Getting the Dirt

As a millennial who is mildly obsessed with social media I was a little bit nervous about conducting the data dig about my life. While I try my best to make sure everything I post is thoughtful and appropriate, there was a time in my life when college-Ashley was not always so vigilant. 

Places 

I started my dig at Peek You. This website definitely was able to locate me, however the information, for better or worse, was a little sparse. The website was able to link me to a different website, Instant Checkmate where many connections were made. The first thing I noticed was they were able to identify many towns that are meaningful in my life: 

• Elmwood Park - where I grew up 
• Palatine - where I live now
• Normal - where I went to college 
• Niles - although I never lived there, my grandma did.

Image Source: Instant Checkmate

 People

As I continued my data dig, I noticed many of my family members were listed as my connections. There were a few people that I did not know, but many of them are my very close family members. 

• Frank Shaw - my grandpa

• John Shaw - my dad

• Joseph Shaw - my brother

• Laurie Shaw - my mom

• Marianne Shaw - my aunt

• Nora Shaw - my grandma

When I was on other websites I found very similar results, with even more people! While all of the family members I listed above have the same last name as me, on another website I found my maternal grandparents. 

Social Media

Later on I switched to Edge to do more research into myself. I started off by Googling my most common username “ashaw314.” My results were not super exciting, in fact only my Pinterest portfolio.

Social Media

Later on I switched to Edge to do more research into myself. I started off by Googling my most common username “ashaw314.” My results were not super exciting, in fact only my Pinterest portfolio. 

Social Media

Later on I switched to Edge to do more research into myself. I started off by Googling my most common username “ashaw314.” My results were not super exciting, in fact only my Pinterest portfolio. 

Image Source: Personal Screenshot

Then I decided to try to Google my name, once including and once excluding my middle initial. When I excluded my middle initial none of the results were actually me. However, when I included my middle initial I was able to find my address, age, and previous address right on the page. 

When I clicked on the first link, True People Search, I was able to find a lot more information that was in regards to my life. Including a street view of my house, as well as information about my house including how much I paid for it, property taxes, the school district I live in, etc. 

Image Source: Personal Screenshot

Reaction

I understand why doing a data dig could really stress out a lot of people. However, I was excited to see how my experience would pan out. I think part of the reason I was not too worried was that I do not really have anything to hide. I want to see what other people could find out about me. The only thing I did not love was that people were able to easily find my address. However, that is public record, so I understand that people can access that information. 

As far as teaching my students this in school, I do think it is a very valid point for teachers to make. I think at times students have tunnel vision, and they do not realize that whatever they post will live on forever. Having a friendly reminder of this is very important! Many times students have gotten into trouble based on posts they have made outside of school. Knowledge of this can help students to be mindful of what they are posting, because you never know what someone can find in the future.

The Good Old Days?

Close your eyes, and let’s go back in time to the year 2003. It was, in my opinion, a much simpler time. I was in eighth grade gearing up for high school, and the summer was mine! I had a brand new cell phone, but that cell phone only made phone calls, no texting, no internet. My friends and I would wander around our town all day, and then go home on AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) and chat all night. Although we were connected to one another it was not the same as it is today. 

Now, students are connected to each other 100% of the time. Which, I think, makes being a teenager far more difficult than it ever was before. Bullying is not a new concept, but when students are doing it virtually it is much harder to monitor and much easier to be done in a covert manner. According to Pew Research Center, 69% of parents and 44% of teens agree.

Image Source: Pew Internet

That being said, there are definitely aspects of being a teenager that are easier now, and in this case 15% of parents and 12% of teens feel that way. Students have access to so much more information at their fingertips than ever before. Artificial intelligence (AI) was not even on most people’s RADAR three or four years ago, but today it is something that a large percentage of our population is very familiar with. 

Image Source: Pew Internet

In another article that I read, Common Sense Media reported people’s perception of AI. At this point slightly more than half of people ages 14-22 have used AI, but only 4% of those people use it everyday (Teen and young adult perspectives on generative AI). I myself, while I do not fall into that age range, would definitely fall into the category of someone who uses AI occasionally. I think it can be a great tool to advance learning, but it should not replace learning. In the same article, 53% of people use AI to gain information, which is essentially the same as Googling a question (which is what I have always done). I think that is a great way to implement AI, because students are learning using AI as a tool rather than a replacement for learning. The same article also reported that 51% of people use AI to brainstorm! Once again, I think this is a great use of the technology! Sometimes it can be difficult to come up with multiple ideas for a project, and having the help of Artificial Intelligence makes the beginning process so much easier. I used AI this summer when I had to create a lesson plan that featured stop-motion animation. Since that is a strategy that is new to me it was wonderful to have AI available to help me come up with new and interesting ideas. 

In the end, it is my belief that technology has definitely made some aspects of life far more difficult than it needs to be. I am very grateful that I was a teenager in the 2000s! That being said, professionally, technology (like AI) has given me the ability to take my students places that would have been impossible just a few years ago. 

References

Faverio, M. (2024, August 27). Why many parents and teens think it’s harder being a teen today. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/feature/why-many-parents-and-teens-think-its-harder-being-a-teen-today/ 

Teen and young adult perspectives on generative AI. (n.d.). https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/report/teen-and-young-adult-perspectives-on-generative-ai.pdf 

Townie vs. Tourist

 As someone who is addicted to their phones, I use a variety of technology on a regular basis. However, how I use it varies. 

Townie or Tourist

Image Source: Medium

Townie

When discussing technology there are a few different ways we can categorize ourselves. Today, we are going to be talking about being a resident versus being a visitor. In my mind, being a resident means you actively participate on the app or website on a daily (or near daily) basis. Additionally, you are actively engaging with the technology, sharing your ideas, and connecting with others. 

Image Source: Tenor

Breaking Down My Residency

Personal

As I was making my map I realized something, photos! Pictures are a huge part of my digital citizenship. I love using apps that allow me to share pictures and memories with my friends and family. Snapchat, Instagram, and Google Photos all allow me to share pictures and videos of things that make me happy. I enjoy creating and curating my posts, as well as seeing/watching what my friends and family have been doing. Another app that falls into the personal resident category is the Apple Calendar. I would be lost without that app! I actively engage in it by adding events, inviting my friends/family to different calendar appointments, and setting reminders. Peloton and the New York Times Game App, both allow me to connect with others through competition. I like to connect with my friends and I like to win, and these apps allow me to do both of those things (hopefully) simultaneously!

Overlap

The Google Suite is an example of some apps where I am a resident, however it transcends the personal and professional realms. I use Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Gmail in both my personal and professional life. I am constantly creating and sharing different documents, as well as sending emails in all aspects of my life. 

Professional

While I use the Apple Calendar on a regular basis in my personal life, I never use it in my professional life. Instead, I solely (and consistently) use the Google Calendar. It is so important for me to have the Google calendar in order to keep myself, my students, and my colleagues organized. I can share homework assignments, meeting appointments, and more with anyone who needs to be informed. EdPuzzle and Desmos are two platforms that allow me to share information with my students in creative and new ways. On EdPuzzle I share videos with my students, then they can rewatch, and ask me questions. Desmos, on the other hand, is an online graphing calculator, and more. When students log-in to Desmos they can save and share calculators with all of the information they need to be successful. Along the same lines, I can share my saved calculators with my students or post them on Schoology for them to access. 

Tourist

On the other hand, there is technology that I use only when I absolutely have to. This kind of technology I only look at on occasion, if I get a notification that someone else messaged me, or just to see what other people are doing, but without actually interacting with others. While I use Libby, Audible, Amazon, and TikTok almost everyday I never interact with people on the apps and have my notifications off. I use all four of those apps at a very basic level, and I am not really using them to their full potential. YouTube and Schoology are two apps that I use constantly, and occasionally interact with other people. However, I never create content on these apps, and I only use Schoology because it is required at my job. Similarly, Agile Minds and Talking Points are two apps/websites that are bookmarked on my browser. Yet, they are not ones that I use regularly and I only visit the sites occasionally. I think my goal for this school year is to become a resident in the Talking Points app. This site allows you to communicate with both parents and students via text from an anonymous phone number. It is intriguing to me, and I need to investigate it more 

Image Source: Drible

My Relationship with Technology

 Technology has always been an integral part of my life. However, nothing has impacted my life more than the iPhone. I know that this may seem like a rather basic device to choose, however I cannot think of an app or device that has influenced my daily life more. I got my first iPhone when I was in college. I remember thinking that there was no way that this touch screen phone was going to be as good as my flip phone with an old fashioned keyboard.

Image Source: Flickr

 

I was wrong!

Scan this QR Code to hear about technology's impact on my life

As time went on it became evident that this phone was going to change how I did almost everything in my life. First, it changed how I communicate with people. While I realize that my Motorola Razr also had many of the same capabilities, the way I communicated with other people changed drastically when I got the iPhone. Everyone I knew was available to me within seconds. I could text, call, video call, send a picture, send an email, etc. Also, it has allowed me to stay in contact with people who I do not see on a daily basis. Applications like Snapchat, Instagram, and even the New York Times games have allowed me to connect with people that I would probably not otherwise talk to on a daily basis. The iPhone has given me the ability to be constantly connected to the people that I care about the most. Additionally, in some ways, it made me more efficient at my job. I was able to check my email, respond to students, parents, or administrators immediately, from anywhere in the world. That being said, the iPhone has also negatively impacted my productivity over the years.

I know for sure that I am addicted to my phone. I have FOMO, Fear of Missing Out, and my iPhone magnifies this fear. Anytime my phone rings or vibrates, I feel the urge to see what is going on and respond immediately. I am aware that this is something that I totally inflict on myself, but having my phone just makes me aware of everything that is going on around me. Along the same lines, I am constantly distracted by conversations my friends are having in a group chat, that does not actually involve me. When my phone buzzes I am dying to see what I am missing. Obviously, this aspect of technology is having a slightly negative impact on my life.

In addition to the iPhone improving communication, it also has made my life much easier. I remember a time when I would print out MapQuest or use a paper map to find where I was going. I had to be planful and prepared every time I left the house. Now, I plug the address into my Maps app, and it guides me to where I need to be instantly. On top of that, if I make a wrong turn it will reroute me or make me aware of any roadblocks along the way. 

Finally, one of the features I love most on my iPhone is the camera. I have the iPhone 14 pro and my camera roll is full! Taking pictures allows me to remember important moments in my life and brings back happy memories. In fact, my phone often features certain pictures and even creates videos that feature the pictures from a specific time or event. This always brings a smile to my face. At times, it even prompts me to reach out to a friend or a family member to share the memory with them. It is fun to be reminded of where I have been, who I was with, and how things have changed over the years. 

The iPhone is a one stop shop for everything that I need to be successful. It allows me to communicate with people, stay on top of my job, find where I need to go, and keep track of important information. I will continue to use my iPhone for many years to come! At least until something better comes along!