools or forms of communication make that society a culture around the way they communicate. There are many languages and forms of communication around the world, and they correlate to each regions culture.

http://www.lausti.com/articles/internet/languages.jpg

New media has altered the landscape of communication and culture. Technological advancements have created a larger culture that is more global. Many have the ability to connect twenty-four hours a day 365 days a year to the internet, and to anyone in the world. New technology, all fueled by the internet, make reaching across geographical and cultural divides and provide opportunities for new cultures to be made. Cultures around blogs, interests, forums etc. This is how New Media has changed the way we communicate, and its impact on our culture. Technology is only going to continue to change the way we communicate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJjvsGBjy2U

Blog Post 3: Tool Intensive Education

Educators as natural communicators are always looking for new ways to bring information to their students. Keeping education fresh is the best way to keep students engaged and encourage dialogue in an up to date world. As technology becomes more ingrained in the classroom, students are expecting the newest tools to be used in their education.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/edtechresearcher/2012/08/teaching_teachers_to_tweet_part_ii.html

Educators must become tool intensive to effectively communicate to other teachers and students alike. By understanding and utilizing multiple technological tools educators can communicate in new ways. For example, bringing a tablet to school to demonstrate some interactive lessons could only be possible with networking online and using multiple online tools and physical technology tools to bring ideas to life on a tablet. Digital tools are becoming the norm for students and educators.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrci1EMH2Q0

Blog Post 2: Blackboard

Blackboard is a tool used by universities to execute their online education programs. Before the emergence of E-learning, educators used hand on methods of education. Using paper, pencils, chalkboards. Blackboard was the first successful tool for online education with a high adoption rate. Communicators within education had to adapt in order to learn this new tool that has many functions. Blackboard, and technology in the classroom is the new future of education.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vala-afshar/our-educational-leaders-m_b_4292484.html

After a few years with Blackboard, and Blackboard's 9th edition release, educators are becoming more used to the program and its functions. This is a must for educators today, be it online or offline education, it is extremely important to understand Blackboard and its options for students. This is because online education is growing and technology in the classroom is becoming a required element of education. Luckily, there are instructional videos that claim that Blackboard is the best thing to happen to educators, suggesting that the ease of organization makes grading and managing classroom work easier!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxdJ3ar12bE

Blog Post 1: E-Learning

E-learning is the use of the internet to communicate information and receive information in return. It is a type of community interaction centered around education. E-learning can only be what educators make it. Learning to communicate with a unique tool and system of tools can be difficult. Using those tools and reaching students enough to impart knowledge is even harder. Teachers are communicators everyday in their classrooms, but what happens when that classroom is more and more intangible and controllable? This is something that educators must adapt to, because E-learning is not going anywhere.

http://blog.prodigyfinance.com/2013/04/19/the-online-learning-revolution/

 New education websites turn every educator into not only a communicator when they are speaking, but a communicator every-time they type. Freedoms for students make educators more creative with due dates and projects that can be accomplished in short periods of times with frequent check-ins. The limits of education websites and technology means that educators need to be more creative in order to achieve the in-person feel with education. Students appreciate when educators can learn to navigate the tools at their disposal in a way that encourages learning. The following Ted talk explains how an educator/communicator is doing just that.

http://www.ted.com/talks/peter_norvig_the_100_000_student_classroom.html

Module 11: Writer's Perspective

I choose to look into Alice Hoffman's perspective on writing. I do find myself agreeing with her story, and her interpretation of writing and writers. She says they are writers at the core, and write to find meaning in the world. Good or bad, the writer inside of her had to come out-- and do what it does best--write, imagine, create. While I see that as a truth for all writers that I have ever met in my life, I found myself in awe at her personal strength and honesty.

She gave an amazing portrayal of any person during a time of crisis by offering up stores of her closest family members all stricken with the same illness. One became a grandmother, while another became a researcher-- I found this part extremely inspirational. That at our hardest and most defeated times we become who we truly are. When we are stressed, and pushed to limits we never would have imagined both emotional and physical we become a stronger version of ourselves.

In relation to social media, my thinking has changed a bit-- that stories like Alice's are how a lot of bloggers and social media writers consider their writing-- something to find purpose in to world. Not just to post mundane events like many outsiders believe, but rather input some creativity and honesty into the world.