Weekly Discussions Topics
Please note: The discussion questions listed below are sample questions and are expected to change as the course develops. For this reason, I have not yet included video/audio of the text below. Audiovisual representations of the text will be added once the questions are finalized.
Week 1:
Week 1 Discussion Question: This is the only week where every student must post an original post. Read the instructions above carefully for requirements for future posts. Post a 2 minute (maximum) video introduction to yourself that addresses the following three questions: 1. Who are you? (Name, a fun fact about you, why are you taking this class and what do you hope to learn? ), 2. What scares you or most excites you about this course? 3. What is the one piece of technology you use the most and how long could you comfortably go without it? Feel free to add more to your introduction, but stay within the time limit.
NOTE: This does not have to be a video of you speaking. It could be a slide presentation with audio, an animation, or a stopmotion video. Be creative! The requirements are that it answers the questions posed and has both an audio and video component (can be animation/stop motion, or an automated slide presentation). Click on the "Technology Tools" link to see a list of free programs you might want to try!Reply to at least one of the video introductions!
There is no self assessment this week
Week 2:
Read the discussion instructions carefully before completing your discussion.
Discussion Question: Collins defines technology as referring "to methods, systems and devices which are the result of scientific knowledge being used for practical purposes" (Technology: Collins Dictionary, 2023). If you are assigned to post the intial response, please provide an example and short explanation from your own life of technology as a method, as a system, and as a device. Include photos if you want! You must post no later than noon on Wednesday of this week. Check back often to respond to others who reply to your posts! Every other student must post at least one answer or response (see requirements above) no later than Wednesday at midnight! This allows other students time to respond to you and for more discussion to take place before the end of the week!
Remember to respond to at least one post (preferrably more!) and reply to those who respond to your post or responses!
Remember to complete your self assessment by 4:00 pm (PST) Sunday this week.
Week 3:
Read the discussion instructions carefully before completing your discussion.
Discussion Question: If you are assigned to post the intial response, please provide a specific example of a technology and short explanation of two ways this technology is socially constructed. Include photos of the technology if you want! You must post no later than noon on Wednesday of this week. Check back often to respond to others who reply to your posts!
If you are not assigned to do the initial post, you must post at least one answer or response (see requirements above) no later than Wednesday at midnight! This allows other students time to respond to you and for more discussion to take place before the end of the week!
Remember to respond to at least one post (preferrably more!) and reply to those who respond to your post or responses!
Remember to complete your self assessment by 4:00 pm (PST) Sunday each week.
Week 4:
Read the discussion instructions carefully before completing your discussion.
Discussion Question: If you are assigned to post the intial response, you must respond to the following question: How are identities technologically mediated? In your answer, provide at least one example of how technology mediates how we see ourselves. How do you think this mediation has changed social relationships? You must post no later than noon on Wednesday of this week. Check back often to respond to others who reply to your posts!
If you are not assigned to do the initial post, you must post at least one answer or response (see requirements above) no later than Wednesday at midnight! This allows other students time to respond to you and for more discussion to take place before the end of the week!
Remember to respond to at least one post (preferrably more!) and reply to those who respond to your post or responses!
Remember to complete your self assessment by 4:00 pm (PST) Sunday each week.
Week 5:
Read the discussion instructions carefully before completing your discussion.
Discussion Question: If you are assigned to post the intial response, you must respond to the following question: This week our discussion of Marxism revolved around how history can help us understand the relationship between power and technology. Provide a historical example of a new technology and discuss how power operates in and through this technology (how did some people benefit more than others from this technology?) You must post no later than noon on Wednesday of this week. Check back often to respond to others who reply to your posts!
If you are not assigned to do the initial post, you must post at least one answer or response (see requirements above) no later than Wednesday at midnight! This allows other students time to respond to you and for more discussion to take place before the end of the week!
Remember to respond to at least one post (preferrably more!) and reply to those who respond to your post or responses!
Remember to complete your self assessment by 4:00 pm (PST) Sunday each week.
Week 6:
Read the discussion instructions carefully before completing your discussion.
Discussion Question: If you are assigned to post the intial response, you must respond to the following question: Both of our articles this week focused on COVID and education. The first focused on the demand for online education, and the second focused on inequalities that resulted from the move online. Using examples from your own experience, explain which argument is more relevant to your experience during COVID-19. You must post no later than noon on Wednesday of this week. Check back often to respond to others who reply to your posts!
If you are not assigned to do the initial post, you must post at least one answer or response (see requirements above) no later than Wednesday at midnight! This allows other students time to respond to you and for more discussion to take place before the end of the week!
Remember to respond to at least one post (preferrably more!) and reply to those who respond to your post or responses!
Remember to complete your self assessment by 4:00 pm (PST) Sunday each week.
Week 7:
Read the discussion instructions carefully before completing your discussion.
Discussion Question: If you are assigned to post the intial response, you must respond to the following question: Technology has the potential to change lives. How does this statement relate to the two videos we watched this week? In your answer, consider the difference between technology which tries to 'fix' disability and assistive technologies. You must post no later than noon on Wednesday of this week. Check back often to respond to others who reply to your posts!
If you are not assigned to do the initial post, you must post at least one answer or response (see requirements above) no later than Wednesday at midnight! This allows other students time to respond to you and for more discussion to take place before the end of the week!
Remember to respond to at least one post (preferrably more!) and reply to those who respond to your post or responses!
Remember to complete your self assessment by 4:00 pm (PST) Sunday each week.
Week 8:
Read the discussion instructions carefully before completing your discussion.
Discussion Question: If you are assigned to post the intial response, you must respond to the following question: The podcast talked about the importance of having good representation (everyone being represented at the 'table'). How do you think this ties into our discussions about equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization and antiracism (EDIDA)? You must post no later than noon on Wednesday of this week. Check back often to respond to others who reply to your posts!
If you are not assigned to do the initial post, you must post at least one answer or response (see requirements above) no later than Wednesday at midnight! This allows other students time to respond to you and for more discussion to take place before the end of the week!
Remember to respond to at least one post (preferrably more!) and reply to those who respond to your post or responses!
Remember to complete your self assessment by 4:00 pm (PST) Sunday each week.
Week 9:
Read the discussion instructions carefully before completing your discussion.
Discussion Question: If you are assigned to post the intial response, you must respond to the following question: Are there differences between how you identify (portray yourself) online and how you authentically feel? Explain how and why technology shifts (or doesn't shift) your identity. Reference at least one of the two articles in your response. You must post no later than noon on Wednesday of this week. Check back often to respond to others who reply to your posts!
If you are not assigned to do the initial post, you must post at least one answer or response (see requirements above) no later than Wednesday at midnight! This allows other students time to respond to you and for more discussion to take place before the end of the week!
Remember to respond to at least one post (preferrably more!) and reply to those who respond to your post or responses!
Remember to complete your self assessment by 4:00 pm (PST) Sunday each week.
Week 10:
Read the discussion instructions carefully before completing your discussion.
Discussion Question: If you are assigned to post the intial response, you must respond to the following question: How does technology impact your relationships? If you were to 'disconnect' for 24 hours, what would be the effects (on you? on people you care about?). Relate your discussion to the videos we watched this week. You must post no later than noon on Wednesday of this week. Check back often to respond to others who reply to your posts!
If you are not assigned to do the initial post, you must post at least one answer or response (see requirements above) no later than Wednesday at midnight! This allows other students time to respond to you and for more discussion to take place before the end of the week!
Remember to respond to at least one post (preferrably more!) and reply to those who respond to your post or responses!
Remember to complete your self assessment by 4:00 pm (PST) Sunday each week.
Week 11:
Read the discussion instructions carefully before completing your discussion.
Discussion Question: If you are assigned to post the intial response, you must respond to the following question: Our textbook reading includes the following quote: "Rather than increasing engagement, he contends that social media only increases participation; after all, the cost of participation is so much lower than the cost of engagement. Instead of risking being arrested, shot with rubber bullets, or sprayed with fire hoses, social media activists can click “like” or retweet a message from the comfort and safety of their desk (Gladwell 2010)" Compare this statement to the argument made in Forbes Magaine. Which do you find convincing and why? You must post no later than noon on Wednesday of this week. Check back often to respond to others who reply to your posts!
If you are not assigned to do the initial post, you must post at least one answer or response (see requirements above) no later than Wednesday at midnight! This allows other students time to respond to you and for more discussion to take place before the end of the week!
Remember to respond to at least one post (preferrably more!) and reply to those who respond to your post or responses!
Remember to complete your self assessment by 4:00 pm (PST) Sunday each week.
Week 12:
See Tech Showcase for instructions on how to participate this week!
Week 13:
See Tech Showcase for instructions on how to participate this week!