Wrap Up

Joseph Reagle

We set out to learn

How to use digital communications well: mindfully and effectively

Concepts

theoretical:
- network: 6-degrees
- collective action: prisoner’s dilemma
- communication: deindividuation & depersonalization
experimental:
- marshmallow studies
- mirror studies & self-esteem
critical: algorithmic bias
technical: DNS and cookies
market: online advertising

Skills

think critically
- knowing correlation != causation
- hunting for assumptions
- considering not just what you believe, but why and how
asking complex questions: is social media making us more narcissistic?
learning how to learn
increasing proficiency: we can better search the Web, filter email, block ads, and protect our privacy
communicating: writing, wikis, and classroom discussion

Work

you built a website with
- ten reading responses
- four practical exercises
- wrote an essay proposal, revision, and final

(I read around 300 reading responses and gave over 200 pieces of feedback—and met my goal of returning it all within the week.)

TRACE

I especially appreciate specific suggestions:

reading X was useful because …;
exercise Y was not because of …

So please don’t succumb to “checkbox fatigue.”

Now??

What topics or exercises could I add/improve?
Which did you most appreciate?

Approach

geeky
meaningful
engaged and active

Geeky

A lot of stuff is interesting and even boring stuff can be made so.

Meaningful

I hope the readings were informative and applicable to your lives.
Thanks for all the show-and-tells! 😄

Engaged and active

collaborative exercises and multiple discussion formats

Tips

We’ve learned to…

use mnemonics and learn others’ names
use a password manager
backup 3-2-1
use a clipboard manager

My last tip: Gratitude

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” – A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh