In this video, "Visitors and Residents," (http://tallblog.conted.ox.ac.uk/index.php/2009/10/14/visitors-residents-the-video/) Dr. David White explains his theories regarding how people use the internet. He proposes that a continuum exists where "Residents' are on one end of the spectrum and 'Visitors' on the other. Dr. White describes 'Residents' as internet users who live a large portion of their lives online. Residents maintain an online persona and faciliate relationships via the web. Visitors, on the other hand, use the internet as a tool and only when the need arises.
I see myself far on the side of “visitor” on this continuum. I view technology as a box of tools, and at the moment, my tools are extremely disorganized. I will attempt to utilize or learn how to use a certain tool ONLY if I know it will serve a purpose or help me achieve a specific goal. As soon as my goal is met or need is served, back in the box the tool goes. Unfortunately, adopting this attitude was a reactive decision I made that followed several awkward situations that occurred while I was teaching at my children’s school. My internet persona made it extremely easy for my students and students’ parents to find and contact me. Before I knew it, the lines between my professional and personal lives ceased to exist. I was “talking shop” at birthday parties, conferencing during play dates, and advising during ‘family’ weekends. I wasn’t present when I was with my friends and family in person because I was dealing with or worrying about the issues I felt I needed to address online. I made a decision to leave school at school and concentrate on home at home (to a certain degree -- planning lessons, making materials, and looking for ideas are ongoing) and part of that decision meant I needed to reign in my internet persona. For the time and place that I was in, this was a necessary thing for me to do and it increased the quality of my life and my effectiveness-- as a mother, a wife , a friend, and an educator --tenfold.
I understand that I am in a different time and place now, and that I need to reevaluate the role technology plays in my professional life. (I am fairly confident that I will keep my personal life as a strict visitor online.) I also regret that these experiences left me a bit frightened of technology and its power. I would like my professional persona to be more visible on the internet, and while I feel uncomfortable and overwhelmed with the tools I am being introduced to, I do acknowledge the potential they have in helping me be the best educator that I can be. Like Dr. White said, it’s not about merely using the tools, it’s about using the tools effectively.
I see myself far on the side of “visitor” on this continuum. I view technology as a box of tools, and at the moment, my tools are extremely disorganized. I will attempt to utilize or learn how to use a certain tool ONLY if I know it will serve a purpose or help me achieve a specific goal. As soon as my goal is met or need is served, back in the box the tool goes. Unfortunately, adopting this attitude was a reactive decision I made that followed several awkward situations that occurred while I was teaching at my children’s school. My internet persona made it extremely easy for my students and students’ parents to find and contact me. Before I knew it, the lines between my professional and personal lives ceased to exist. I was “talking shop” at birthday parties, conferencing during play dates, and advising during ‘family’ weekends. I wasn’t present when I was with my friends and family in person because I was dealing with or worrying about the issues I felt I needed to address online. I made a decision to leave school at school and concentrate on home at home (to a certain degree -- planning lessons, making materials, and looking for ideas are ongoing) and part of that decision meant I needed to reign in my internet persona. For the time and place that I was in, this was a necessary thing for me to do and it increased the quality of my life and my effectiveness-- as a mother, a wife , a friend, and an educator --tenfold.
I understand that I am in a different time and place now, and that I need to reevaluate the role technology plays in my professional life. (I am fairly confident that I will keep my personal life as a strict visitor online.) I also regret that these experiences left me a bit frightened of technology and its power. I would like my professional persona to be more visible on the internet, and while I feel uncomfortable and overwhelmed with the tools I am being introduced to, I do acknowledge the potential they have in helping me be the best educator that I can be. Like Dr. White said, it’s not about merely using the tools, it’s about using the tools effectively.
Bern, thank you for allowing me to understand not only that you may be a visitor, but also your underlying reasons. I also completely understand how you want to stay a visitor within your personal technology use. This need for privacy is something that I also feel is important. I am excited to see how you become more of a resident regarding your professional use of technology throughout the course. You can do it!! :)
ReplyDeleteBernice,
ReplyDeleteI completely understand your reasons for reigning in your internet presence--I feel similarly to you. In my blog post about this topic I wrote about not wanting to always be available and valuing the time that I can "unplug" and be in the present moment. I'm curious to see how we can find a happy medium in this environment. We obviously don't want to get left in the dust in a time when a social media presence has become almost required (or in our case with this course, mandatory) but I'm not willing to give up my privacy and ability to be unavailable sometimes. Hopefully we'll find a balance.