I completed the That’s a Wrap assignment and posted it earlier but I just finished the last two assignments and turned them in this evening. I am mentally drained but I am better for instruction provided in this class, and I will improve and continue to use several of the media features. I will also continue to research and read up on Digital Literacy and the many facets it pertains to from individuals having access, to creativity measures, and connectivity issues around the world.

I thank our professor/instructors, Teresa Moore McBain and Roy Swatzell for creating and hosting a class that challenged me and has made me better.

In researching information and creating the Infographic for this assignment, I located numerous credible and valid website/page sources, but also found numerous ideas, terms, and quotes from our textbook, Create to Learn – Introduction to Digital Literacy, Renee Hobbs, Wiley/Blackwell, 2017; specifically from pages 118, 119, 150,167, and 200. The websites where information was gleaned are listed below.

In summary, Purchasers, Vendors, and Sellers should follow ethical guidelines and work together to rectify and avoid Deceptive Ads, Fraudulently obtained email lists, violations of intellectual properties, theft of logos, images, written content, audio & video recordings, copyright infringements of all types to include patens and trademarks, improper data mining and application of such, and contemporary propaganda (aka Fake News).

Instead they should work to use Fair Reasoning, preserve meaning of texts, give proper credit, reveal sources, be transparent, copyright works, seek advice from the Small Business Administration, seek good legal advice, define privileges, limitations, and rights that are transferable.

Bullet Points #2 https://smallbusiness.chron.com/ethical-problems-ebusiness-62037.html & https://smallbusiness.chron.com/common-law-copyright-notice-65929.html

Bullet Points #3 & 4 Create to Learn, Intro to Digital Literacy, Hobbs, Wiley/Blackwell, 2017

Bullet Point #5 https://www.nchannel.com/blog/ethical-issues-in-ecommerce/ & http://www.elearningindustry.com

Graph Pic https://www.javelinstrategy.com/press-release/identity-fraud-hits-all-time-high-167-million-us-victims-2017-according-new-javelin

Please refer to my Projects Page to view the InfoGraphic for this assignment.

The assignment, Importance of 21st Century Tools in the Workplace was a very timely lesson reminding us that “technology is a major part or the modern workplace” and being tech-savvy isn’t unique any more; because you cannot survive, much less succeed without a professional understanding and use of digital technology. Digital Literacy isn’t just a few programs or software packages, but it affects all areas of commerce and business. The infographic we were provided was broken into four quadrants. The skills I am learning the most during this course are the ones to Process and Apply the appropriate technology to a circumstance in a professional way. The graphic speaks of appropriate resources and being able to evaluate, assimilate them as we perform tasks and solve problems. I believe the more we follow those guidelines, we can choose the proper tools to utilize when communicating solutions and growth to our co-workers, employees, managers, etc. Since I am an innovator, I struggle with the creativity that is needed in this area. My creativity blossoms when I move to the Think and Adapt quadrant. Managing the load, becoming more skillful with virtual tools and work, work-life blend situations, and adapting my own digital practices that will allow me to help others in the future combines with Create and Connect quadrant. This is more of the area where the rubber meets the road as employees, colleagues, and clients work together and build ideas from each others suggestions, skills, and relationships, and their versatile digital identities.

In my video response to the assignment, I quoted Renee Hobbs, author of Create to Learn concerning how authors and groups can collaborate to capture purpose, target their audience, and target specific goals. She also spoke of deciding if your project is to inform persuade, or entertain, or a combination of each. I believe I function at a higher level when I know the purpose of a project, what I need to convey, and what I am to expect from others, such as progress or a reaction afterwards. Creating digital technology to help and assist others and to market an idea or company is very appealing to me as opposed to creating videos in hopes of inspiring someone to be creative. I also believe there is still plenty of room in this world of technology for written communication as well, especially when questions can be resolved in a concise and well written response.

In regard to how the tools we are learning about can assist us in our career, I believe utilizing appropriate styles and professional images, and understandable charts can be the difference in a job offer or a promotion. Knowing your audience and the technology they are capable of using or are regularly using can greatly assist you in connecting with employees and customers, building strong relationships. Optimizing the technology used by your company or organization can also optimize your employees self confidence and worth and provoke them to strive harder to reach the target customers. In regards to our academic work, digital tools offer a great deal of creativity in learning, emphasis in presentation, and modern and fun ways of advancing new ideas. To quote Renee Hobbs again, “People tend to trust data visualizations from a university or digital think tank more than the news…” In regards to the workplace overall, we desperately need modern 21st century technology to advance our companies, organizations, and educational facilities, because of the enormous advantage of collaboration to bring new and challenged ideas to the table and to update and refine plans in a creative and innovative manner which furthers and advances society. Building client relationships and taking care of workers by creating a work-life blend plan of action will assist in return customers and longevity among employees.

During this course, I’ve gained a much better understanding of Digital Literacy, and I have a much fuller concept of how vast the definition can be.  Reality has a way of hitting us square between the eyes sometime, and although I have been around, worked with, and personally used computers for decades, I was unfamiliar with most of the digital tools we worked with over the last few weeks.  My go to has always been Microsoft Office for presentations, and I was able to use it in this course, but I can now see the limitations of not stepping out of that box.  My goal is to learn more about the tools we used and learned about, and to use them in other classes and ventures involving my career and ministry.  I am still stressed about “making videos/animations” and trust I will improve, but I really like the idea of the E-portfolio and being able to store them all in one place.  I could see someone going into marketing using one to showcase creations to be pitched to prospective employers and for use after being hired and seeking clients.   Its such a simple idea, yet a great place to highlight and store work so that others can review, glean opinions, and possibly even enjoy a lighthearted moment.  I also noticed in WordPress that I can add to my e-portfolio by creating other pages/sites, but I may leave it intact for future courses here and create a couple of separate and completely new websites for ministry (bible lessons and sermons),  and a separate one for family use that can be filled with photos, videos, and written memories.   Digital literacy is definitely a topic I won’t forget and will attempt to learn more about it in the future to help others, as well as myself.   The CRAAP Test will greatly assist me as I move forward in finishing my degree and I’m sure I will refer back to the notes for it many times.

The document Learning and Media Literacy, from Encyclopedia of Educational Philosophy and Theory, “outlines the importance of understanding the concept of media literacy in theory and how these skills develop and are used in practice”.  It goes on to explain a variety of digital sources of information and how the advancements in technology has “had a major impact on learning and teaching across all educational sectors at all levels”.  It speaks about the Importance of Media Literacy as well as its development and how it has become an Individual Skill and a Social Practice.

            The authors of the encyclopedia article lays out a compelling explanation concerning Becoming Media Literate and speaks about parental behaviors, use of technology, attitudes, and skills that children observe, adopt, and learn to improve upon. In this ever-changing world, technology users are no longer just those in the office, labs, and classrooms. Technology is integrated into our lives at a very early age and is virtually all around us, especially with the explosion of the internet.  Dr Peters draws the connection between media literacy and internet safety and the need to understand how to “optimize the benefits” so that learning isn’t just the end of a lesson, but it develops into a “life skill”. 

The resource is deemed credible in that it passes the CRAAP Test. 

It is current, with the work being completed in 2017 with many references from 1997 through 2015.

It is relevant, as it discusses and expounds upon many of the points we have already begun learning concerning Digital Literacy and is an exhaustive compilation explaining the many facets which affect our learning.

It has authority in that it is a published work by Drs. Judith Ramsay and Melody Terris and was edited for publishing by Dr. Michael Peters who is the editor of the book, Encyclopedia of Educational Philosophy and Theory.  An internet research finds a site which says the following concerning the book, “ …a dynamic reference and study place for students, teachers, researchers and professionals in the field of education, philosophy and social sciences, offering both short and long entries on topics of theoretical and practical interest in educational theory and philosophy by authoritative world scholars…”

It is accurate in the understanding that the work is part of a larger compilation published by a doctor who has many degrees, earned and honorary, from prestigious universities around the world. He has also authored several books including Digital Learning (Skolske Novine & Univ of Applied Sciences 2015) and Critical Learning in Digital Networks (Springer 2015).

The article serves a great purpose and represents exactly many of the points this class is based upon, just at a much lower level.  It shows the vastness and the importance of digital learning in such a grand perspective that the possibilities seem endless.

When I searched the web for Digital Literacy, dozens of other possibilities came up. This article was not one of them.  I then searched the web for the name of the encyclopedia and author’s name.  I found each separate but not this article.  I did locate a really good article from the 90’s by Dr. Peters though and could see major differences in his writing because of the differences in technology over the past 20-25yrs. I also located a much later document by Dr. Peters but did not locate the same document found in online in the Credo Reference Infobase, accessed through the Samford portal. (Retrieved from https://login.ezproxy.samford.edu/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/sprepat/learning_and_media_literacy/0?institutionId=3477)

I did locate other sources and most appeared to be legitimate and upon opening some, it was evident they passed the CRAAP Test.  There were other sites which would probably not and the more I searched the easier that was to see, as several seemed to be connected to personal student/teacher sites & blogs, home schooling, training sites, book sales, or other commercial reasons. DigitalLiteracy.gov had several interesting articles within the site, as did mediasmarts.ca. 

The article chosen is from the following library source:

Judith Ramsay, School of Social, Psychological and Communication Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, Calverley Building, City Campus, Leeds, LS1 3HE, UK, j.ramsay@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

Melody M. Terras Division of Psychology, School of Media, Culture and Society, University of the West of Scotland, High St, Paisley, PA1 2BE, UK, melody.terras@uws.ac.uk

 © Springer Science+ Business Media B.V. 2017 APA Chicago Harvard MLA

Ramsay, J., & Terras, M. M. (2017). Learning and Media literacy. In M. Peters, Springer reference: Encyclopedia of educational philosophy and theory. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer Science+Business Media. R

Retrieved from https://login.ezproxy.samford.edu/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/sprepat/learning_and_media_literacy/0?institutionId=3477

Inaugural Speech of President Ronald Reagan 01/20/1981

Who is the author and what is the purpose?

I chose to summarize and analyze a speech that has been repeatedly celebrated, quoted, replayed, and used as patriotic inspiration since the day it was spoken by our newly sworn 40^th President of the United States.  President Ronald Wilson Reagan delivered the speech on January 20, 1981 on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.  The author of the speech, Kenneth L. Khachigian, worked for President Reagan’s 1980 campaign (1) and not only wrote his 1^st inaugural address, but he also authored his three main economic speeches as well as his welcome home speech to the Iranian hostages who returned home to America and was presented at the White House eight days later. (2)  Mr. Khachigian is renowned for his service to three U.S. Presidents and served as President’s Reagan’s chief speech writer, senior political adviser, and special consultant.  According to his employer, The Law Firm of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, he is “nationally recognized for his uniquely creative strategic and communications skills honed at the highest and most demanding political, corporate and government levels”. (3)

The purpose of the speech, besides being an inaugural address, was to steady a shaken citizenry and restore hope and dignity to our country which had just come through an extremely difficult period.  He did this by writing about unity, freedom and the value it holds, standing against terrorism, and dignity.

• What techniques are used to attract and hold attention?

The speech attracted more than just Republican and conservative voters and it held the attention of people around the world.  President-elect Reagan had already given fair warning that the Iranians had best work with and compromise with the Carter Administration because he did not plan to negotiate with them at all. (4) Several political writers and politicians have since argued if the Iranians released the hostages out of fear of Ronald Reagan’s upcoming policies. Most likely not; however, instead of fearing attack, when you couple the fair warning given and their fear that they would have to start negotiations over completely with a man and administration they did not know or understand, it may have caused just enough cooperation with the Carter Administration to get the job done.  The release timing was more or less a parting shot against President Carter, who they hated deeply, because of his relationship with the former Shah.  They believed it would look better to release the hostages after he was out of office.  

The speech continues to hold attention today.  It is not only captivating to listen to, but it, or at least excerpts are used nearly every year to commemorate Memorial Day and other instances of patriotism. (5)

• What lifestyles, values and points of view are represented?

The lifestyle, values, and points of view represented in the speech are what this country is known for throughout its history; individual freedom and dignity, standing up for ourselves when attacked, the resolve to pull ourselves out of the economic crisis and, when it matters the most, an orderly transfer of authority as called for in the Constitution. One line from the speech captured his well-received campaign slogan, “The Time is Now”. He said, “We must act today in order to preserve tomorrow. And let there be no misunderstanding–we are going to begin to act, beginning today”. This passage let everyone know that the days of delayed responses and intentionally not taking action were over. America would stand tall again.

• How might different people interpret the message?

Most people, even those on the other side of the political spectrum supported the wording of the speech and the manner in which President Reagan delivered it.  The Washington Post reported that longtime Reagan consultant, Peter Hannaford said, “It is a speech in which the president-elect tries to set a tone rather than to make headlines,” and top Reagan adviser Edwin Meese said the speech “includes the hope that there is a way out of our economic problems with a solution involving all of the people of the country, not just the people of this government.”  The reporter continued in the article stating, “… the hope of the incoming president and his close aides is that the message will ratify the Reagan campaign themes of revitalizing the nation’s economy and restoring America’s role in the world”. (6)

There are many people of the liberal and democrat persuasion today, who speak out against President Reagan, and this speech. Some call it hyperbole; others call it Nationalism; and some scoff at his manner and ideas. Some liberals even mock conservatives and claim Reagan was democrat and liberal at heart, more akin to FDR than what is viewed as Reaganism. (7)  

There are two passages I believe that will be, if not already, as famous as FDR’s quotes.  They are as follows:

“It is time for us to realize that we are too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams. We are not, as some would have us believe, doomed to an inevitable decline. I do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing. So, with all the creative energy at our command, let us begin an era of national renewal. Let us renew our determination, our courage, and our strength. And let us renew; our faith and our hope.”

& “…America must win this war. Therefore, I will work, I will save, I will sacrifice, I will endure, I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost, as if the issue of the whole struggle depended on me alone.  The crisis we are facing today does not require of us the kind of sacrifice that Martin Treptow and so many thousands of others were called upon to make. It does require, however, our best effort, and our willingness to believe in ourselves and to believe in our capacity to perform great deeds; to believe that together, with God’s help, we can and will resolve the problems which now confront us.” (8)

• What is omitted?

What is omitted are direct criticism of the individuals who made decisions which placed our country, military, and citizens in such a poor and dangerous setting.  Also missing are apologies and denials that America is strong and will defend itself.  Obviously there will always be countries who are offended by our resolve to stand up and even fight for freedom.  There will always be people who would rather see our country step down in stature instead of others stepping up. They will not be satisfied with our negotiating and sacrificing for peace, but would rather we surrender for it. Reagan reminded us that there are heroes out there and they are men and women across this country and our status will continue to be sufficient in strength and honor; and as he so eloquently said, “Above all we must realize that no arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.” (9)

1. https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/digital-library/Kenneth-L-Khachigian
2. https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/28/us/hostages-hailed-white-house-reagan-vows-swift-retribution-for-any-new-attack.html
3. https://www.bhfs.com/people/attorneys/g-k/kkhachigian
4. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/12/28/President-elect-Ronald-Reagan-advised-Iran-Sunday-not-to-wait/9865346827600/
5. https://www.aei.org/carpe-diem/some-thoughts-from-ronald-reagans-1981-inaugural-speech-for-memorial-day-2016/
6. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1981/01/19/reagan-polishing-a-thematic-tone-setting-address-for-inaugural/b28adb15-fc3e-48a0-aaca-4f809b21852f/
7. https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/06/26/how-the-right-gets-reagan-wrong-215306
8. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/ronaldreagandfirstinaugural.html
9. https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/reagan1.asp

6:44pm Manage Discussion Entry

Good evening everyone, because you are here reading this, you know my portfolio website davidwarrensamford.com is up an running!

As I said before, it’s not fancy but it is functional.  The most challenging part has been utilizing what I view as “brand new software” that doesn’t necessarily provide, in my humble opinion, enough explanation and guidance.  So much has been trial and error… and I mean A LOT of error.  The most challenging part has been creating the videos.  I am not skilled at it at all and one (intro video) would not download or import due to a pic or design that I didn’t realized was “premium” and I couldn’t locate it.  The other video (an mp4) will not post to my WordPress page/portfolio due to what WordPress dubs “a security risk”.   The most rewarding part has been actually getting the web page up and running.  After this class, I hope to create others for ministry and fun. 

Something else I find rewarding (in a strange and twisted way) is that during this class, I had to learn to type in a whole new manner, without using the little finger on my left hand.  I had an injury and ended up having surgery on it on New Years Eve, (I’m talking check into the hospital, get rolled into the OR and put to sleep).  I first had a full hand bandage and then later a bandage which was three times the size of my finger.  I am now down to a regular size bandage and the doctor says its healing, but typing has been unreal.  I just hope when the bandages come off, I can remember to type the right way!

I am looking forward to learning more in this class and applying that knowledge to my future projects as well as other interests such as ministry, family, hobbies, etc. Any pointers or guidance is appreciated and it may help keep my stress levels manageable!

My Reflections on Digital Literacy….

     I have seen the world change dramatically across the last 50+yrs, and much of that has been with a front row seat with new technology. From the time of preschool, technology was changing the world, and as a youngster I watched men land on the moon and return to earth. I was blessed to have television, radios, and record players, and good old fashioned books as media and would get caught up in the dreams for the future concerning technology, the world, and the universe.  From watching The Jetsons to NASA Specials to Star Trek, I felt as a young child, I would one day be able to take part in an unbelievable time in history. I honestly believed that by 2000, much less 2020, we would see inventions and technology much like in the movies and books. While there are no flying cars, phasers which eliminate people, or spaceships exploring the final frontiers, looking back, I see many innovations and inventions from those dreams like home & laptop computers, computers in vehicles, cell phones w/computers and video, microwaves, precooked heat & serve foods, robots (even though most are actually vacuums instead of humanlike units performing vacuuming), the Space Shuttle Program, the International Space Station, the Hubble-Telescope, Tasers, driverless vehicles, Pin-Point Missiles, Drones and other weapons, communications, & transportation, that are part of everyday life.  However, what I have noticed is that it seems for every technological breakthrough, society as a whole is still behind. Many are either not interested, can’t afford it, or can’t understand what to do with it. Some of the technology we have experienced has even been misused. Overall, we are still lacking in reality versus what men and women dreamed of for nearly the past 100yrs.

     I was fortunate to be exposed to early computing through calculators, word processors, TI’s, TRS80s, Commodores, and even the Apple, and by the time I graduated high school, Honeywell, Unix, & IBM were not just office machinery, but computer companies. This caused me to start classes for computers and I started learning programming such as Basic, RPG, and others. I have used computers and been exposed to the importance in every job description I have had including grocery, credit bureau evaluations, insurance, pastoring churches, and law enforcement. I have also seen people in every field I’ve worked in completely lost, scared to use a computer, or locked into one simple task because of their lack of desire to learn more, or their background being different from mine. Some have lost out on advancement and some just gave up opportunities because they either didn’t have the talent, skills, and abilities or felt they were too far behind. Some were just backward in their thinking and refused to change; even to this day. I currently work with someone who has a degree and they all but refuse to learn anything new in regards to computers, even job related. They won’t even voluntarily learn how to sign on to websites to help in everyday work because that wasn’t necessary years ago.

As stated in the short video, Digital Literacy Explained Clearly, “the world is much more difficult to navigate and understand” by someone failing to read and write, and so it is with the one who has little to no digital literacy.  Every career field is now affected by the digital age and from people digging ditches, to designing computer and health systems, to small children learning in pre-school, to farming in small African towns/provinces. People have to become computer and digital literate to compete in the job market; and every industry has a need for technology and workers to “navigate, evaluate, and create information” that is useful in industry and life. I need this class, as it is an area I’ve dabbled in but never really put full effort into nor taken advantage of some of the opportunities it affords. As noted in the video, knowing how to use a computer and a few programs is not enough for today’s world. Hopefully others will take advantage of opportunities and learn as technology is made available to them as well.