Digital Map Post

Digital Map

This week, I explored the concept of a digital map and the difference between the status of a visitor or resident when using technology. The article titled Visitors & Residents, helped explain the difference between the two concepts and helped me when creating my own digital map. David White explains in the article that visitor mode is when you do not leave a social trace online and are using an app for one purpose and then moving on or going offline. On the contrary, resident mode is when people use the app to create an online presence where they can connect or share with others. Keeping this in mind, I created my own digital map below!

My Digital Map

When creating my own digital map, I sectioned it off into four sections: professional and personal going from top to bottom and visitor mode and resident mode going from left to right. When I arranged the various digital apps that I use in my daily life, I made sure to place the apps in a specific location based on how I mainly used it (either professionally, personally, as a visitor or resident). I did not realize how many apps I use everyday! As I was creating my digital map, I kept thinking of more technology resources I use very frequently to add. While there are some apps that are professional, I do spend a lot of time using technology either professionally, personally, as a visitor or resident. It was very eye opening to see all the apps I use in one place. 

Image source: Created by author via Google Drawing and Google Images

Reflections

After looking at my digital map, I was surprised to realize that many of the apps I use in my professional life I also use in my personal life. I was also surprised to see that there overlap between visitor and resident mode as well. For example, I put YouTube in the middle of all four sections because I use it for all of them! Professionally, I use YouTube for music or educational videos for my students in a visitor mode but I also like to watch videos in my personal time and create video content to share socially in a resident mode. Additionally, I use Zoom for a more professional need but it falls in the middle of visitor and resident mode because sometimes we use it in class to meet virtually as the app was intended to do, but I've also use Zoom to record important lessons and share them during professional developments that I have presented at (while protecting student confidentiality). I also noticed that all the apps in the section resident and personal were apps that I use frequently to post about my life or socialize with others online, whereas my apps in the visitor and personal section all include either food or shopping. 

Overall, creating my own digital map helped me realize just how much technology I use daily. Either professionally, personally, as a visitor or a resident, there are many apps included on my map. Moving forward, I hope to start decreasing my screen and technology time to allow myself a break! Technology has advanced so much and can do amazing and helpful things, however too much screen time can be a bad thing. I hope to move some of the apps on the resident side to the visitor side in the sense that I use the app for it's intended purpose and then log off to allow myself a bigger break from technology.