TLDR 110

Too Long; Didn't Read Issue 110

Published: 2017-08-11 • 📧 Newsletter

Welcome to issue #110 of TL;DR. Human nature is a violent breed.

This week I shared the following:

Develop an assessment of critical online information literacies - A post providing guidance on developing an assessment of critical evaluation of online information. This is work from my earlier research and dissertation.
Video: Using Google Sheets for collecting, organizing, & sharing information
Video: Using Google Forms for teaching, learning, & assessment

🔖 Key Takeaways

Currencies of Bullying: The currencies of bullying are fear and confusion. And, importantly, that silence can't be the answer.
Gross Machismo of Computing: More women and minorities are needed in computing because the world would be better for their contributions—and because it might be much worse without them.
Trust Will Not Grow: Trust will not grow, but technology usage will continue to rise, as a "new normal" sets in.
Five Areas of Internet Health: Openness, Digital inclusion, Decentralization, Privacy & security, Web literacy.
Youth Use Tech Same Ways: Younger generations use technology in the same ways as older people...for better or worse.
Defer Judgment Reach Quantity: Two main rules for a successful brainstorm: 1. Defer judgement 2. Reach for quantity.

📺 Watch

DeRay McKesson talks bullying and justice

Mozilla recently invited DeRay McKesson, American civil rights activist, to speak at A Night for Internet Health. There, McKesson talked about bullying and its impact. In this video clip from the event, he indicated that the currencies of bullying are fear and confusion. And, importantly, that silence can't be the answer.

📚 Read

Google diversity memo controversy

This week a software engineer from Google released a 10 page screed against the diversity initiatives taking place within the company. The software engineer was fired for violating the code of conduct at Google.

Responses to this manifesto range from viewing this as an isolated incident to instead being a manifestation of what ails all of Silicon Valley.

One thing to recognize from this event, and the subsequent response is presented eloquently in the link above:

These reactions to the screed are sound, but they risk missing a larger problem: The kind of computing systems that get made and used by people outside the industry, and with serious consequences, are a direct byproduct of the gross machismo of computing writ large. More women and minorities are needed in computing because the world would be better for their contributions—and because it might be much worse without them.

The fate of online trust in the next decade

I've shared quite a bit about trust and online relationships over the past couple of months here in TL;DR. Much of this discussion has been kicked into overdrive as I research and write about blockchain and derivative technologies.

This report from the Pew Internet Project shares findings from recent research that surveyed experts in these new and digital fields. The results try to paint a picture of the future of online trust in the coming decade. I think it's fun to read through the quotes and consider the implications for the field. I even have a quote in there.

Six themes emerge from the responses:

Trust will strengthen because systems will improve and people will adapt to them and more broadly embrace them.
The nature of trust will become more fluid as technology embeds itself into human and organizational relationships.
Trust will not grow, but technology usage will continue to rise, as a "new normal" sets in.
Some say blockchain could help; some expect its value might be limited.
The less-than-satisfying current situation will not change much in the next decade.
Trust will diminish because the internet is not secure, and powerful forces threaten individuals' rights.

Here's how we'll measure Internet health

Mozilla's Internet Health Report project is still busy working behind the scenes as they try to identify opportunities to create a better web. As part of this project, they've been busy canvassing experts in the field to identify what elements need to be considered as we talk about Internet health. The five areas they've identified through this process include:

Openness
Digital inclusion
Decentralization
Privacy & security
Web literacy

These areas will become the focus of their assessment of Internet health.

The digital native is a myth

This story is not new at all, but it interested me that it showed up in Nature of all places.

I detest the term digital native, and think that it has set back the field, especially education, as we believe that children (or those younger than us) are hard wired and more able to handle these digital, communicative technologies.

This piece shares a paper from Teaching and Teacher Education that posits that younger generations use technology in the same ways as older people...for better or worse. The post also suggests that youth are no better at multitasking than their older counterparts.

A designer's guide to brainstorms that are actually useful

This post from FastCoDesign shares insight from design thinking perspectives and the Stanford D School to help you successfully brainstorm.

They provide two main rules for a successful brainstorm:

Defer judgement
Reach for quantity

They close with a granular series of directions for setting up a great brainstorming session. I definitely recommend testing some of these out in your work, or in your work with others.

🔨 Do

Making peach mostarda

Last month I went home to the Philadelphia area to celebrate the 40th birthday of one of my brothers. One of my other brothers is a chef in Philly and he catered the event for us. While prepping for the party, I was perched next to him to watch what he was making as he never lets us down.

He knew that I'd be looking for the good stuff, so he pulled out this large plastic container with a golden syrup and peaches floating in the middle. He went on to explain that it was peach mostarda and then spent a half hour explaining the process used to make the syrup in their kitchens. The simple syrup gets a spicy kick from some powerful mustard oil that is apparently banned in the U.S.

The syrup is thick and definitely spicy at the end. The flavor is reminiscent of fine meats and cheeses. I know it sounds weird, but the flavor was intoxicating and we drizzled it on everything from fine cheeses to grilled chicken.

I'm in the process now of figuring out how to make my own batches next time I cook up a batch of jellies.

🤔 Consider

"All cruelty springs from weakness." — Seneca

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🌱 Connected Concepts:

Social Justice Online — DeRay McKesson's analysis reveals bullying's currencies are fear and confusion, with silence unable to be the answer, highlighting how digital spaces amplify power dynamics and require active resistance rather than passive observation of injustice.
Tech Diversity and Inclusion — Google diversity memo controversy exposes larger problem beyond isolated incidents: computing systems that affect people with serious consequences are direct byproduct of computing's gross machismo, making representation essential not just for contributions but to prevent harm.
Digital Trust — Pew research on future of online trust reveals six themes including "new normal" where trust won't grow but technology usage rises, blockchain's uncertain potential, and ongoing threats to individuals' rights from powerful forces and insecure infrastructure.
Internet Health — Mozilla's measurement framework identifies five critical areas: openness, digital inclusion, decentralization, privacy & security, and web literacy, providing holistic approach to assessing and improving internet ecosystem beyond narrow technical metrics.
Digital Natives Myth — Research published in Nature and Teaching and Teacher Education confirms younger generations use technology in same ways as older people for better or worse, debunking harmful myth that has set back education by assuming youth are hardwired for digital fluency.

Part of the 📧 Newsletter archive documenting digital literacy and technology.