After reading David White and Alison Le Cornu’s article Visitors and Residents: A new typology for online engagement and watching White’s video Just Mapping, I began to map out my own use of technology, and was surprised by what I discovered.
Photo by energepic.com from Pexels
Continuum of discovery
The self is a treasure trove of never-ending discoveries and epiphanies. This activity challenged me to examine my use of technology and the modes in which I engage with them. In this short exercise, I became more conscious of the fact that I do a lot of compartmentalization between my personal and professional online spheres of activity. After many years of trying to balance these two worlds under the same roof, it appears there has been some spillage between compartments. But, as White explains, “technology is causing content collapse” which is to be expected given the omnipresence nature of the web and certain services (White, 2013).
On my map of Resident-Visitor typology using technology (see Figure 1), you will notice a few tools repeat themselves on the continuum. This is because I use the same technology (e.g. email) for different modes of engagement. We all use technology in different ways depending on the context. We move around, sometimes functioning more as Visitors, sometimes more as Residents, according to our motivation. This was a conscious effort on my part, to provide a barrier between my personal and professional life.
My most active digital identity is Facebook (FB). I spent so much of my life living abroad, so this was an online space I could easily take up residency in. FB was more than a fancy address book, it was a place where I interacted with others by sharing my content: links, pictures, ideas and messages/to keep in touch with family and friends. It felt quite satisfying to see likes and comments showing up on my posts. It was convenient to be able to see exactly what my friends were up to without having to be there face-to-face. However, since signing up for Facebook back in 2006, my engagement with the platform has dramatically decreased over the past 5 years, and I no longer feel like a true “resident” there. As I improve with age, broadcasting my information on Facebook appears inconsequential, therefore decreasing my motivation to engage with the platform the way I used to.
Until recently, I had no active presence on Twitter. Originally, I created a Twitter profile for personal use, but never felt motivated to use it. Since joining the MALAT program at Royal Roads University, I decided to change this and make it increasingly institutional-residential. I am happy to report that last week, I sent out my very first tweet!
Why is this important?
Photo by energepic.com from Pexels
Looking at different ways to integrate the use of digital technologies (e.g. social media, online games, multimedia, etc.,) into your practice makes learning more accessible, and above all else, more fun! As educators, it becomes important for us to remember that just by asking a student what technology they use, tells us absolutely nothing about their mode of engagement. Thus, how a student engages with technology becomes the most important factor to consider, if we are looking at more ways to connect with them.
References
White, D. & Le Cornu, A. (2011). Visitors and Residents: A new typology for online engagement, First Monday, Accessed on April 19, 2021 from: View of Visitors and Residents: A new typology for online engagement | First Monday
White, D. (2013). Just mapping (video). Accessed on April 19, 2021 from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSK1Iw1XtwQ
Thanks for this post Ash! I’m fascinated by how our online “selves” have expanded over the years. Like you said about how your use of FB has decreased over the past five years, I wonder how our current maps will change over the next five years and how they would have looked five years ago.
That would be a really interesting exercise! Let’s do it! Back to your comment which touched on the evolution of spaces online, I was told that FB was for “old” people, and that Instagram and TikTok are the “current” ways of sharing. I had know idea…. Tika what, tika who? >_< Thank you for your comment!
On the TikTok note, I was shocked when my 15-year old son told me he knew who Jagmeet Singh was because he saw him on TikTok!
Thanks for sharing your map, Ashley! You mentioned having less resident engagement on Facebook – did you find that there has been another platform that replaced those same activities? For example, being able to chat and keep up to date with your personal connections on WhatsApp and Instagram, and connecting institutionally on LinkedIn. I also agree with your comment about actively creating a barrier between personal and institutional engagement on platforms – do you find that some platforms have been designed to facilitate this barrier better than others?
Hi Jolee,
Excellent questions! Thank you so much for taking the time to make a comment. Yes, I most definitely have increased my use of other platforms. Whatsapp, Slack, and Zoom have become my primary means of keeping up-to-date with my personal connections. Given this, I have narrowed my audience from everyone to a select few. Taking this into consideration, it appears my online visibility has changed more than my activity as a whole has. I simply shifted to more private channels of engagement.
In regards to your question about whether or not I find some platforms better designed to facilitate the barrier between my personal and professional life, I think LinkedIn does a great job of compartmentalization for professionals. I would never use it as a space for non-professional interactions. This is, of course, in contrast to platforms, like FB and Instagram, where the line between personal and professional life is extremely blurred, often intentionally (e.g. influencers, etc,). I’m curious to know what platforms you prefer to use for either your personal or professional life? How do you feel about Cronin’s idea of establishing a more open and authentic persona online? Is this something you might being willing to adopt?
I agree with your comment about how LinkedIn has offered a great space for professional networking. This is the only site I engage in as professional and I only log in to update my resume/portfolio. As far as personal use, I’ve replaced Facebook messaging with WhatsApp and my Facebook photo collections with one private and one public Instagram account. As strange as it may sound, I’ve found Instagram an easier way to stay connected with my extended family, as well as friends and coworkers I’m not too close with. It’s easy to like or comment on a photo of what they are up to compared to striking up a conversation just to have it end at “I’m fine, thanks.” I think it will take a lot of courage, as well as a supportive environment to truly develop an open and authentic persona in a digital environment.
Thank you for sharing. You know, I have an Instagram account, but the last time I used it was the day I signed up for it. After reading your comments, I feel motivated to give it another try. Thanks, Jolee!
Hey Ashley! Great Map!
You mention that your Facebook usage decreased dramatically, as you started to see the interactions and information gleaned through the platform as inconsequential. Was there a key event or moment that this mindset change took hold?
I love that you have started using twitter with the intent of it being your institutional platform. I have thought about it as well, but worry about the gradual blending together of institution vs personal writings/tweets. Will you engage with politicians, governments, or other organizations when tweeting?
Hi, Paula!
Thank you so much for your comment. In the spirit of self-examination and being more open and authentic, I think a number of things are responsible for my gradual disinterest in FB.
1) FB scandal in 2018 – exposed privacy violations and a number of transparency issues (e.g. Cambridge Analytica).
• Zuckerberg’s senate hearing in the US as well as his EU testimony, made me sick to my stomach. If you haven’t had the chance to watch Mark Zuckerberg senate hearing or EU testimony, they’re both worth a watch.
• Senate hearing – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgI_KAkSyCw
• EU testimony
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdZoxLaJtb0
2) Donald Trump’s election – increase in the dissemination of fake news (e.g. altering information for their own personal purposes and spreading it across FB)
3) Becoming a mom – became more purposeful with my time
4) Different lifestyle – stopped traveling and returned to Canada
5) The pandemic – confined to my home, not much to post about, and not at all interested in viewing pictures of people where their smiling faces are hidden by a mask
So why do I still have a semi-active FB account? Honestly, I’ve considered deleting it all together numerous times, but I’m concerned I’ll lose treasured old photos and memories.
Hi Ash,
I love the map! So much detail.
Congratulations on creating your first tweet. You mentioned that you started using Twitter for personal use but now plan on using it for institutional purposes. That is exactly what I did. I have had a Twitter account for years and have never tweeted. Hopefully, we can help each other build our Twitter presence over the next two years.
For sure, Rajen! Thank you for your comment. I am thrilled to connect with you on Twitter and LinkedIn. Oh, and just so you know, you’re officially my second Twitter follower! Looking forward to seeing your Youtube channel and TikTok dance videos 🙂
Hi Ash,
I love how detailed your map was, and how you mentioned that a few tools moved around the continuum, based on the context of use. It is fascinating how so many of us realized how compartmentalized our personal and professional lives (and technology uses) are. I wonder if that will change, and if so, will it be a fairly rapid change? Or, will the separation continue to exist, regardless of technological progression?
– Amber
Hi, Amber! Thank you so much for your comment. If it’s true that the type of technology we choose, shapes the way in which we relate to each other (Garrison, 2000), then how much we choose to show of ourselves, will likely act as a gauge of how successful and meaningful our connections are. I can only speak for myself, but one of my objectives in my DIDP plan is to blur the lines between my personal and professional online personas. In fact, I have already taken steps toward breaking down these walls of compartmentalization, by sharing my 1st blog post on Facebook, Tweeting about Open Education (which we’re my very first tweets EVER), and re-sharing content I find interesting across all platforms. Amber, as a K-12 teacher, would this intentional blurring of the lines be feasible in your position? How is being “searchable” seen in your circle? Do teachers at your school make an effort to be invisible out of fear of being found online by students?