Weekly Report & Reflection Post #3

Ah, Digital illiteracy I can go on for ages to explain how outdated I sometimes feel, this assertion was only reaffirmed by this week’s activity. As I mentioned in my blog earlier today I am as clueless a baby when it comes to knowing what an RSS feed even is. However after going over this week’s lesson, I feel like I am a little bit smarter.


After setting up my feed in Feedly, I subscribed to many blogs related to travel. This is mostly because I really want to go a year-long excursion after graduating in December 2016. This mostly because the trip will make one hell of a story. For my trip, I am heavily leaning towards South and South East Asian countries such as India, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. My feed will keep me up to date on the things I need to prepare for a successful trip. I was really intrigued by one of the blog from my RSS feed (click here). The article was about a person going back to the city of her birth and the changes she notices. The author describes the feeling she gets from the city in which she was born, it is now a developed beyond belief but it emits the same echo. Although this is not necessary giving me tips on how to be a successful traveler, it does give me goosebumps as this is one of the main reason I want to travel. Despite the rapid global urbanization as a traveler you can still hear the sound of the past. As a person who has not been to the country of his birth for a while now, this article really resonated with me.  Moving back to the point, having an RSS feed will really help me as this will make it easier for me to read interesting blogs, articles, and journal as I won’t have to go searching through the web for that.
 

The RSS feed will contribute greatly towards my digital literacy and citizenship. As the internet is a vast ocean of information and this tool will give me access to that information in a very organized and structured way. For example, I would have never come across an article as the one I mentioned earlier as I would not have been able to find it. This tool also makes it such that new content comes to me rather than searching for it. This concept is described very elegantly in this video.

Shah. K (CC) 2016

As kids, we often think that if we had a few extra arms (hopefully I am not the only one who had that thought) we could have been able to do so many more activities. This new tool Feedly just makes it so, it definitely helps me in connecting with different content creators. I think this tool will fall under the organize and connect sections of my PLE diagram, as this allows me to absorb information in a structured manner and it also connects me various content providers without wasting much time.

 
Picture: http://ammaparentingcenter.com/amma-online-courses/

My Experience with RSS Feeds

More clueless than a Baby

Before starting this blog I had to prepare myself as I was sure that I will be pelted with tomatoes for my unfamiliarity and ignorance, as I personally have no idea about was an RSS feed was. to explain my experience regarding RSS feed in one word is amazement. I have been using YouTube to subscribe to various content creators for years now however, the I was never aware of a tool that allowed me to do such a thing with websites.

I think this will be a great tool for me as I am currently in the process of planning a year long trip to South and Southeast Asia. To make this a successful trip I have lately been visiting a lot of blogs and websites to research for the trip. After setting up  My Feedly, I really think this will help me in research for the upcoming trip.

The Perfect Trip? (click here for the article)

The article I read was regarding the "Indian Himalayas - perfect blend of adventure and peace". I am a native of south Asia and have lived there for a better part of my life, however, I yet have to explore the country. Of all the beautiful scenery India has to offer the Himalayas are its crowning jewel. The article explains all the beautiful things the Himalayas has to offer and can appeal to both an individual seeking thrill and the spiritually inclined person.This is only a small part of the very long trip I am planning and I can't wait to learn more about the other countries I am going to explore.
 

Week 2 Learning redefined

A look in to the future

Have you thought about your future? Are often words that our parents and teachers use, when I was young this six letter sentence often left me speechless and dumbfounded, not because I could not envision myself in the next five to ten years but mostly because I did not know the path to achieving these goals. Anyone can be a doctor, lawyer or accountant by going to university passing their exams. I am not saying if that there is anything wrong with the aforementioned approach. However, I think just following this one pathway often lacks in providing you the X-factor that makes you the best at what you do. I personally in the next ten years want to achieve my goals by following multiple paths. One of my main goals is to be a senior manager at the firm in which I am currently working. To reach this goal, I will have to pass my CPA exams and broaden my knowledge about the industry. I also want move out to Toronto or Montreal these are the two cultural hubs of Canada and are often at the cusp of innovation whether it is dramatics arts, culinary talent, finance or technology. I really think that this will bring a new perspective to my in life and will provide me diversified experience. Currently, I live in my parent’s basement during my Co-op terms and in St-Catharines during my study terms. My current situation is the polar opposite of what I want to in the coming years, however, I still make sure that I am well informed in the areas that interest me by using alternative learning methods (this is due to one of the many benefits of technology).
The more you know
Going to school every day was a nightmare for many kids, I decline to confirm or deny if I was one of those kids. In this age School and universities no longer hold a monopoly over knowledge as knowledge can be acquired from various outlets. To achieve my goals, most of the knowledge I need will come from non-institutional places such as blogs, forums, and other social media. Learning from non-conventional sources has many benefits as it gives you the freedom of choosing your own environment and allows you to acquire knowledge from the top practitioners in the field (click here for a video about being a network student).
Tailor your surroundings
As I mentioned in the earlier paragraph one of the benefits of learning from non-conventional sources is that you can tailor your learning environment to your liking. It is extremely important to use the proper tools for the job, as using a wrench as a hammer is not only bad for your wrench but also, for the result you are trying to achieve. I personally design my environment to compensate for my weakness. I currently use tools such as Grammarly and Google calendar as I am very bad at grammar and remembering important events. Another way I customize my environment is by filtering my social media feed I subscribe or follow things I find interesting and essential for growth. I have realized that this method had greatly improved my productivity

PLE

Shah, K (CC) 2016

before I could reflect on my personal learning environment, I had to understand what a PLE is. A PLE is a digital toolbox that helps us navigate the through the digital atmosphere. Personalized learning is the new form of learning that allows you to create an atmosphere that cares to you need and requirements (click here to learn more about PLE). After creating my PLE diagram, I noticed that I fall under the creator section of the ladder, explained by Josh Bernoff (click here). observing my PLE, I noticed that I am heavily focused on sharing and creating content. My employment is a major factor of this as I have to create many presentations for our clients.

Another tool  I used is Wordle, I found this to be an interesting tool as it condensed my entire blog into its are essentials. My blog last week was regarding digital footprint and the Wordle clearly illustrates that fact. I find this can be a great tool for marketing presentations as it can quickly get the message across.

Shah, K (CC) 2016

Till next time

Kev

 

The Digital Journery (Week 1)

Reflection:

Going through this session has genuinely fascinated me, people often say that life begins and end with a breath. However, this phrase is starting to lose its weight as in the twenty-first century, because after watching the video on about Digital Dossier (click here to watch video) strictly in terms of digital context a person is born way before his/her natural birth and stays alive well after his/her death.

Living in this day and age it does not come as a surprise to anyone that we are surrounded with technology. This constant interaction with technology has made it extremely easy for people to track someone online. In fact, just a quick google search can reveal all sorts of information about a person. Although this has given us the ability to be closers with friends, family, collogues who are miles away, this ability also comes with a huge responsibility (Yes I am aware I just used a line from Spiderman), therefore, it is extremely important that we are aware of what kind of digital tracks we are leaving behind. Our Digital footprint can affect us in some of the most unexpected ways, today employers are extremely vigilant about their current and potential employees Digital Footprint, and a negative digital footprint can cost a person his/her current job or a potential job. When I was a first-year student actively looking for a Co-op placement creating a creating a positive digital footprint was the first thing I was taught. While doing some background research on this session, I found a very interesting article on how your digital footprint can affect your reputation (click here to read the article)

The potential hazards of having an unrestricted access to a digital atmosphere are just as large as its benefits. The presence of these potential pitfalls is one of the main reason why students today should be taught about the rules of netiquette (Click here for the ten rules of netiquette) and take all the necessary steps towards creating a positive digital footprint. In my opinion having a negative digital footprint is same as having an unhealthy habit, the potentially harmful effects show up in the long run. I found that The Digital Drivers License (DDL) from the textbook is a great tool to see if a person is aware of his or her responsibility in a digital environment.

Report:

After reviewing the material in this session noticed two very interesting findings. One of the aforementioned findings was regarding the Digital Drivers License (DDL) test. After taking the test, I noticed that I scored pretty high on the test. This did not come as a surprise to me as I was taught about being a good digital citizen during my Co-op workshops. However, I was curious to find out how people with no knowledge regarding Digital Citizenship will score on the test. Therefore, I performed a small experiment with my sister and a few cousins, all of them are in high school are active on all social networking platforms. I asked them to take the DDL test and I noticed all of them failed or barely passed the test. This results while not very scientific but is still a good indicator of how our generation lacks digital literacy. Going over the rules of Netiquette and the nine elements of Digital citizenship (explained in the textbook) are very similar to the basic manners and people skills we learn when we are kids. 

The second interesting fact noticed that it is not very difficult to leave a good digital footprint. The ten rules of netiquette is a resource to start off with. Of  the ten rules, the one that many users forget is Rule 1 "Remember the Human", it is the first thing we are taught as kids and is the oldest rule in the book and yet going through the online posts and comments I have noticed that people often forget this.

I found this week very enlightening and thought provoking. I look forward to next week’s session.

Kev

Photo 1: http://www.notcot.org/post/14044/We-really-are-kids-of-the-digital-age-through-and-throu/
Photo 2: http://constanzadf.blogspot.com/2015/10/what-are-consequences-of-having-bad.html
Photo 3: http://libguides.infohio.org/digitalliteracy/digitalcitizenship

All About Me

Hello everyone, welcome to my blog my name is Keval, but everyone calls me Kev. As an Accounting major I am not very refined with my words but I will my best to keep my Blog interesting. As I mentioned earlier I am an Accounting Major currently on a Co-op term at one of the big four accounting firms in Toronto. I don't say that to brag, but instead to get some sympathy as the busy season in these firms are brutal and tend to take a toll. I personally love the hectic schedule as I get an excuse to stay late and enjoy Toronto's awesome nightlife and food scene. As an Analyst, I take part in client audits and this involves a lot of client interactions and I get a great view of the inner working of a lot of different industries. My job also involves a fair bit of grunt work, however, it does not make for an exciting read so I will not get into that.

Besides being an Analyst, I have also worked as a Lifeguard at Wonderland which I can say from personal experience is one of the best summer jobs anyone can ever have. In the four months I worked there I sat in the Leviathan more than anyone has in their entire life and for some reason, I am still not sick of it. When I am at Brock I work as a tutor for Finance, Accounting and Calculus, I think it is a great way to help my fellow badgers.

In my free time, I love to cook and I can make some mean Buffalo wings. I am also a big time foodie and love eat at different restaurants, this obsession of mine is further encouraged by the fact that I work in Toronto. I aspiring cook and plan to become a certified chef after graduating from Brock. I think becoming a Chef while working will be a bit of a challenge but I think I can pull through. My love for different cultures and cuisines is the main reason why I want to travel across Europe and Asia after graduation.

I also love the outdoors and experiencing the Brock university escarpment has only reaffirmed my belief on how wonderful the outdoors can be. I love to go running in the escarpment regardless the weather to clear my mind, my friends have often advised me against it as I have slipped and twisted my leg quite a few times. 

The main reason I am taking this course is because as a digitally active individual it is extremely important for me to have a positive digital footprint. As a positive digital footprint will have an immense impact on my career and employment prospects. Today an individual is not identified with his/her resume or an interview but by their digital profile. An individual’s digital image is one of the main things an employer looks at before hiring him/her. This course will not only prepare me on how to avoid pitfalls in a digital atmosphere but also teach me on how to make a positive digital footprint.

 

I look forward to sharing my findings, experiences and thoughts in this blog. Until next time

Kev :)