An "Information Diet" refers to our consumption of information. It includes how we locate information, evaluate it as trustworthy, and how we use it. I am really excited about this week's lesson and assignment because it is relevant in today's society. What would life be like without the internet? Some of us can't remember a time there was no internet and some have never lived in a time with no internet. Whether you view it as a good or bad thing, it's there and up to use it appropriately and smartly.
As with any wicked problem, there are multiple sides and few solutions. Gee warned us about the dangers of the internet and how it can lead to further polarization between viewpoints. He believes it can be a great tool if paired with a collaborative group to create a "Mind." It seems like Eli Pariser and Henry Jenkins have similar viewpoints. Pariser shared how information can be one-sided, but if people are aware, they can be exposed to a variety of viewpoints which leads to a more well-rounded info diet. Jenkins believes people on the internet can come together to solve problems and make a positive impact on society. Some people, like Nicholas Carr, focus more on the problems that can come along with technology and the internet.
When I first started exploring this week's lesson, I thought,"I got this! I have a good sense of how to evaluate information and I take in diverse information." However, upon further examination of my "info diet," I realized I my information processing skills were not as great as I thought. When looking at the sites I frequently visit on my personal time, most were social networking, games, news, entertainment, etc. I found I did not look at at anything that made me mad, sad, uncomfortable, or sites that had opinions I disagree with. If I didn't like it, I would close out as fast as I could. There was a hole in my info diet.
I preach all the time about how some parents try to make their kid's life too easy. They never want them to get hurt, be upset, or have to work for things. Really, kids need to experience all that stuff to learn how to cope with negative feelings. My info diet needed to reflect what I preached. So I started looking a twitter pages I would not normally look at. I searched "Rick Synder" and visited his page. Personally, I am not the biggest fan or supporter, but I felt it necessary to be connected with our local government. I need to know all the happens at the capital, good or bad, so I can be aware and make informed decisions. This also models what I teach my students in social studies about democracy and government. I followed "Politico" for similar reasons.
I also started to follow Nicholas Carr. Although I do agree with some of his research and principles, I do not believe the internet is making us stupid. As Gee pointed out, people have been stupid for a long time and it has more to do with our thoughts and actions as individuals. The internet can make us very smart if used properly. I followed him because I would like more information on his work and keep some of his principles in mind when teaching my students about technology.
I agree that that taking a closer look at our info diet reveals interesting results. I wonder what our students would find out if they did the same? Would their info diets be broader or narrower than ours as teachers? I also ponder at the time issue, will broadening our info diet now require more time to process and as a result, take away from things that enrich us professionally and personally.
ReplyDeleteI love this week's assignment. It has always been a concern of mine that we are creating a generation of people who live within their own echo chambers--only hearing what they want to hear. I was guilty of this as well. Like your Rick Snyder choice, Lauren, I follow the Mackinac group--they are incredibly unfriendly to teachers and unions, but I felt like I needed to add those types of sites to my "diet". It is important for us to read things that we don't always agree with and forces ourselves to think about opposing views. I often use Facebook as an example here--when I joined Facebook, classmates of mine (from 1989!) all found each other and friended each other, regardless of our political backgrounds or religious views. I wonder how many graduates today actually reconnect with classmates they lose touch with since the opportunity to stay connected is so great? As an 18 year old, do they block people they disagree with or don't find "cool" enough? Interesting times we live in for sure! Thanks for this post!
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