Final Reflections

Self-Directed Learning
When it comes to self-directed learning, I really tried to study what was interesting to me. If a subject ever caught my attention, I would usually sit down, research it for a bit, and then post a blog full of curated bits of information. Aftera question on Google+ about cyber bullying, I gave my own two cents in this post about the tragedies of cyber bullying and how hard it is to control. It's been a subject of interest for years--for no personal reason--but I was glad for the excuse to sit down and give a well-researched opinion on a very touchy subject. Another well-curated post was after the class digital fast. I gathered all the final opinions of class mates and matched them with my own research from various sources and finished with my own opinion on the digital age and all its implications. I also posted on how media has changed media--that is, more specifically, how the film world has changed in the digital age. This was a more personal-opinion based post, but I found real examples and made sure to tie it together with a current article on changes. And when I started wondering about the cons of the digital culture as I read Jurassic Park, I found a blogger who had many interesting ideas on culture as it is now. So I wrote about what I thought, both what I agreed and what I didn't agree with.

With all of my blog posts, I have tried to make them relevant to what was being discussed, either trending in the news or in class. Most of them were inspired by something I read or saw outside of class and allowed me to vocalize opinions that didn't always get heard in class. I spent so much time crafting these blogs, not only when it came to writing them, but also with the curating of relevant information and finding valid sources to back up my claims.   

On Google+, I made sure to post things in the same vein--that is, about things relevant to trending topics around the web. More than that, I would force myself to recognize moments of interest for me and then expound on them on Google+. This allowed me to say a little but still get feedback. I would find and share articles, tag and discuss items with classmates, comment and read others posts, etc. I went out of my way to stay involved in the class circle and I went even more out of my way, sometimes, to find things of interest to post. But soon it became natural: I would just be going about my day and just naturally make connections between every day events and thoughts and the digital world. Those are things i would share as well--little epiphanies about things learned or finally understood. I (over)shared about my family and how they made me think about digital culture. I got involved in groups and conversations about various things of interest. So much out-of-class time was spent with Google+, either sharing or reading what was already shared. It was a huge part of my learning this semester, and it was all self-directed. I tried my best to post every day but to not make it feel like an assignment. Thus, I made sure each post had something valid to say--either in context to others or to news around the web. I wanted it to be something useful and so I made it useful to my learning. 

Even beyond the assigned quota of blog and Google+ posts, I studied extensively outside of class. I was reading every day in preparation for the course and in consequence of conversations. Mostly I read articles from around the web, especially NYT online. I tried to use twitter and youtube more, seeking out interesting trends and videos respectively. I curated a diigo page, just gathering information--most especially about my thoughts as I read Jurassic Park. While I didn't tag everything I read to it, you can see that I really was thinking about concepts outside of class. 

Perhaps I should have kept a more strict record of everything done, but the most important thing to me was coming to terms with concepts mentioned in class, exploring them further, and searching out more on what interested me. I learned so much and feel so much more confident about navigating this digital age, and much of that is due to the energy I put forth even outside of class in applying and studying what was discussed.

Collaboration
For my group, I tried to make sure we were always working towards achievable goals. Since we started out with such an illustrious vision, I was often making sure we took the small steps necessary to make it happen. I made myself available as much as possible and contributed a lot in group meetings. I gave the presentation at our info session, wrote a blog post for our official launch (interviewing our first bona fide submitter), and created and managed most aspects of the email account and functions for our submissions. I gave a lot of time at each stage of this project and made sure I was there for nearly every meeting. I wanted to be a part of it and vocalized many ideas, concerns, and suggestions in order to help make it its best. 

With other group projects, I was most interested in the Digital Sweet Home. Since it was a subject I often commented on, I made sure to tag the group members in various Google+ posts and wrote a blog post about my sister's use of media. While I didn't contribute directly to their project, I let them know through plus-ing their Google+ posts and commenting on their questions and concerns. 

For the class, while I am one of those quiet students, I listened attentively. I would then try and contribute posts on Google+ relevant to or inspired by the class discussions. As I read various websites and newspapers, I found myself looking out for things not only of interest to me but that I could imagine various class members appreciating. When appropriate, I would tag people specifically either to let them know I thought they might like it or to ask for an opinion on something. And more than just worrying about meeting my post quota for the day, I spent time reading through other people's posts and commenting on their ideas. Thus, I contributed to the class...outside of the class.

The Others
I've really enjoyed watching the Digital Sweet Home people discuss their project. I think it's such an important subject--digital literacy in the home--and they've done a beautiful job with it. Allie Crafton and Audrey Blake were always so energetic about their project and it always motivated me to give more to mine. Plus, they gave me an excuse to write this post and keep talking about things like cyber bullying and how much I love technology (here and here). 

On the same note, the badges groups were interesting to follow. Ellis Dyck, Jessica Lees, and Joshua McKinney did a great job with their presentation on Mormon badges. They really cared about the project and made a valid argument for why everyone else should too. 

As far as the class itself, I think Tara Pina always had something interesting to say. Am I allowed to pick favorites like that? Cuz I sorta just did.

Digital Literacy
This class has forced me to be more digitally savvy. As far as consumption, I started reading and reading more and more articles online, be it through searches or browsing online newspapers. I found myself inhaling news about the digital world and its effect on the history being made right now. The presidential election was especially interesting; I actually followed it, not out of any real passion for either candidate, but just to see what was being said and how and on what site. While this is not at all extensive, I created a Diigo account and tried to tag articles of interest to what I was reading then, which was Jurassic Park. Since I had to share something every day, I found myself reading so much all the time. Even when I wasn't looking for something to post, I found myself making connections between every day finds and what had been discussed in class. 

When it came to creating, I found myself posting a lot more. And everywhere. With the concept of "Release early, release often," I was less scared of failure and started publishing to my blogs more, especially my book blog. But this inevitably bled into the "connecting" side of things.

Let me tell you, I have never managed so many social media sites ever. I have a twitter account, instagram, facebook, Google+, myspace, blogger, goodreads, pinterest, linkedin, etc. While I had some of them before, through the course of this class, I have made them all public, posted a lot more, actively sought out friends and followers, allowed myself to converse more with other people, and I connected as many things as possible to as many things as possible. It's been fun, following different people--strangers, even--and just keeping in tune to what other people had to say about all sorts of things. I've mastered the art of hashtagging and sharing. I've tried hard to accept more people and allow more conversations. It's made the semester very interesting. And it's made my family roll their eyes more than a few times about how much I had going on. But it's been fun, and it's something I'll continue. I've embraced this digital age more than I ever expected to, and I've only seen benefits from it.  

With all of this--even though I've expanded--I've definitely come to care more about having something valid to say. Instead of stupid updates or statuses, I tried to utilize social media to work for me. That meant I read about relevant things happening now; I made sure whatever I wrote mattered to someone more than just me because I wanted to be able to learn more from it; I connected with people and made sure that when I liked something, I showed it--commenting, sharing, rating, etc. I wanted to use the digital age as more of a tool. instead of just living in it and taking it for granted, I sought out the best and tried to give my best. I started using twitter and Google+ searches as valid points of research. I would hone in on hashtags and trending topics and follow along. The digital age has given so much--and there are such limitless ways of wasting it, so I tried to really utilize all the benefits. And I definitely reaped the rewards from it. For instance, the LDS General conference feed actually helped me pay attention to the specifics of what was being said; it also allowed me to feel connected to the entire church rather than just sitting alone and listening. So, yes, I've really become more technologically savvy, that's for sure. But I've also just been able to learn more about so much more than I expected. It's been amazing.

Final Exam Questions

OBJECTIVE:

In James Surowiecki’s book “Wisdom of the Crowds,” how does he define a Coordinative type of crowd decision-making? 

1. A market judgment where the crowd is allowed to think through problems, process information, and deliver a solution as a whole
2.  Based in the free market and building networks of trust.
3. Common cultural understandings and social awareness, such as street smarts
4. Traditional decision making based on popular consent.

(See the answer here.)

The social site _____________ allows users to curate various lists about books that they have read or want to read and to connect with people and groups who have the same interests.

(See the answer here) 

Cyber bullying has become a major problem because of the anonymity offered by the internet, leading to a new form of internet harassment known as _________ based on strangers picking on someone online just for the so-called “Lulz.” 
(see the answer here) 

ESSAY:

While the internet has certainly caused issues with managing time and relationships in person, ultimately the advent of social media has allowed for more people to connect in more meaningful ways than previously possible.

(See my blog post here and here and here)

According to Ellis Dyck, a lack in digital literacy is debilitating to someone’s success in this modern age. Yet many people tend to be successful in business, education, and family life without becoming obsessed with new trends and medias proving it is not necessary to stay informed on digital enterprises. 

(See blog post here)

Embittered Entrapment

I really enjoyed Katie Wilkie's blog post here about if her badges motivated students or not. Like she points out, a lot of people in this world tend to be apathetic towards learning. Learning is no longer about discovering the best self; it's tied only to grades and school and class. The idea of self-directed learning is something of a lost art. Laziness has been perpetuated, in my humble opinion, by schools and programs that see students as test scores and results. Gone are the days of classicist education (unless you go to Cambridge) where you'd gather together to LEARN rather than merely pass a class or get a degree.

Like Katie said,

For students who are required to do a certain amount of work for a grade, doing other separate work NOT for a grade probably feels either like an unwise use of time or pointless.

Ah, yes. Learning isn't about knowledge, it's about the letter you get for it. The percentage it matters. The grade it will get you. A teacher can offer an amazing opportunity to go and do something, but the only way the professor gets anyone to show is if there's extra credit in the mix. No longer is experience or learning enough. We want grades, grades, grades.

But I'm a perpetrator too. I am infamously lazy. Well, usually. I coast through classes and have an average GPA and average college experience to prove for it. The sad thing is I wasn't always this way. I used to love learning--I used to be a self-teacher. See, once upon a time...I was homeschooled.

I know, I know. Let's here the jokes now; trust me, it's nothing new. But let's get the stereotypes out of the way, because I promise you it's nothing like the overall-wearing, socially awkward, nerd-in-glasses-sitting-at-a-desk-and-listening-to-her-mom-lecture type. I didn't have overbearing, overzealous parents who didn't let me watch TV or read popular fiction. I wasn't trapped on a farm in the middle of nowhere believing that guns were man's best friend. Then again, I wasn't traipsing around outside, never studying, just playing games in the playgrounds by the school to taunt all the other kids.

My mom pulled me out of school right before I started 6th grade. I had just moved from Texas to Utah the year before and, let me tell you, the school system is different. I was years ahead of my peers in Utah. And so I was bored. And restless. And not learning anything. Hence the homeschooling. But it was based on a program known as TJYE: Thomas Jefferson Youth Education (please don't look it up; it kind of went crazy a few years back).

It was a classical education dependent of self-directed learning mostly based in classic works. Thus began four years spent studying Shakespeare, Elliot, Austen, Tennyson, Homer. But it wasn't just English. I was in the company of Aristotle, Newton, Curie, Rousseau. And it wasn't because someone was lording over me with a textbook telling me what to do and read. It was because I, as a little twelve year old girl, found all of it engaging, and I willfully woke up every morning, got out of bed and dressed, and sat down to study whatever it was I wanted that day.

Looking back, it was an amazing experience. A couple years into it, I joined a co-op of like-minded people (that would be homeschoolers--I know, actually getting together to interact) who took classes together like Economics, Philosophy, History, Politics. I was writing blue book essays, creating powerpoints, organizing projects--all things that made college feel familiar. I'm not joking. It was a really great time, and I owe SO MUCH of who I am to it.

But then things changed. My mom had to go to work and I went to high school.

Throw together a sentence with "high school" and "valuable learning" and, let me tell you, you've got a good joke right there.

Too far? Well, let me tell you that, for me, high school didn't work. It really nearly destroyed me. Not because of anti-sociality or bullying or high stress or anything like that. I just lost all motivation. Somehow, someway, that conveyor belt form of education killed the magic of learning for me. I realized very quickly that what I learned didn't matter as much as how I proved the teacher right. Whether that meant bending to a writing style, filling out endless forms of busywork, or being just as lazy and (might I say it?) dumb as they were, I did it. Since there was nothing challenging to interact with, I gave up on challenging myself. I became a coaster. A really talented, resentful little coaster. I'm pretty good at it. And I carried it to college.

So Katie's post--about motivation and extra miles--really struck a nerve. Because, no, I'm not some super genius who graduated college a decade early, nor am I some anti-social freak cringing every time someone walks by. I'm just average. I fit in, I blend in, I do the work. But I have nothing to show for it...except grades. A good ole GPA I can carry with me.

"See!" I can clamor endlessly. "See! I really am smart. This paper says so!"

Ah, the joys of higher education.

Maybe I sound resentful. But I know it's my fault. I let the man win. I let the system beat me. I gave up caring. I mean, maybe not completely--some subjects still elicit a sense of excitement and hard work from me. But, let me tell you, those GE requirements--all those classes? Already forgotten. Completely. Which is a shame. And I can't really say what could change to make it different. But I was just thinking about it, and thought I'd share. Life is hard for the extra-milers, but maybe the extended view makes it worth it. Maybe Miley Cyrus had it right:

"It's not about how fast you get there, it's not about what's waiting on the other side....it's the climb."

Just Gettin' Started

My little sister posted this on my wall today:

Disregarding the casual jargon (and the obvious favoritism towards me), it's referencing Shannon Green's submission that recently made it onto our official new website, menagerie.byu.edu. In class today, us on the Menagerie team were wondering whose friend she was or which of us she was related to. See, here at Menagerie, we're not used to people just randomly finding us and submitting. We've been bullying those acquaintances and buddies into sending stuff our way. Cuz they love us and all. And because they're talented, of course. But, somehow, this single (and rather clever) new post marks a new page! A new dawning! A new day!

Someone found us.

My sister did some investigating for me since she knows Shannon and it makes it less awkward that way. So I decided to email her to get her side of the story--seeing as she's sort of our favorite person right about now. And this is what I got.

Thank you so much for submitting my piece -- I was overjoyed to be accepted! 

That's called enthusiasm, people. And we love it.

What followed after that was a brief little Q&A...

How did you hear about Menagerie? 
I found Menagerie when you came to Margaret's creative writing class and introduced it to us.

What was your impression of our original website?
I first saw the site when it was still on wordpress. I liked the site and the ideas behind it, although it was a little bare! But I completely understood that it was a fairly new launch, and I absolutely loved the idea of having a cycled theme every few months.

Is this your first published piece?
Yes! This is my first published piece! I have posted work online before, but I have never been published in a real magazine.

Are you excited about this new website? 
I am extremely excited about Menagerie Magazine! I think it's a spectacular idea to give aspiring writers a chance to showcase their work!

How do you feel about the idea of only the highest rated pieces being archived on the website? Is it motivation to stay involved?
Your idea to only archive the most popular pieces is an interesting one. It certainly puts more pressure (not bad, just pressure) on the authors to market their work so they can continue to be read on the site. I just hope that my work is read enough to stay!

How are you going to market your piece?
I've already told my friends on Facebook that I have been published in the Menagerie, although I think I might need to bug them about it again if they haven't already read and commented on it! Other than that, I don't have a particularly potent way of marketing my writing.


So there you have it. Our first bona fide submitter with a palpable bit of excitement. With that in mind, it's my pleasure to start our official launch day. Menagerie is up and running and eagerly accepting any and all submissions. This is your chance to be heard and to get involved with some friendly competition to stay on top. Staying true to our name, we're accepting any and all sorts: creative writing, creative non-fiction, poetry, film, music, art, photography, etc. Please see our submissions page and follow the instructions there. If you want to see more on what we're about and how we started, visit this page or our blog, Making Menagerie. Be sure to follow us on twitter (@menagerieonline) and look out for our upcoming Facebook page. And be as excited as Shannon Green, because she is right: this is a spectacular place, and we want it to be a place where...well, a place for art to gather.

Menagerie

I wrote a post for our Menagerie group on our blog: http://makingmenagerie.wordpress.com/

Read our story from beginning to end. And be sure to visit our new site: menagerie.byu.edu

Let us know what you think and, as always, be sure to submit and tell your friends to submit.

My name is Shelby Boyer...and I Have a Problem

Turns out I'm a substance abuser. I am addicted to the internet. Cuz it's a real thing (read here about the brain damage teenagers are getting from over-internet exposure). I know I didn't really do the fast last time, but I was accidentally screwed this weekend when the power went out and I couldn't charge my phone. Suddenly, minutes passed like days until I was beating my head against the wall wondering what on earth I was supposed to do. I wanted my phone--I needed the internet--I was desperate for a fix! But the ironic thing was...I had been cut off in the middle of watching an episode of Revolution.
This is a television show about society after a major inexplicable black-out wipes out all electronic activity. In this world, after that, nothing works. And people are crazy, and everything goes to pot, yadayadayada. Watch it...if you like melodrama + guns and guts.

In any case, there I was, facing my own meltdown over not having the technology to watch a show about not having technology.

The irony wasn't lost on me.

In fact, it gave me reason to pause. That, and my sister pulled out our old Harry Potter Clue game, so I was quickly distracted. And I realized that maybe possibly life without the internet--at least overnight--aint so bad. Sure, it's freezing and dark. But you have the excuse to chow down on ice cream that's starting to melt. And you get to have real face time with people you might sometimes possibly forget are actually in the same room. And while I may or may not have, pathetically, had instagram captions runnning through my head as I itched for the chance to snap a photo, I eventually handled it with grace. The main point: I survived.

Let's just not mention the fact that  as soon as those lights came back on, I was plugged in and getting a major fix. I just think it's good, once in a while, to take a step back and consider--consider the good and bad of this over-connected age and all that jazz.

Over and out.

The Five Stages

I've known pretty much my four years here that I was working towards a career in a dying field. English has always been a running joke when it comes to majors its easy to take swings at. But I topped it off with an editing minor, envisioning years spent working in NYC, busting about in white and black and Louboutin heels I could afford because I just perfected the next best seller. There'd be a toast I couldn't drink to as my eager assistant rushed about to prove himself until that inevitable day I asked him to marry me to avoid deportation.

Just kidding about that last part.

But, seriously, I knew deep down things were changing. There was a change in the air, a shift in the wind. Life was different, dreams would be deferred: print publishing...was dying.

I read an article in the New York Times that reminded me of all this. It awoke a plethora of feelings as it discussed the merger between two major publishing houses, Penguin and Random House (side note: their new name? Penguin Random House. Which just doesn't have quite the same ring to it). It got me thinking about my destiny (you know, the champagne toasting one) and my past, which I neatly categorized into five original stages* (*these aren't original at all.)

Denial: I came to college with a self-assured faith in books' awesomeness. They're not going anywhere, I thought. Nothing is changing. As long as I believe, they'll last. Just like Santa. So I bought up books by the dozen (silently and secretly resenting the cost of them, but that's beside the point). I stuffed books all throughout my room, ignoring the fire hazard and already plotting out an escape route to save them all in case disaster struck. I hummed and sang as I alphabetized and organized, so impressed by my blossoming library. I thought how, one day, my house would have a room like this:

It was my goal. I thought nothing would stand in my way.

Anger: Then I started really looking into the publishing field. This was a complicated stage, layered like a bitter parfait. I was a starry-eyed sophomore who thought I'd get a book published and make millions with with to travel the world and buy houses. But I found out the dark side of the publishing industry: the sheer cost, the tiny cut an author gets. 7%--if you're lucky? You've got to be kidding me. I considered going to the dark side (e-publishing), but no one takes you seriously after that. It's a field for the rejected, or so the large houses told me. I felt my dreams being crushed, flayed, and laid to wither and die. My print world betrayed me. And yet they in turn ignored the e-world? Who could win in such a horrific world? And so it began: the bargaining.  

Bargaining: I began asking for some give and take, even expecting it. there had to be some middle ground, some happy medium where print publishing didn't sabotage and kill itself while e-books won. I mean, why kill print?  A Kindle doesn't smell good. It doesn't laugh or cry or sigh with you with each crinkling turn of the page. It won't ever start falling apart, a sign of your devotion. And you definitely can't prove your intellectualism with a kindle--people need to be able to walk into your house, see a room bursting with books, and simply "ooh" and "ahh" over your elitism. But that seems like a world that will never be. Books are expensive, electronic-everything is cheap--it's a match made in heaven. So maybe if the publishing houses would be more open-minded--maybe if I was more open-minded I could accept a truce, a tie, a white flag of salvation. But selling out makes me sad.

Depression: Last year, I thought my world was over. Woe was me. I lost my faith in humanity, asking why--oh, heavens, why--must people always sell out? For three days and three nights, I curled up upon and with my hundreds of books and wept a thousand tears. Just kidding. But it was a dark time. I felt sure the only thing left for me to do was take on the banner and die defending print. I would not let a modern version of Fahrenheit 451 go down. In fact, my future looked to be one of collecting and treasuring printed books, guarding them against the internet locos who wanted them destroyed, sending me trojan horses in the form of Kindles and Nooks. I was ready to die in a pile of tear-drenched pages. It was my destiny.

And then I thought about it.   

Acceptance: The inevitable conclusion fell into place. That is, life is changed and I have to deal. It was a settling of fate, a shaking of hands with the devil (that would be e-books, here). Though sometimes I still cringe at the idea of e-books and only e-books, I can't help but agree that they're useful, beautiful, cheaper things that benefit a lot more than just the publisher. The writer gets a larger cut, the books reach more people. And...it saves trees. Not that I really care about that (only joking).

But, in all honesty, I am settled. I know I am walking a path that will not be walked so much anymore. Print publishing is dying. When two of the largest companies consolidate to save themselves and the rest clamber to do the same, it's kind of a sign of changing times. But maybe not so much a sign of the end of the world. As one of the interviewee's point out,

“Regulators generally understand that these companies aren’t just competing with each other, they’re competing with a very changed marketplace.”

Ah, yes. A changed marketplace. So I don't have to sacrifice my dreams of being an editor per se. I don't have to give up on fiction and writing and creation. It's just a changed landscape. So maybe I'll still get that champagne-ridden affair.

Just...probably via Skype.