With this task, I was challenged to change the semiotic mode of the “What’s in your bag?” task, redesigning it with the original purpose in mind. That purpose had been to share some information about myself and the literacies that I have, through an exploration of personal items. For the redesign, I figured one of the most personal ways to achieve that purpose would be to expose part of my digital side by answering the question “What’s on my phone?”. What I present to you then, is a short video looking at what my phone. Specifically, I focused on the apps that I interact with, and a portion of my internet presence.
As the New London Group (NLG, 1996) states, literacy pedagogy must now include those increasingly significant representation forms like visual images and mixed media, focusing on both understanding and the building of competencies in content creation. I figured that as an educator in today’s world of new media, it would be worthwhile to show the ways in which I’ve personally been able to navigate the digital world. The biggest revelation in doing so is the realization that I’ve situated myself within many different subcultures. According to NLG (1996), there is now “an increasing range of accessible subcultural options,” (p. 70), and I’m realizing how much both social media and my own proficiencies in content creation, have allowed me to interact with others based on different shared interests and join online communities that others around me choose not to engage in. It’s interesting how different my online experience can be compared to my friends and family, even if we do share some common interests. NLG (1996) talk of the ability to find one’s voice within these subculture communities, and especially in my informal role as a food blogger, I very much found that to be the case. One of the most rewarding aspects my food blogging experience was being able to share that voice with people around the world. Dobson and Willinsky (2009) talk of the ability for digital technologies to facilitate intercultural exchange, and nowhere do I find that evidenced more than when I look at the reach I’ve been able to have with my food blog.
In reflecting on the challenges of this mode-switching activity, I will admit that I struggled a bit with how much planning I should do ahead of creating the recording. Dobson and Willinsky (2009) addressed issues with the advent of word processing and the effects it has had on written output (thanks to aspects like the ability to easily edit text). For me, I considered whether I should create a script for myself ahead of time, and if editing the video would be necessary. The decisions I made regarding that obviously affected the quality of the video and the information I was able to convey. In the end, I simply made a general list of talking points and opted against editing. In this way, the activity reminded me quite a bit of Task 4 (Manual Script), where my editing options were limited (to either crossing out text or crumpling the page and starting over). I feel like that limitation helped me feel freer to create, knowing a few errors may slip in (including unintended omissions and my blunder in naming “Old Yale Blewing”) but ultimately the main message would still get across.
References
Dobson, T., & Willinsky, J. (2009). Digital literacy. The Cambridge handbook of literacy, 286-312.
The New London Group. (1996). A pedagogy of multiliteracies: Designing social futures. Harvard Educational Review 66(1), 60-92.
I’ve been making my way through all of our classmates versions of this task, and I find each one infinitely interesting. In the first task we had to identify ourselves in a prescribed way, which I think really flattened all of our identities whereas in this task I think we get to see a more nuanced picture of who people are. I think that your choice in showing a “digital” bag is really unique and clever. I would say that in a lot of ways, revealing our digital footprint is a lot more vulnerable and revealing than our physical bags. It makes me think about the plans people have in place to attend to their digital identities after death.
I think most people just carry items of utility in their physical bags these days. For example, I wonder how many people still carry around physical pictures of their loved ones, rather than digital ones only.
I agree with you, Deidre, that the first task in some ways could flatten our identity and the second one allowed us to reveal more, and somehow I think my approach for the first task was more personal and the second detached. I have really enjoyed seeing the difference in approaches and the creativity involved in this mode-bending task.
I definitely agree with the vulnerability aspect. I actually had to be quite careful in what I displayed. I wanted to show more, like a perusal of my photos, or a quick look at how I set up my Google Classroom to interact with students, but that would lead to privacy concerns and intimate revelations of how many bird photos I’ve taken recently. Even performing a Google search of my name was done with care. You’ll notice that I’d already performed the search in the video, which was done because when I start typing my name into the address bar, my personal e-mail address pops up (along with the number of unread e-mails I have).
James, I really enjoy your unscripted and unedited approach, as it’s very authentic, and how much your “What’s in my phone?” remix reveals about you. I remembered some of these things from 522 or 523, I can’t remember.
Are the two birbs on your lockscreen Canada Jays? I’ve recently gotten super into birding, and I haven’t seen one though I don’t think I will unless I head north or west or they find themselves a bit out of their range.
Hi Mel,
Yes, those two birbs are in fact Canada Jays, or more affectionately “Whiskey Jacks”. They are my absolute favourite part of hiking, as the seem to like the high elevations, so that’s pretty much the only time I see them.
Hey James!
Such an intriguing approach to redesigning this activity. I honestly never thought to use my phone, a device I use every day! I appreciate you being so vulnerable as your shared your story. I love that you highlighted the number of users from different countries who have visited your food blog! It’s so amazing how international our reach can be without us realizing it! You have connected with people all of the world without ever communicating with them on a synchronous level. Such a relevant example of how our digital world unites us!