Reading Responses set one

###### tags: `RR` # Reading Responses set one ### Reading response one ###### *Response to Chayko, 2017, 'Superconnected'* The text discusses the impact of digital technologies on social interaction and time perception, stating that prior to industrialization, people could not venture as far from their homes and from one another as modern individuals can now. It explains how these technologies have become critical to the coordination of day-to-day activities, providing convenience, companionship, and entertainment. However, it also highlights the potential downsides, such as feelings of anxiety and disconnection when away from a device. The text delves into the idea of digital communities and cultures, such as digital gaming and fan fiction, which have become popular ways for fervent fans of a story to enjoy it together. It raises concerns about the potential for over-reliance on instant stimulation and entertainment in a tech-saturated environment. It also mentions the positives of the availability of such technology. As in video games, logical thinking and behavior are rewarded, allowing these gamifying techniques of learning to be translated over into "real-world" applications such as digital workplaces, education, and the military. One of the concerns that I agree with is the impact that readily available technology has on attention spans. Content platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram provide endless amounts of content at your fingertips. If you're not enjoying a video, you can just swipe to find one you do. When you like things, the algorithm presents you with similar things, so that after some time has passed, you only see videos that you will enjoy. This constant access to content that you will enjoy seems fantastic but raises concerns about whether it is affecting the ability to concentrate on menial but necessary tasks. :::info :information_source: I should also mention Vine, a short-form video hosting service where users could share six-second-long, looping video clips. A platform that may have started the trend of short video clips as a form of social media. ::: The text concludes by emphasizing the importance of considering the impact of these technologies on our daily lives and how we can strike a balance between the convenience they provide and the potential downsides. It poses the question, "Do you think that digital communities can replace real-life communities?" --- ### Reading response two ###### *In response to Brown, Roediger, and McDaniel's (2014) [Make it stick](https://www.supersummary.com/make-it-stick/summary/): The Science of Successful Learning, chapter 1, plus the "takeaways" of the other chapters* Brown, Roediger, and McDaniels argue that traditional methods of repetitive study are not the most effective way to learn. Instead, they propose a different perspective on learning that emphasizes the importance of memory, ongoing practice, and counterintuitive methods. Learning, as defined by Brown, Roediger, and McDaniel, is as follows: acquiring knowledge and skills and having them readily available from memory so you can make sense of future problems and opportunities. While reviewing text may aid in remembering information, it is not considered the most efficient method of learning according to the perspective of Brown, Roediger, and McDanie. > "The illusion of mastery is an example of poor metacognition—what we know about what we know." The following three aspects of learning are considered unchangeable: Learning involves memory; we must continually learn and remember throughout our lives; learning is an acquired talent; and the most successful methods are frequently counterintuitive > "Learning something easy is like writing in the sand—here today and gone tomorrow." While cramming can result in higher test scores right away, the advantage quickly wears off because forgetting is much more pronounced after rereading than after retrieval practice. Retrieval practice has long-term advantages. When you utilize testing as a method to identify and correct your areas of weakness, you develop mastery in almost every aspect of learning. One, it informs you of what you already know and don't know, allowing you to focus additional research to strengthen your weak areas. Two: When you review what you have learned, your brain reconsolidates the memory, strengthening its ties to what you already know and facilitating future recall. Another fantastic method discussed is elaboration. By putting new information into your own words and making connections to what you already know, you can give it significance through the process of elaboration. While this method may seem difficult and take time, the authors remind us that when learning is hard, you're doing important work. The analogy of building a house is also quite interesting; remembering information is similar to storing building materials on the job site, but in order for it to be useful, you also need to know how to assemble the house. Even when reading the chapter and writing this, I took breaks to look over other class material and found that when I returned to read the chapter, I was able to comprehend the text easier without having to reread a paragraph multiple times. My main takeaways from [*Make it stick*](https://www.supersummary.com/make-it-stick/summary/) are as follows: - Be the one in charge. - Embrace the notion of successful intelligence. - Adopt active learning strategies. - Distill the underlying principles; build the structure. Are there any other learning ideas that you can recommend? --- ### Reading response three ###### *Response to Martin Nowak, 2011, "*Super cooperators,*" and Joseph Reagle, 2015 *"The Bottom Half of the Web: Comment" (Gossip section)* [*"Super Cooperators"*](http://www.martinnowak.com/books/supercooperators) by Martin Nowak delves into the evolution of cooperation and its impact on natural selection. The author discusses that cooperation is not only a crucial factor for the survival of certain species, but it also plays a major role in the success and development of human society. Throughout the book, Nowak examines various forms of cooperation and how they have shaped the world we know today, as well as strategies for improving cooperation to benefit individuals and society as a whole. In Joseph Reagle's *"The Bottom Half of the Web: Comment"*, [(*Gossip* section)](https://readingthecomments.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/dtys4tyk/release/2#gossip) the author delves into the function of gossip in human society. He defines gossip as "unofficial discourse regarding the personal affairs of others" and highlights its role in both information dissemination and the reinforcement of social norms. However, the author also acknowledges the potential downsides of gossip, such as the spread of false or harmful information. > "We should approach gossip critically and reflectively, being mindful of its potential downsides while recognizing its important role in our social lives" > **(Reagle, 2015)** Regarding the question of why we cooperate and why we sometimes fail to do so, cooperation occurs for the mutual benefit of individuals and society as a whole. It can result in increased success and survival for both individuals and society. However, cooperation can falter when individuals prioritize their own self-interest over the good of the group or when there is a lack of trust and transparency among individuals. The ideas presented in both "Super Cooperators" and the "Gossip" section of "The Bottom Half of the Web: Comment" are applicable to online interactions as well. The internet serves as a platform for both sharing and the establishment of social norms, much like gossip in real-life society. Online communities can foster cooperation, but they can also become spaces where self-interest and the spread of false information undermines cooperation. As a result, it is essential to approach online interactions with critical thinking and to encourage transparency and trust. --- ### Reading response four ###### *Response to Joseph Reagle, 2015, “[Alienated: You fail it! Your skill is not enough!,](https://readingthecomments.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/euf2ckop/release/2)” Reading the Comments and Shannon Bond, 2021, “[Facebook is now revealing how often users see bullying or harassing posts](https://www.npr.org/2021/11/09/1053924352/facebook-instagram-bullying-harassment-numbers)”* ##### **Why does digital communication give rise to such toxic behavior, including that of haters and that seen in "bully battles"?** Digital communication has a number of features that can contribute to toxic behavior, including anonymity, a lack of nonverbal cues, and the availability of a large, rapidly accessible audience. People may feel less accountable and responsible for their actions when they are anonymous, which allows them to say things they otherwise might not. This can lead to hate speech, bullying, and other forms of toxic behavior. > Facebook users saw bullying or harassment 14 to 15 times out of every 10,000 views of content on the app between July and September, while Instagram users viewed such content 5 to 6 times out of every 10,000 in the same period, [Meta](https://www.npr.org/2021/10/28/1049813246/facebook-new-name-meta-mark-zuckerberg), the company formerly known as Facebook, said on Tuesday. > **(Shannon Bond, 2021)** These numbers are potentially an underrepresentation of the actual amount of bullying and harassment people face on Facebook, as these numbers do not include posts reported by users, and often it is difficult for Facebook moderators to know what is bullying and what is meant as a lightheartedd joke. The lack of nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language, can also contribute to toxic behavior. Online, it's often easier for people to misinterpret each other's words and intentions, which can lead to misunderstandings, arguments, and even cyberbullying. > Today, comment sections can quickly fill with posts that would’ve shamed Hitler himself (hence the suggestion "Don’t read the comments"). > **(Reagle, 2015)** With the ease and speed of digital communication, along with the availability of a potentially large and far-reaching audience, it can create a sense of power and invincibility among those engaging in toxic behavior. They may feel that they can bully, harass, or attack others with relative impunity since they are not facing them in person. With the increased ease, speed and reach of digitical communication platforms users must be aware that they have the potential to face 'trolls' and toxic behaviour anywhere on the internet, unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a method that will completely irradicate this sort of behaviour on the web, so one must try and simply ignore the haters and move on. --- ### Reading response five Three multiple choice questions and two short answer questions Question One: What is the definition of dis-information > A. true of false information designed to cause harm > B. intentionally false information designed to cause harm > C. information that is modified to be disproportionate > D. false information but not known to be so :::spoiler Q1 Answer > B. intentionally false information designed to cause harm ::: Question Two: Pick one or more answers that explains why we cram and forget > A. quick and easy: "it's worked for me" > B. it's what teachers have trained us to do > C. most courses are cumulative > D. exams have short answer questions and don't rely only on recall :::spoiler Q2 Answer > A. quick and easy: "it's worked for me" > B. it's what teachers have trained us to do ::: Question Three: Why do we cooperate? :::spoiler Q3 Answer > We cooperate for various reasons, such as mutual benefit, increased efficiency, shared goals and reciprocity. Cooperation helps us achieve common goals that we typically can't do alone which in turns promotes a sense of trust. ::: Question Four: Explain the Ceasar Shift Cipher and why it was so effective for the time. :::spoiler Q4 Answer > The Caesar Shift Cipher'shifted' the alphabet by a specified amount, and was considered revolutionary and unbreakable at the time. It was considered unbreakable because the technology and the entire concept of cryptography was underdeveloped. ::: Question Five (Extra credit) What is Prof. Reagle's mnemonic? > A. Imagine Prof. Reagle being chased by beagles > B. Prof. Reagle is a good paralegal > C. Imagine Prof. Reagle being chased by eagles > D. Prof. Reagle teaches us about legal ### All answers ::: spoiler (Spoiler) Q1: dis-information definition B. intentionally false information designed to cause harm Q2: explain why we cramming doesn't work A. quick and easy: "it's worked for me" B. it's what teachers have trained us to do Q3: Why do we cooperate? We cooperate for various reasons, such as mutual benefit, increased efficiency, shared goals and reciprocity. Cooperation helps us achieve common goals that we typically can't do alone which in turns promotes a sense of trust. Q4: Explain the Ceasar Shift Cipher The Caesar Shift Cipher'shifted' the alphabet by a specified amount, and was considered revolutionary and unbreakable at the time. It was considered unbreakable because the technology and the entire concept of cryptography was underdeveloped. Q5: Prof. Reagle mnemonic (Extra credit) A. Imagine Prof. Reagle being chased by beagles :::