Rethinking My Cell Phone/Computer Policy by John Warner
Warner talks about his experience with technology being mixed in with his classroom setting and teaching. Warner talks about the pros and cons of them, and what another professor believes based on a tweet they posted. Warner talks about how there is a balance when it comes to the use of technology. Acknowledging that they are potential distractions, but can also provide information during class when needed and required. That is what he highlights. How in certain topics during class would require research, hence the use of laptops or phones. On the other hand, as previously stated, they could be distracted. Warner uses himself as an example, being honest on how many times he gets off track because of Twitter.
As I read this article, I was able to understand. I agree that a balance is important for the sake of focusing and getting wok done. With a electronic device nearby, it is tempting to put work aside and pick said device up. Personally, if I know I have to get something done, I put my phone aside. Usually with the screen facing down on the table, that way no notifications could distract me or temp me. My phone is also on silent mode, though is usually always is which is a bad habit of mine. I apply this in a classroom setting and outside of it, allowing me to focus on the lesson and any school work. Or however much my brain is willing to focus.
Multitasking Damages Your Brain and Career, New Studies Suggest by Travis Bradbury
When it comes to multitasking, research has been done to see how much it can affect the brain on cognitive thinking. Studies has shown that people who do not multitask tend to preform better thant those who multitask often. Furthermore, when it comes to IQ, those who multitask show lower IQ than those who don’t. The results of multitasking has been shown to indicate low social-awareness, lower brain density, difficulties with orginization, and etc.
Reading this article has brought a lot of awareness to myself and the habits I used to have in the past. I did a fair amount of multitasking in high school and the first year of college, I did believe that it was working for me since I got work done. While it might not have been the best of my performances, the work was still done at the end of the day. I stopped when my brain was starting to get overwhelmed, and effecting my body as a result. When I stopped, I tried to improve my time management skills; which had always been a struggle for me. I found ways to help improve that skill, such as writing down what I need to get done and dividing them into chucks to tackle each day. As a result, I was able to perform a lot better than cramming all of it in and attempting to multitask.
An Introduction to and Strategies for Multimodel Composing by Melanie Gagich
In multimodel, the primary things talked about are the various modes involved, especially in communication. They are visual, linguistic, spatial, aural, and gestural. These modes are involved in all forms of communication, some more than others; depending on the context. These modes can help a student expand their literacies, as they are not all the same. Multiimodeling can be difficult for some students, as they might not have reviewed it in school or covered it as a brief topic. I am one of those students who are confused. I might have skimmed it during a lesson in high school or one of my earlier classes in college. Thankfully, the article provides a ist of pre-drafting activities. The article helps narrow down the process, which makes it easier to understand. Even with topics that seem simple, such as audience, it examples how that are could be narrowed down to a specific target. I find it useful that they are broken into sections, as I am a visual learner. By seeing what can go where, the process feels a lot more organized.
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