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Archive for October 20, 2011
UNPLUGGED: PART 2 Even More Unplugged
This past Fall Break long weekend I had another chance to “unplug” from my social networking and technology. I went camping into the woods of Brown County, where there are not chargers or cell phone reception. I didn’t even take my iTouch with me. It was a 3 day 2 night excursion that made me think to blog again about the importance of technology in my life.
As stated previously, this 3 day trek into the woods had no need for technology, so the roommates and I tried to leave as much of it behind as possible. We ended up bringing our cell phones just in case. But we didn’t use them very much, maybe once or twice in order to check the time, and once in the beginning of the trip to use the map on my roommate’s Droid to find our camping spot. My roommate Cameron brought his laptop to study, but never used it except the car ride, and my other roommate Matt and I only brought our phones, but couldn’t get signal anyways.
The entire trip we commented on how nice it was to be outside the city, and outside technology. We judged the time of our days only by where the sun and the moon were in the sky. Our entertainment was sitting by the fire, hunting, and fishing with each other. We had no need to contact the outside world. Everything in our days slowed down, but didn’t lose importance. Instead of the modern world today when everyone has something different to do every 30 minutes (have to return this text/email/call, have to submit this document, have to organize my schedule), we had 3 things to do all day without interruption. Sitting by the creek fishing was my important meeting; collecting firewood was my research project.
The whole time we all felt relaxed and truly unplugged (no matter if we even needed to get in direct contact with someone, we couldn’t without a hike to get cellphone reception) compared to the other time I tried this during the school week when I felt stressed and disconnected. It is the difference between disconnected and unplugged that is interesting. Just the words imply something. When I think disconnected I think “I’ve been disconnected from the server” or something. That means I want to get on the server but have been cutoff. Unplugged on the other hand to me implies that I am the one doing the unplugging. “I’ve unplugged the computer.” This difference is what I felt. That the first time I tried this experiment I needed (or at least I think I needed) to be connected to my digital world in order to do what I needed to do in the real world. When camping, the only thing I needed to do was gather food and firewood, the connection to the digital world had no affect on my real world. I definitely felt more stressed the first time I “unplugged” and less the second time.
After the weekend I was glad to get back to civilization. First thing I did was check my phone and Facebook. But those 3 days recharged me, and it felt good for the time to not have distractions or a rush.
Category: Unplugged |
Newsletter Ideas October
- Interviews of faculty to see how they use technology to support their classes, and students in response to technology in class.
- I read in one of the older newsletters that sometimes we hold contests for prizes. We could do a viral video contest to promote Butler.
- Meet the Info Commons Staff sections. Just a little bio blurb about who works here. Librarians too.
- An interesting fact section about Butler’s technology that makes everyday student life simpler. For example, I didn’t know until this summer about BUConnect. Some of my friends just recently found out about printsmart.butler.edu.
- Any articles about changes to technology at Butler. (New iPads, new software, new classroom technology).
- We find useful apps for college students, try them, rate them, and write a review.
- Calendar events section.
Category: Newsletter |
UNPLUGGED: DAY 3
Finally broke the blackout. Checked Facebook last night. As I assumed nothing new in my digital world had drastically changed; just a few messages from my friends. That being said, it was quite the experience of not having Facebook. Unfortunately most of my time that would have been spent on Facebook was spent in boredom wondering about what was happening on Facebook. I have learned a lesson through this: moderation. Some of the down time that I normally spend on Facebook didn’t necessarily go to more productive things. I spent the most part of my extra time on StumbleUpon. Which I suppose is kind of productive given that my interest include things about current events, politics, technology, etc. So the time that I would have used socializing was spent instead gaining knowledge. However, during this I noticed for example, that when I found a really interesting website I wanted to share it, obviously via Facebook.
UNPLUGGED: DAY 2
First full day done, and another just started. It has been tough not being active on Facebook only because I know I have messages from friends waiting for me. It’s hard when you become so reliant on something to give it up. It would be like if someone didn’t email or text for a week; especially if you know that you are receiving emails and texts. It highlights how interconnected we are and how much the world has changed. 20-30 years ago few people had cell phone, there wasn’t texting, and the internet wasn’t in the palm of your hand. If you didn’t hear from someone for a while that was ok, because the access to people was smaller. Today, it’s still ok that you don’t hear from a person but at least you’ll know immediately.The access and speed is really bothering me.
However, the reality is probably that not much has gone on in my digital world in 36 hours.
UNPLUGGED: DAY 1
It is my first 12 hours of being unplugged from Facebook. It’s hard because it seems so second nature to check it. Before going to bed, or when I get up in the morning it’s the same process each time; open email, check the weather, check Facebook. I wouldn’t say that I NEED to check Facebook, but it feels like I know that I have messages waiting for me, people trying to get in contact with me. I suppose if I needed to I could always send them an email. I know I’ll have to cheat a little this week, two of my classes use Facebook for discussion. I’m going to try and not let that be an excuse. It’s still pretty hard. I figured in the last 12 hours I would have been on Facebook maybe an hour total; like 4 or 5 times checking it just for ten to fifteen minutes. I don’t know which I feel worse about, that I can’t check it out (even though in reality nothing has probably changed online) or that I can’t go about my normal day without checking in online.
Reflection #2
Blackout Social Networking Article
1. Without having experienced a social media withdrawal, how can you imagine it would it affect your daily routine?
I would feel out of the loop. I use social networking, mainly facebook, to keep in contact with my friends, find out what people are doing, and share what I’m doing. There are other ways to communicate for sure, but without social networking it would be more awkward. I imagine I would get about the same amount of things done. I use facebook when I’m bored. If not facebook, then something else like stumbleupon.
2. Once you have answered 1 above, complete a self-imposed “unplugging” from one or more social networks that you typically use. Fully dis-engage from your iPhone, Facebook, Twitter or other social tool. How long were you able to stay unplugged? What was easiest/hardest about disengaging? What did you learn in the process?
3. What alternatives to completely unplugging might be good suggestions for your peers as they learn to balance social engagement in online and real-world environments?