Almost Viral!

I worked on the part one of the final project with Lisa Shea this week to collect data on social media usage.  We collaborated on the development of the survey and decided that the best way to get feedback would be to reach out to our Facebook and Twitter networks.  Once we completed the survey we both posted the link to Facebook and Lisa shared it on Twitter.  The whole process felt a lot like fishing.  We worked to rig our poles, put on some yummy bait and cast our lines into the sea.  Lisa got the first bite within a matter of minutes.  It was very exciting, but we had no idea that the survey was about to take off.  Within the first half hour we had over 30 responses.  We joked about how we got consumed in this process and did not want to leave the Google form page so we could count our responses as they came in.  The interest tapered overnight, but within less than 48 hours we collected 84 responses.  This is another prime example of the power of social media. 

Our project summary and visual representations of the data we collected can be found on Lisa's blog.

Needing a Productivity Boost

As I halfway watched a kiddie show on airplanes today with my son, I overheard the host saying that the first airplane flew at about 30 miles per hour and over time they have gotten faster, and faster.  It got me thinking, that is the exact thing that is happening with technology and the effects are becoming a bit overwhelming.  This infographic provides a visual demonstration of how technological overload is becoming an epidemic.

In Dana Ishii’s week two blog reflection, she mentions how this course is progressing at what feels like “warp speed.”  Many of the peers I have talked to in this course have echoed that same feeling.  With all the different social media platforms and assignments we are juggling, I started to think that there must be tools to increase productivity that would make our lives easier.  This thought spurred an online quest for productivity apps.  

The journey lead me to a few different online articles that suggest applications and programs to enhance productivity (listed below).  While they offered some exciting and promising benefits, I then started wondering if I even have the time to try these.  With each new program comes a learning curve and I don’t know if I have the energy to devote to learning something new.  I decided to offer the links to the articles anyway as a means to start a discussion.  I find some of my best teachers have been my peers.  Maybe you can help by answering some of these questions.  Do you have any productivity apps that are worth the time to learn?  Have you tried any of the ones suggested by the articles?  How did they work for you?

Streamlining Social Media with Productivity Programs & Applications

http://blog.myemoticons.com/5-proven-tools-for-streamlining-your-social-media-experience/

http://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/here-are-10-ifttt-recipes-thatll-help-streamline-your-social-media-experience/

http://dashburst.com/best-social-media-management-tools/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/11/productivity-apps-10-ipho_n_3560671.html

Mindless and Mindful Browsing

According to Smith in an article published in 2011 at http://USAToday.com, “A study from the Pew Internet and Life Project reported that 53% of those 18-29 years old go online for no particular reason except to have fun or to pass the time."  I was not able to do this when I first started using the internet.  I always appreciated structure and doing things for a reason.  Or maybe it was, as the author pointed out, that “for those who remember painfully slow dial-up modems, having a specific game plan in mind when the Web finally appeared was a significant time-saver.”  (That dial up comment made me chuckle and I had to include the video below for all the former dial-up users).  Whatever the reason, I always attacked the internet with purpose.  

Over time, however, I’ve gotten better at mindless browsing and programs have gotten better at making “suggestions” or creating spaces where this can occur.  While I hesitated at first, through this practice I have found some very exciting stuff!  Stuff that I wouldn’t even think to look for.....like a shade tent for use at  the beach for $20 bucks (steal), a recipe for cake mix cookies that was a hit at our last potluck, an article on the summer melt phenomenon that is hitting community colleges nationwide, and finally, just today, mindless browsing got me to realize that I could buy Air Ambulance insurance for my whole family for $20.  These wonderful discoveries all happened as I cruised online with no specific purpose, but just to see what was out there.  Weren’t some of the best discoveries in history made when people charted unknown territory with no specific result in mind?  

Our reading this week cautioned us in a different direction as Rheingold encourages mindful browsing and highlighted the importance of “controlling your focus.”    So now that  I have gotten better at mindless web browsing, I’m being told to practice mindfulness!  In the words of Bart Simpson, “ay caramba.”  I always believe that there are two sides to a story and I can see the importance of maintaining both perspectives.  While I completely enjoy the results I get when I am on task and completely focused, I also enjoy when I find that diamond in the rough through mindless browsing.  I believe both approaches enhance productivity in their own way.  In my opinion, striking the right balance of mindless and mindful browsing and having the flexibility to adjust the balance as necessary is critical to each individual reaching their fullest potential as an online participant. 

Have You Unplugged Lately?

Pay attention!  Yes you, put down that smartphone, take deep breaths and allow yourself to truly digest this blog post.  Now that I have your attention, I would like you to think about how development in technology and our increasingly connected lives have affected your attention span and ability to focus? 

Chapter 6 of Rheingold's text offers attention strategies "in a nutshell" for mindful participation in the online world.  One that stood out to me in particular was the notion that "to say that social media affords distraction is not to say that the technology has to be in control of your awareness; you can take control back, through repeated and conscious efforts."  Now ask yourself, I am in control or is technology?

I find myself battling the distractions of the online world daily.  With constant access to information, I daydream questions and have to answer them immediately because I know it will just take a minute.  Add up all those minutes spent distracted and the sum would probably be startling. 

After reading Rheingold's suggestions, I put much more thought into how I was spending my time online.  It is amazing how your behavior can be influenced when you are consistently checking in on yourself.  I found myself following his suggestion of "noticing when my mind has wandered and bringing it back to focus on the highest priority-like training a puppy."  In doing this, I started to realize...I have a problem.  I guess step one in solving the problem is in admitting you have one.

In addition to the suggestions offered by Rheingold, I believe there are more strategies that can help users regain focus and control.  This article published online by Forbes offers some strategies including going low tech once in a while.  While I support the authors belief that this is healthy, I would also like to offer the strategy of going no tech once in a while.  Yes, you read that correctly...I am suggesting regularly disconnecting yourself. 

Imagine you only had an hour a day to be connected.  What would you do in that hour?  The answer to that question should deliver insights into where your attention and focus should be.  While I appreciate all the good things that stem from the development of technology, I think we cannot forget to also give attention to the things in life that are not available online.  When I disconnect myself, I return to the online world refreshed and focused. While this strategy may not work for everyone, I implore you to try it.  You may be surprised by how disconnecting positively influences the time you spend connected. 

Molokai's north shore is only accessible by boat.  The area is very isolated.   There is no electicity, access to wifi or cell phone reception, however, I never feel like I am missing out on anything when I am there. 

Aloha

I can't believe that this time next year I'll be all done with my masters degree. It'll be a bittersweet moment. I'll be glad that it is done, but at the same time I'll miss being connected with like-minded peers, being intellectually challenged and learning all the latest technology tools. This is one of my final electives before starting the dreaded "project" which will be a year full of exploration, research and application. It will be a true test of everything I learned to date. While the project itself scares me, I am very excited to get it started and actively begin putting all the pieces together.

 I am the lone soldier in this program residing on the rural island of Molokai. I have been working at UH Maui College on Molokai for six years. This is where my passion for education evolved. I had been a consumer of education for a long, long time. At the college I have had the opportunity to produce information and increase access to higher education for a community with all odds against them; lowest per capita income in the state, small rural community, highest dependence on welfare assistance, etc. Despite our challenges, the people of Molokai continually amaze me with their persistence, motivation and passion for "keeping Molokai, Molokai." The community is made up of people who live Hawaiian, embrace ohana and are guided by the aloha spirit. In a community like no other, it prides me to see the power instilled in residents who participate in our higher education programs. Student success is more than just a benchmark to me because I know each student behind the statistics. I know their stories and their struggles and while their journey may not be the same as your average college student, I get my paycheck when I play a role in helping them realize their vision of success.