Technology for a day?

For one full day I payed close attention to how many times I used technology throughout my day. I was extremely shocked by looking at the outcome of how many times I looked at my phone throughout the day. To be honest, I gave up after my two hundredth time I marked that I looked at my phone throughout the day; it is overwhelming to know that I use that much technology in my life every day. I used my cell phone throughout the day to text my friends and family, tweet my thoughts and opinions, post pictures on instagram as well as scroll through pictures, looked at my facebook as well as updating my profile. Each time I would go onto twitter I would spend about twenty minutes looking at other peoples posts and would go straight into instagram after I exited out of twitter for another twenty minutes. I had two classes that day and during those two class periods I picked up my phone at least seven times each to browse through my phone even if I had no reason to look.  Although I am addicted to my social life, I do spend a lot of my time on the computer to do my school work. Everyday I go into the AC lab and give my full attention to my computer screen while I do my homework. The only time I interact with my cell phone is if I need to change the song that I don’t like playing on my iTunes. Before I went to bed I realized that I spent an hour straight just looking at my phone, and it was funny to me that even though I didn’t have any notifications I would go back to my websites and browse through it all over again just because I was bored. It amazes me that I use that much technology in my life and its even more amazing because that is just one day that I noticed I used that much technology in my life, I could only imagine how much technology I use for a week!

The reason why I chose this vdieo is because I can relate to what they said on the ways they are addicted to their cell phones. For a day they are going to try to avoid using their cell phones, but to be honest I personally dont think I would be able to go a day without the use of technology. :[

Life as a STALKER for a day?

After observing the use of technology for one full day I was amazed by how many students use technology in their every day life.  Starting from the morning, my roommate checks her phone as soon as she gets up and texted her friends that she wasn’t able to text back as she fell asleep. I have every class with my roommate and during this observation I payed close attention to her and how many times she looks at her phone. Every 15 minutes I’ve seen her pick her phone up at least four times. Those four times I’ve seen her pick her phone up I glanced over and saw her texting her friends, scrolling through instagram, and checking her Toro email. Throughout the day I payed close attention to other students walking around campus at AWC and I noticed that just about every student is either looking down at their phone or talking on the phone as they walk from one location to another. A few students I watched didn’t pick their phone up at all as they socialized face to face and walked beside their friends to their next class. I also took a peek in the AC lab and walked around the lab to see if students were actually doing their homework or if they were socializing. Most students I saw were doing their homework but had other windows open that was YouTube, facebook, and twitter. Students did their homework as well as socialize with their friends and that amazed me because I only seen a few students that gave all their attention to their homework.

This video was a perfect video to show about how college students use technology during school. These different ways are ways that I have seen college students use their phone to avoid getting caught by their teachers. Sometimes the obvious is the best way to do it! :)

What teachers think?

Teachers all around the world see the use of technology in student’s lives everyday. After interviewing a few teachers on campus at AWC, I was more interested with Professor Taylor. Professor Taylor has been teaching here at AWC for more than a few years now and she is one of the best teachers I have ever met. I asked her what her opinions were about technology in the role of college students and she believes that it is both good and bad for students. Professor Taylor uses technology everyday in her life as well, so she isn’t against technology. She thinks technology is beneficial for the college students if they are using it for the right reasons at the right times. She specifically said, “Academics come first, then it’s your own personal time”. She also said that a student’s focus should be directly on their homework and making sure they pass their classes before its time to Facebook chat and play call of duty online. Professor Taylor also believes that technology is good because students can get the help they need at any given time. Whether it’s researching information, or emailing professors for extra assistance. She also believes that college students need a social life, and having cell phones and computers are good for students because they are able to communicate back and forth with family and friends that are away from them. “If a student can manage both homework and their own individual time, then by all means use all the technology you need, but when you’re in my class give me my full attention.” These words from Professor Taylor stood in my mind because she has a very high strict no phone policy and she believes college students should respect her for the time she is giving to teach us what we need to know. I would like to thank Professor Taylor for her time and for giving me her honest answers to complete my interview.  

This video caught my attention because it is a conversation talking about if technology is good or bad for students. Hearing other peoples thoughts and opinions can change the way a professor may think.

MY FAVORITE SONG!

What do college students think?

One student who I interviewed that was most interesting to me was a girl on the volleyball team named Kylee. Kylee strongly believes that technology can be both harmful and very useful for college students. As for her, Kylee thinks it is harmful because she is addicted to her cell phone and computer. She is constantly using technology every day and all day in her life. Starting from morning till night she is text messaging her friends, tweeting, posting and scrolling instagram pictures, updating and looking at her facebook, and face timing her family and friends back home. On the other hand, she believes it’s harmful because when she is doing her homework she constantly has to stop and check her phone. Kylee stated, “I have to discipline myself when I am doing my homework because it is the only way I will get it done.” Although she says she is addicted she is capable of turning her cell phone off to get her work done. She also said that in class it is very hard for her to pay attention in class because she is distracted on her cell phone rather than paying attention to her professor. “There is just so much stuff going on today that I feel left out if I don’t keep myself updated.” Kylee believes that technology is very helpful as well as a college student because it is the only way she is able to get her homework done when she is struggling. “The internet is there for me when I need to research a topic I don’t understand or if I need help with my math homework they have online assistance.” She always said that she has never used technology so much in her life until she came to college. With technology she is able to contact her professors if she is unclear on how to do an assignment or email her classmates for help. All in all Kylee thinks that technology is helpful and harmful depending on the individual itself.

This video caught my attention because what he discussed in this video is something us college students do. It also relates to my blog because Kylee has mentioned that her cell phone is a distraction in class.

Has technology taken over my life?

Technology can either be helpful or harmful to people by the way it is being used. Everyday technology is being used for college students as they go to school, do their homework, and communicate with one another. Life has become so much easier for college students with the help of technology since we now all have access to the webs directly from our phones or computers to look something up if help is needed. Questions on assignments can now be used through technology by emailing our professors, group projects can now be done with technology by using Facebook, emails, or chat rooms, and if we are feeling ill we can now get our homework assignments off of blackboard. Although technology is helpful it is also harmful to college students. Technology has now distracted college students in the class room by text messaging, tweeting their friends, and posting new pictures on instagram.  Although it may only take minutes and seconds to do, they are now loosing out on important information their professor may be explaining to the class. Technology has also made students become anti-social with one another because they feel that they are more comfortable communicating over technology. In my opinion technology isn’t making me loose as much as I gain because I am capable of managing my time while not being distracted by technology. When I find myself to distracted from doing my homework assignments or doing things that needs to be done I simply put my phone across the room from me so that I don’t get tempted to pick my phone up and start using it. Technology can be very distracting with all of its new web sites especially if you have a smart phone. For example in my life I am using text messaging, twitter, and instagram all throughout the day. It all depends on the person and if they let technology take over their life or not.

HELLO and Welcome to my Blog :)

Hello everyone, my name is Breanna and I am a sophomore at Arizona Western College. Not only am I a student at AWC, but I am also a softball player.  My life as a student athlete is wonderful and I enjoy every step of the way that I am taking. Times can get hard since I am from Los Angeles, California but my softball team has made AWC a home away from home.  Being a student athlete can get hard because of the schedules I have to deal with. For example, everyday five times a week I have morning workouts from 5:30 am to 7:00 am, I eat breakfast, shower, nap, go to class, eat lunch, and go to practice. With all that I have going on for myself; I HAVE to find time to get my homework done either between or after. I have a few goals set for myself to accomplish before I leave AWC. My first goal is to graduate from AWC with a GPA above a 3.3 and so far I have met that goal. My second goal is to transfer to a University on a softball scholarship to finish my college career. The last goal I have set for myself is to graduate from a university with my Business Degree. Besides school I enjoy playing softball, hanging out with friends, shopping, going on adventures, and making new memories. Honestly, technology has taken over my life from morning till night everyday.  I use technology by looking at my phone right when I wake up, to text messaging  my friends throughout the day, using my cell phone to check my twitter, instagram, Facebook, and using my laptop to browse the internet. Without the use of technology I wouldn’t be able to keep in contact with my friends and family back home, get help off the internet for my homework assignments, communicate with university college coaches that I am interested in, and get help from my teachers when I’m away from class. Thank you for taking the time to check out the blogs that I am posting. I hope you enjoy J