Conclusion: Improvement Plan

Throughout the journey you just took through these blogs to understand the importance of technology, media, and our culture, it is important to analyze how we can make improvements not only on our current technology but our cultural limitations as well. Some of the limitations that were discussed throughout these blogs include workplace communication, instant gratification, and the use of social media in our society. Our current technology, such as social media platforms, mobile devices, and other mobile-solcial technological advancements have changed the way we interact personally and professionally.

As we look at the future of our digitally advanced society, it is important to understand possible changes and modifications that could be made to make it easier to adapt to all of these changes. We need to be able to provide support in the workplace and throughout our community to help make these transitions easier for everyone. One of the biggest challenges social media platforms has currently is that not all users understand its full potential which limits our communication with each other. It is also important that we make the effort to fulfill our need for instant gratification. I believe that technology needs to be easily accessible, social media platforms need to stay current with societies needs, and need to make sure that we are always able to communicate on our devices. Our suppliers of technology and media such as news stations and technology suppliers like Samsung, Apple, and Verizon, need to be able to analyze their tools to ensure that we have the most up-to-date technology we can possibly have.  Technology, as it continues to grow, will need to be able to adapt to our society which will be most important in order for the changes to be adapted to and taken well. In conclusion, our society will continue to need to make changes to technology and media in order for us to personally and professionally adapt and utilize it to its full potential.

Evolution of Technology

As technology continues to grow, it allows us as individuals to engage in social forums, media posts, and other forms of mass media with in our culture. One of the biggest ways that technology has helped our culture is allowing different races, ethnic groups, social parties, and other cultures to engage with each other on popular topics through social media, blogs, and other forums. Technology has changed the way we can interact with each other online and has allowed it to be instantaneous. One of the most popular forms of public engagement with technology is with in the classroom. 

Technology has changed our culture and the way we perceived mass media with in the classroom because it has provided us with anew level of learning for our children and students. According to Wardlow, “With increased access to learning resources, tools and information, students are drawn deeper into a topic than ever before. They can even direct their own learning.  In fact, when done well, students don’t just learn with technology- they create” (Wardlow, 2014). The infographic on the left, shows the evolution of technology and the importance it has with in the classroom. It allows students to engage more with their culture and understand how mass media can benefit them inside and outside the classroom. 

Below is a YouTube link that shares a recent video regarding how technology improves student engagement and achievement with in the classroom. As technology continues to grow, mass media and culture will continue to be perceived and utilized in classrooms in order to achieve better learning and more effective engagement with students. These last six blog post help summarize the importance of technology, media and how our culture has had to adapt to each change and modification that has been made in technology over time. This impact of our culture has allowed us to analyze and plan for solutions on the technology and cultural limitations they bring ti our society. 

Classroom Engagement YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOz31yN8qMA

References

ColoradoLeeds. (n.d.). Using Technology to Improve Student Engagement  and Achievement. Retrieved August 31, 2015, from=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DmOz31 N8qMA.

Wardlow, L. (2014, May 1). How Technology Can Boost Student Engagement. Retrieved August 31, 2015, from http%3A%2F%2Fresearchnetwork.pearson.com%2Flearning-science           technology%2Ftechnology-can-boost-student-engagement.

Instant Gratification

Our exposure to mass media has changed the way we expect technology to work for us on a day-to-day basis. Technology, has forced us to change the way we connect with our peers, with work, and other day-to-day activities. Prior to change in technology, we did not live in a society where instant connection was something we thrived and lived form. Currently, our culture has conformed to new technology, which makes us want to be connected instantly. This has changed the way we communicate and interact with each other on a day-to-day basis. There have been many recent additions to instant gratification, which include technology upgrades such as Pay-As-You Go Mobile, Uber Rides, and new social media applications. According to Hreha, “All of these products take a part of life that used to require a bit of effort and patience and make it easy and nearly instantaneous. In most cases, the price increase for these conveniences is low enough that the time and effort advantages more than outweigh the marginal monetary costs” (Hreha, 2014). Although these items can be costly in some scenarios, the instant gratification of “Gotta have it now” is what is most important to us in our society. A recent Notre Dame magazine article talks about the need for instant gratification. It discusses the important of we utilize technology to have instant gratification not only personally but professionally as well. As technology continues to grow, instant gratification will only continue to get worse and we will continue to rely on technology to give us everything we need when we want it. This community that we live in of instant gratification brings us full circle to the evolution of technology and the way we will continue to use it for years to come to help enhance our workplace, our social lives, and our day-to-day activities. 

Notre Dame Magazine Link: http://magazine.nd.edu/news/27926-gotta-have-it-now-right-now/

References

Alsop, R. (2012, December 1). Gotta Have It Now, Right Now. Retrieved August 31, 2015, from http%3A%2F%2Fmagazine.nd.edu%2Fnews%2F27926-gotta-have-it-now-right-now%2F

Hreha, J. (2014, August 31). One Of The Biggest Trends In Technology: Instant Gratification. Retrieved August 31, 2015, from http%3A%2F%2Fbigthink.com%2Fwikimind%2Fone-of-the-biggest-trends-intechnology-instant-gratification

Exposure to Mass Media

Over the past decade technology has changed society’s expectations of mass media and culture. Growing up in the 90’s our main forms of communication included print media, radio, and television. As we got older and moved into the 21^st century, technology began to change the way we viewed our culture and society. We have exposed to new forms of mass media that include social media, podcasts, and emailing. These new forms of mass media have exposed us to mass media and have changed our values and expectations of each other and our society. According to Beg, “Adults and teens will spend nearly five months (3,518 hours) next year watching television, surfing the Internet, reading daily newspapers and listening to personal music devices, according to the 2007 U.S. Census Bureau's Statistical Abstract of the United States, released today” (Beg, 2006). Technology has grown so quickly that our society now relies on it in order to feel comfortable with in our culture and our society. The change in exposure to mass media has changed the way our culture functions. Children in America rely on technology to engage with friends instead of wanting to meet face-to-face. They also rely on technology to provide them help find answers on homework questions and tests rather than relying on older methods like library research. A recent TedTalk, talks about how mass media has stunted the way we see certain stereotypes and other cultural aspects of life. It is important to look around and reassure yourself that technology does not rule all. Technology will continue to engage our society and force them to conform to quicker and less face-to-face engaging methods of communication. Mass media and our culture will never be the same again now that technology has become so effective and fast. Mass media has turned our society into a community that constantly wants instant gratification and communication with each other. 

TedTalk Link: http://tedxinnovations.ted.com/2014/12/10/spotlight-tedx-talk-has-mass-media-stunted-our-ability-to-see-beyond-stereotypes/

References

Beg, S. (2006, December 15). Mass Media Exposure. Retrieved August 31, 2015, from     http%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.go.com%2FHealth%2Fstory%3Fid%3D2727587

Schlesinger, B. (2014, December 10). Has mass media stunted our ability to see beyond    stereotypes? Retrieved August 31, 2015, from          http%3A%2F%2Ftedxinnovations.ted.com%2F2014%2F12%2F10%2Fspotlighttedx-talk-has-mass-media-stunted-our-ability-to-see-beyond-stereotypes%2F

Workplace Communication

Technology has changed the way we perceive and react to day-to-day function s such as how we perceive the news and communication  with each each other.  Technology not only affects us personally but it also affects the way we communicate in the workplace. Face-to-face communication used to be the key ingredient to landing business or keeping clients knowledgeable and content. Technology has allowed us to expand our horizons and engage with consumers on a whole new level. Since technology has allowed us to communicate and change our methods of communication externally, it also allowed us to change the way we communicate internally within the workplace. This is extremely important to be able to do effectively because these are individuals that you rely on each day to help complete day-to-day functions successfully.

Social media and mobile devices are two main changes in technology that we use on a day-to-day basis in the workplace. Think about how often you utilize your cell phone to check work emails but also use it to take photos, send text messages, and engage in other forms of communication. Some say that workplace communication has been enhanced by the ability to communicate all of the time with one another through email and other mobile devices. However, it is also true that this type of interaction can be distracting and overwhelming. It does not allow employees to disengage from the workplace, which can become overwhelming for many individuals.

This infographic explains exactly how technology has changed the way our workplace functions on a day-to-day basis. We use technology to stay connected with one another and engage with our consumers. Technology serves as a multifunctioning service that provides organizations with the opportunity to expand their networks and employee base. With this technology comes a multitude of training and a need from employees on the proper ways to utilize technology most effectively. Many employees have challenges with changing technology because of how difficult it can be to learn all of the different functions it has to offer. This creates training challenges with in the work place because it takes away from time that can be spent working with clients and over coming other obstacles. Many employees often do not understand what technology is even available to them in the workplace, so it is important that technology can remain simple and easy to use so it can be the most effective in the workplace. Below is a link to an article written by Susan Adams, who explains the do’s and do not’s of effectively communicating with in the workplace. The article provides the inside scope on the essentials to be most effective when handling challenging scenarios with a coworker to the most effective way to send out an email toy our staff. It is important to remain knowledgeable about how technology can be effective especially as it begins to change in our digital society. Technology will always continue to change with in the workplace and will be up to the organization to instill this technology with in their employees to be the most effective workers possible. Moving forward, understanding how technology has changed the way we perceive news media and the way we communicate in the workplace leads us to the importance of being exposed to the change in mass media.

Tips on Effective Work Communication - Forbes

References

Adams, D. (2013). How Technology Changed Our Workplace Communication. Retrieved August 9, 2015, from http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bitrebels.com%2Flifestyle%2Ftechnology-changing-workplace-communication%2F

Adams, S. (2011, November 21). How To Communicate Effectively At Work. Retrieved August 9, 2015, from http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fsusanadams%2F2011%2F11%2F21%2Fhow-to-communicate-effectively-at-work%2F