DL 306

Just Like Unicorns

Welcome back. Here's Digitally Literate, issue #306. Remember to take time to rest and recharge this week.

I published the following this week:

🔖 Key Takeaways

📚 This Week’s Highlights

Kevin Slavin argues that we're living in a world designed for -- and increasingly controlled by -- algorithms. In this riveting talk he shows how these complex computer programs determine espionage tactics, stock prices, movie scripts, and architecture.

Slavin also warns that we are writing code we can't understand with implications we can't control.
Why this matters: Understanding how algorithms influence our world is critical for informed decision-making and ethical technology development.

I absolutely love using emoticons, emoji, and GIFs in my digital communications. (I would like to note that I just spent 30 minutes trying to figure out the plural of emoji).

At first, I felt foolish and didn't think that it was appropriate for an English teacher, and literacy researcher to use these forms of text. That was until Doug Belshaw suggested that meaning and tone are often lost in text online. This text is often important to fill in emotional cues otherwise missing from typed conversation.

I'm loving this melting face emoji, and think it needs a permanent spot in my repertoire.

The article point out that the first emojis were created in 1999 by Shigetaka Kurita, who found inspiration in manga. The original set of 176 emojis is now part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art.

Why this matters: Embracing playful communication methods can enhance digital literacy and expression.

3. Facebook Employees Flag Drug Cartels and Human Traffickers. The Company’s Response Is Weak, Documents Show.

We're continuing to unpack the Facebook Files, A Wall Street Journal investigation. Internal documents revealed that Facebook was aware of the platform being used by drug cartels and human traffickers in developing countries, but the social media giant did little to stop it.

In some countries, Facebook has limited people who speak the dialects needed to identify criminal uses of the platform. In these places it deems the harm as “simply the cost of doing business,” a former Facebook vice president said. One document also revealed that the company had suggested using “a light touch” with Arabic-language warnings about human trafficking so as not to “alienate buyers.”

It is an understatement to say that Facebook is very flawed. Kate Klonick asks what will we do about it?
Why this matters: The systemic flaws in content moderation highlight the need for accountability in social media platforms.

A meta-analysis of over 144 studies on sparking student motivation from elementary school through university suggest teachers are more influential than parents. Pathways to Student Motivation: A Meta-Analysis of Antecedents of Autonomous and Controlled Motivations, by Julien S. Bureau[](javascript:popRef('corresp1-00346543211042426','','','aop')), Joshua L. Howard, Jane X. Y. Chong, & Frédéric Guay was published online in September 2021 in the Review of Educational Research.

The concrete things that teachers can do may seem unrelated to student motivation at first glance....teachers listen to the thoughts and feelings of students and respond to them with empathy. Another suggestion is to explain rules and requirements so that students can understand why they’re being asked to do them. And he recommends that teachers give students choices and allow them to personalize assignments.
Why this matters: Small, intentional actions by educators can significantly impact student engagement and learning outcomes.

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been following the events and news leading up to the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow, UK, starting on October 31st.

As part of this, Greta Thunberg has received a lot of attention, especially for her "blah, blah, blah" comments.

What surprised me is the level of hate and vitriol adults have given this individual. I was listening to a discussion on the radio where the hosts proceeded to discuss the speech, and call Thunberg a number of horrible things. The hosts ultimately stopped to check her age to "see if she was old enough to say these things" and then continued on with their diatribe.

This post by James Fell in the Sweary History newsletter is the perfect response to individuals like this. Please note, you'll see some bad words there.
Why this matters: Youth activists like Greta challenge the status quo, inspiring action and debate on critical global issues.

6. Slow Down With These Serene City-Building Games

During these stressful times, more of us are playing video games than ever before. As a result, we're seeing a "string of trance-like game experiences in recent years; slowly expanding towns lull the mind, alleviating stress in a manner altogether less frenetic than regular blockbuster titles."

You might want check out Islanders, Townscaper, Cloud Gardens, and Dorfromantik if you're on Steam.
Why this matters: Stress-relieving games can offer mental clarity and balance in hectic times.

🛠️ DO: Automate Your Tasks

Learn how to streamline your daily workflow with these steps:

  1. Write down repetitive tasks.
  2. Research tools for automation.
  3. Design a workflow that reduces friction.
  4. Execute and refine your plan.
  5. Test and evaluate for improvement.

Explore useful tools here.

🌟 Closing Reflection

"Join with all those who experiment, take risks, fall, get hurt, and then take more risks. Stay away from those who affirm truths, who criticize those who do not think like them, people who have never once taken a step unless they were sure they would be respected for doing so, and who prefer certainties to doubts."
— Paulo Coelho

Reflect and Engage

Thank you for reading Digitally Literate. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions. Connect with me at hello@digitallyliterate.net or explore Newsletter Index for all past issues.