A digital identity change – Allie Munro<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nThe measure of intelligence is the ability to change<\/p>\n– Albert Einstein<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\nNeo, a character from the Matrix trilogy (Wachowski & Wachowski, 1999), faced a decision: he was given the choice of taking a blue or red pill. Taking the blue pill would mean Neo would return to the life he has always known, or he could take the red pill, which would take Neo into an unknown world which he cannot come back from. A few weeks into the Learning and Technologies<\/a> program at Royal Roads University<\/a>, I am faced with the same decision.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
I recently completed an analysis<\/a> of my technology use by plotting each technology in a diagram using visitor\/residence and institutional\/personal tension pairs. Through this analysis, I could identify my frequency and whether I am a visitor or contributor to digital networks. The result, as expected, is that I am a visitor (lurker) with a contribution limited to institutional work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This identity does not align with my future goals, so, like Neo, I have chosen to take the red pill and make my presence known in the digital world. Unlike Neo, who was thrown into this world immediately, my journey will follow a transition plan with clear goals and metrics that will define success for my new digital identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why change my digital identity?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Multiple reasons led me to want to change my digital identity and, most importantly, my career aspirations. The pathway I want to take to grow my career at Lockheed Martin requires me to become known as an industry leader outside the company, both socially and through published work. The second is a recent interest I acquired in my few short weeks in the MALAT<\/a> program: to engage and contribute to current industry issues. The readings we were assigned in Unit 2 and articles I came across via recommendations from insight discussions have shown me unique perspectives and elegant ways to explain technology and learning advancements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A new perspective<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Until last week, if you had asked me to explain the ethics of using artificial intelligence, I would most likely have spoken about fair use and copyright issues. However, due to my engagement in critical discussions, Chris Henderson<\/a>, a fellow student in the MALAT program, informed me of a blog article from TIME<\/a> by Billy Perrigo called \u201cExclusive: OpenAI Used Kenyan Workers on Less Than $2 Per Hour to Make ChatGPT Less Toxic\u201d. In this article, Perrigo (2023) highlights that for OpenAI to ensure ChatGPT did not provide unwanted responses, the training data set had to be vetted by humans, specifically data labellers from Kenya working for San Fransciso-based company Sama. Perrigo explains that although provided the illusion of choice, workers were paid roughly $1.32 an hour to sift through challenging to read and see (imagery), ultimately leading to psychological harm in some cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This change in perspective and my engagement with social networks will expand my mind, enabling me to meet my career aspirations and be a thought leader in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How will I change my Digital identity?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In these early stages of adopting a new digital identity, I have identified three key areas to focus on that will serve as a foundation for expansion in the future. A key focus for my transition plan will be accessibility in physical, cognitive, and social terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Platform<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Selecting a social media platform is like hitting a moving target; technological advancements and social interests change daily, so the platform I choose is expected to change. My first instinct is to select a platform that allows accessibility in a fast-paced environment, such as podcasts. This platform will enable listeners to join in during their daily activities, such as cleaning, exercising, or commuting, to name just a few. However, as a former digital marketer, I understand the power of textual content in search engine optimization (SEO). My goal is to reach a broad audience within a specific network. Due to its high SEO applicability, a textual platform will be an excellent first choice for me to get a wide audience and enhance my writing abilities in anticipation of my future published work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Contributions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While I find my voice and build a platform, I plan to engage in topics by providing insights, questions, and opinions in blog articles. This process will help me build confidence in speaking on social media, which I need to gain experience in. Each time I comment on a blog, my name will be included, providing a hyperlink to my blog. This indirect approach to getting back-links to my blog will provide an excellent boost to my SEO strategy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consistency will ensure I maintain an active voice and build knowledge and perspectives on complex topics. I aim for a regular rhythm of commenting and curating, measured through analytics, holding me accountable for maintaining a consistent volume of contributions. When choosing blogs on which I will provide comments, I will ensure the blogs offer an inclusive environment where readers feel comfortable responding and creating a dialogue. It’s also essential that I do not comment on blogs with a financial barrier. I want my voice to be heard by anyone who wants to listen to it and not be monetized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Voice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My voice is what truly gives me my identity. I want to foster a welcoming and engaging tone when users read my articles or comments. When writing to my users, I will ask questions, provide calls to action, and make any comments. Writing integrity will be one of my key focuses. Translating the values of academic writing, I will ensure that any opinions or ideas that drive me to conclusions or support my arguments are cited. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This week, I represented the second week of readings, which ranged from blogs to academic articles. Although the authors are likely trying to be concise with their wording, I needed the aid of Google to help understand uncommonly used words and, therefore, broke the tempo of my reading as it took time to think or find the word’s true meaning. To enhance accessibility, I will aim to write in straightforward language, avoiding complex words that could be misunderstood and slow down the reader’s tempo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Goals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To ensure the success of this transition plan, I have identified three SMART goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Comment and engage in ten discussions on a variety of topics related to learning and technology by May 31st, 2024<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Implement and set analytics dashboard for RRU Moodle blog to measure reach by June 28th, 2024<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Engage in five LinkedIn posts and or discussions on topics related to learning and technology by June 28th, 2024<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
These goals may or may not set the bar high. As I challenge myself to break down the digital barrier, I will be better equipped to gauge whether these goals represent a challenging and achievable starting point for my new digital media identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
References<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Higgins S. (2024, March 24).\u00a023 Must-Read Quotes About 44 Inspirational Quotes About Change That Will Help You Think DifferentlyData.<\/em>\u00a0https:\/\/blog.hubspot.com\/sales\/quotes-about-change<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
OpenAI. (2024).\u00a0Person chooses between tranquil living room and vibrant digital scene].\u00a0https:\/\/chat.openai.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perrigo. B. (2023, January 18). Exclusive: OpenAI Used Kenyan Workers on Less Than $2 Per Hour to Make ChatGPT Less Toxic. https:\/\/time.com\/6247678\/openai-chatgpt-kenya-workers\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wachowski, L., & Wachowski, L. (1999). The Matrix<\/em> [Film]. Warner Bros.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The measure of intelligence is the ability to change – Albert Einstein<\/p>\n