Digital Communication
SMART Learning Objectives
At the completion of the workshop, the reader will be able to:
At the completion of the workshop, the reader will be able to:
- Explain what digital communication is.
- Explain two different forms of digital communication.
- Discuss the personal implications of one of the NPR broadcasts and how it affects the reader in every day life.
Digital Communication Overview
What is digital communication?
Digital communication is the electronic exchange of information (Ribble, 2015). There are many forms of digital communication: e-mail, social media, cell phone texting, smart phone messaging applications, tablets, among others. This is becoming a preferred method of communication for many people, in fact, parents allow their children to have cell phones in order to communicate with them easier (Ribble, 2015). |
Educators need to figure out what they are comfortable with in having their students utilize digital communication tools in class or even through online discussion forums. It is imperative that digital etiquette is discussed with students, so that proper communication will take place. In addition, allowing students to use their phones, computers, or tablets in class can sometimes be a disruption to others as well as a form of cheating on assignments or tests if students are using the technology to communicate with one another.
Digital Communication: Making Connections
Connections to Personal Experiences
Being an educator in college level classes, I can appreciate the easy exchange of information between myself and my students via email. This makes it easier for me to respond to my students in a timely manner if I am not on campus to receive phone messages. I have found that it is important to set boundaries with my students, though. I do not give out my cell phone number, and I do not accept friend requests from my students on Facebook because I do not want to breach the professor-student boundaries that need to be set. I am not saying that it is wrong to give out a cell phone number, but it is something I would prefer not to do. Most of my students have some form of technology available to them at home and they all have access to computer labs so if they need to ask me a question, I prefer they email me and then I can respond that way versus through a text message.
Being an educator in college level classes, I can appreciate the easy exchange of information between myself and my students via email. This makes it easier for me to respond to my students in a timely manner if I am not on campus to receive phone messages. I have found that it is important to set boundaries with my students, though. I do not give out my cell phone number, and I do not accept friend requests from my students on Facebook because I do not want to breach the professor-student boundaries that need to be set. I am not saying that it is wrong to give out a cell phone number, but it is something I would prefer not to do. Most of my students have some form of technology available to them at home and they all have access to computer labs so if they need to ask me a question, I prefer they email me and then I can respond that way versus through a text message.
Connections to the Kinesiology Field
Many Kinesiology professors find themselves teaching online in the age of technology. In classes that never meet face-to-face, I have found that it is so important to establish some form of digital communication between the students and the instructor in order to enhance the learning community and to build social and teaching presence (Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, 2000). In my experiences teaching and taking classes online, the addition of a discussion forum or placing the students in groups where they have to work together in online classes can increase their communication and make a more positive learning experience for the students versus a class where they are working alone and do not interact with one another
NPR Radio Broadcasts
Digital Communication in Today's Society: NPR Radio Broadcast #1
Title: At California Campuses, a Test for Free Speech, Privacy, and Cybersecurity
Date: March 11, 2016
Time Length: 4:17
Summary: The University of California system implemented a data storage system that would store all communications made online for 30 days. The problem was that it was a secret- nobody was informed that these data were being stored. This can be a particularly sticky situation when it comes to research and human subjects, because the researcher might inform the participant that their interactions are private, but if these data are being stored and monitored, this can become a violation for the Institutional Review Board and the protection of human subjects. This has particular relevance to digital communication because most people choose to communicate this way, but information can become compromised, and even deleted e-mails can come back to haunt us, so keeping digital communication appropriate and legal is extremely important.
Title: At California Campuses, a Test for Free Speech, Privacy, and Cybersecurity
Date: March 11, 2016
Time Length: 4:17
Summary: The University of California system implemented a data storage system that would store all communications made online for 30 days. The problem was that it was a secret- nobody was informed that these data were being stored. This can be a particularly sticky situation when it comes to research and human subjects, because the researcher might inform the participant that their interactions are private, but if these data are being stored and monitored, this can become a violation for the Institutional Review Board and the protection of human subjects. This has particular relevance to digital communication because most people choose to communicate this way, but information can become compromised, and even deleted e-mails can come back to haunt us, so keeping digital communication appropriate and legal is extremely important.
Digital Communication in Today's Society: NPR Radio Broadcast #2
Title: Making Permanent Digital Records Not So Permanent
Date: December 4, 2012
Time Length: 3:42
Summary: When communicating via digital methods, we do not always remember that there will be a digital trail of that communication; a permanent record of what was said. There is a startup company called Wickr that lets the sender of the communication decide how long the message will last. An individual can send a voice, picture, or text message and then when the recipient opens the message, a timer will start to count down until the message will be deleted. This has particular relevance to the digital communications we make because once something is sent, it is almost impossible to get it back, and the use of this application can help individuals avoid putting permanent records of a communication out in the world.
Title: Making Permanent Digital Records Not So Permanent
Date: December 4, 2012
Time Length: 3:42
Summary: When communicating via digital methods, we do not always remember that there will be a digital trail of that communication; a permanent record of what was said. There is a startup company called Wickr that lets the sender of the communication decide how long the message will last. An individual can send a voice, picture, or text message and then when the recipient opens the message, a timer will start to count down until the message will be deleted. This has particular relevance to the digital communications we make because once something is sent, it is almost impossible to get it back, and the use of this application can help individuals avoid putting permanent records of a communication out in the world.
Digital Communication in Today's Society: NPR Radio Broadcast #3
Title: Teen Texting Soars; Will Social Skills Suffer?
Date: April 20, 2010
Time Length: 4:02
Summary: The purpose of this broadcast is to show how texting can affect the social skills of our teens. In the broadcast, a poll by the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project was mentioned, and the results of this poll indicated that out 3/4 of American teens have cell phones and prefer to utilize texting as their primary method of communication, and sometimes they even text one another when they are standing next to each other. It is difficult for parents and teachers to place limits on their children and students in terms of the use of technology for communication because many will secretly use their phones when they should not. Questions have arisen as to whether the use of texting has caused social skills to suffer. This has relevance to digital communication because as students age and come to college, it is important that they are able to interact face to face with their instructors, peers, and bosses when employed in the workforce. There is particular concern that texting has hampered the development of actual face to face interactions between individuals.
Title: Teen Texting Soars; Will Social Skills Suffer?
Date: April 20, 2010
Time Length: 4:02
Summary: The purpose of this broadcast is to show how texting can affect the social skills of our teens. In the broadcast, a poll by the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project was mentioned, and the results of this poll indicated that out 3/4 of American teens have cell phones and prefer to utilize texting as their primary method of communication, and sometimes they even text one another when they are standing next to each other. It is difficult for parents and teachers to place limits on their children and students in terms of the use of technology for communication because many will secretly use their phones when they should not. Questions have arisen as to whether the use of texting has caused social skills to suffer. This has relevance to digital communication because as students age and come to college, it is important that they are able to interact face to face with their instructors, peers, and bosses when employed in the workforce. There is particular concern that texting has hampered the development of actual face to face interactions between individuals.
References
Garrison, D.R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2000). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education. The Internet and Higher Education, 2, 87-105.
Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools (3rd ed.). Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.
Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools (3rd ed.). Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.