Go Outside

Reflection 6: On the discussion with Maha Bali from week 11

I learned a lot from the discussion with Maha Bali about digital equity, privacy, and accessibility. Growing up in Canada, I have been fortunate enough to never really struggle with gaining access to digital content and spaces. I never thought about how many people are probably affected due to poor internet connection or access to the internet, especially in other countries with remote living and how that could affect their ability to work and learn through digital services. The example that Maha gave on a systemic solution to this issue is to give free internet access to the population for a period of time each day. I think this is a great solution that more governments should integrate as it lowers the restrictions of accessibility to just needing a device.  

Along with learning about equal accessibility, I also learned the four I’s of oppression, those being Ideological, institutional, interpersonal, and internalized.  

Here’s the video that was shown during the discussion: 

A small breakdown of each of the four:

1. Ideological oppression is the idea that one group is somehow better than another, generally by associated the oppressed group with negative qualities. Its rooted in ingrained beliefs of superiority and is often seen as “common sense” or “normal” in society. 

2. Institutional oppression is the systematic contribution that leads to the mistreatment of a marginalized group, often through polices, practices, and norms of institutions like government, healthcare, and education.  

3. Interpersonal oppression is the act of prejudice or discrimination between individuals. It occurs in day-to-day life, often through microaggressions like discriminatory jokes, exclusion, and unfair treatment.  

4. Internalized oppression is when a individual believes and acts out negative stereotypes, myths, and misinformation that is generated by a dominant group. It leads to people feeling less worthy, capable, and confident about who they are. 

Image from Scripps College and their paper on the four I’s of oppression.

Each of these types of oppressions support and connect either one another, and efforts towards dismantling oppression should focus on all four levels.  

Learning about the four I’s of oppression made me reflect on my own experiences with oppression. I was born and raised in indigenous culture, but because of my mixed ethnicity I’m often treated as an outsider and am mistreated. It’s likely contributed to my severance of the culture, but it has allowed me to have a new perspective and understanding of oppression.  

Overall, I learned a lot about digital equity and accessibility, I was also prompted to reflect upon my own experiences and perspectives of oppression and how it affects people in both the real and digital world. Maha did a great job at conveying the different frameworks and giving examples of some of the concepts discussed that made them easy to understand.  

Reflection 5: sparked by the discussion on Indigenous digital literacy from week 11

Something I had never really thought about before this discussion was how people are introduced to digital literacy, coding, and technology in general. Nodin talks about the common ways many people are introduced to coding is either through family members who have experience in coding or through playing and modding video games. I’ve been fortunate enough to have opportunities in high school during some computer courses I took that had a coding assignment where I had to create a small video game with interactive features. Along with that class, I played a lot of video games throughout my life, so that likely has something to do with my interest in the subject.  

I think that its really cool that they have created a safe space for indigenous youth to be introduced to and learn about digital literacy who otherwise may not have had the opportunity or networking to connect with the subject. Getting into the advanced systems of something like coding is already difficult enough, so making it accessible and easier to learn about to indigenous people is a progressive way to promote the different cultures through digital literacy. Something I’m glad that the discussion touched on was the ability of AI programs to identify and define the varies indigenous cultures. With there being so many and each having their own unique customs and identities, it’s common for AI programs to blend cultures together and even generalize indigenous cultures as a whole. Growing up within an indigenous culture, there are also so many traditions and aspects that go unseen and are not usually shared with the public, making it even harder to understand each separate culture.  

Overall, I think that the Waniskaw foundation is a great and effective way to not only introduce indigenous peoples to the many digital literacies but to also educate others on the many indigenous cultures.  

Reflection 4: On the ergonomics modules from week 7

Going through these modules was super straightforward and pretty interesting. As someone who used to sit down way too much for way to long, it was nice to finally put a name to some of the discomforts I’ve experienced. Learning about musculoskeletal disorder or MSDs was really fascinating, especially the office workplace aspect. Generally, when I think of soreness or injury involving muscles, joints, ligaments, etc. I would think the cause would be related to more labor-intensive work or activities. When I think of back pain, I would think that it would be a result of improper technique or prolonged pressure to carrying something during a labor job or when thinking about ligament injuries, I would think that they would be affected during intense sports like football or hockey. But the module does a good job showcasing how MSDs can affect all workplaces, even in the ones you wouldn’t necessarily expect it to happen in.  

The module shows you ways on how office workplace MSDs can happen and how to prevent them through a variety of methods. Focusing on “workstations” specifically, the common cause of MSDs stems from your posture when working. Whether standing or sitting, your posture effects much of your body and can lead to discomfort or injury if done improperly or sustained for long periods of time. The easiest ways to prevent MSDs caused by posture is to switch position so that your spine is aligned differently or, one that I do naturally, is to take breaks from sitting or standing to allow your body to reset and alleviate pressure before continuing to work. The module also covers different workstation configurations and placements for desks, monitors, keyboards, etc. As a student whose “workstation” is generally just laptop, I find this part irrelevant for me, as I don’t really get to choose my desk or chair height. Just stretch and take breaks once in a while.  

I’ve been lucky enough to not really struggle with MSDs in my life. Growing up, most of my injuries have come from sports or other physical activities, but I’ve never had any occurring musculoskeletal pain. I did use to sit down a lot during the day a few years ago, but I guess I either switched positions or took breaks frequently enough that it didn’t lead to any lasting effects. It’s something that I never really thought about before, so it was interesting to see the attention that’s placed on it through this module. I have a fairly physical job and have a sport right now, so I usually stretch every day at least once, which probably helps a lot in preventing MSDs.  

Reflection 3: On digital technology’s affect on attention span, sparked by the video ‘The Death of Critical Thinking: How Stupidity Took Over‘ by Aperture

Technology plays a major role in how we think, learn, and focus. With the creation of social platforms like TikTok and Instagram, the effect on our attention spans and critical thinking has been drastically reduced. In 2024, a study found that a person’s average attention span on a digital device is 47 seconds, a large drop from 75 seconds in 2012. I think this is a result of how platforms like these; that deliver fast, engaging content, designed to capture a user’s attention instantly, are changing the way we process information.  

Technology is fundamentally changing the way we think, not just short-term content, but in general. Our reliance on technology trains our minds to expect immediate stimulation and as a result, tasks like reading, writing, and studying, things that require sustained attention, have begun to feel more difficult to complete. This doesn’t just apply to the younger generations, but “for everyone, across all ages, depending on digital products as a crutch does affect your brain physically.”  

One of the videos examples references studies of brain imaging that focused on people who relied on GPS to navigate. Studies have found that people who are heavy users of GPS have smaller hippocampus sizes than people who do not. Contrastingly, a study that focused on the brains of taxi drivers who had to memorize complex city roads have a larger hippocampus. This happens because the hippocampus is the region of the brain responsible for spatial memory. When a person uses GPS, it essentially turns their mind on autopilot, preventing the hippocampus from strengthening.  

This has led to a correlation between stress and attention span. When you switch your attention so rapidly, you’re not processing information, reflecting, or thinking deeply. When your mind doesn’t deliberate the information it receives, over time it becomes more difficult to understand, comprehend, and retain it. When this happens to a person, their levels of stress increase, as completing tasks is more difficult and taxing on the mind.  

I think this is why the learning of digital literacy is so important. Digital literacy is not just the understanding of techology and digital products, but the understanding of how they affect us. The need for digital literacy is more prevalent than ever, with the creation of short-term digital content and reducing attention span, a person’s ability to critically think continues to decline. We need a way to navigate the digital world, so that we can maintain our complex thoughts, so that we can function with as little stress as possible, so that we can think for ourselves and not have to rely on digital technology.  

Reflecting on my own experience, I have to constantly stop myself from scrolling and swiping. It’s gotten better over the years, I’ve become more mindful of what I consume, reminding myself to put my effort and attention into my work and necessary tasks. I remember at times that just having my phone in my proximity made it nearly impossible to complete anything of value. But by understanding the effects of technology, I was able to regain my concentration.

Reflection 2: Sparked by the video Is AI Art Original? by CrashCourse

The development of artificial intelligence technology over the last few years has raised many questions ranging from the ethical use of AI to the privacy of users. The debate over the use of AI is still ongoing and will likely continue for several more years. One subject that AI has sparked heavy debate in is art, as AI-generated art and human-created art can be nearly indistinguishable from one another nowadays. The capability of today’s AI can produce detailed images, which can resemble styles of established human artists. At first glance, AI art can appear just as impressive as human-made pieces. However, the way in which each of the separate arts are made differs fundamentally, and this difference shapes how we understand and value each form.  

Generally, when a person creates art, it’s connected to their lived experiences. Every detail is influenced by the person’s emotions, memories, and perspectives. Even when a piece of art is abstract, or difficult to interpret, it often reflects the internal expressions or exploration of the person. Many people argue that what gives art its meaning is the intention when creating it. That a painting is not just liquid on a canvas, but it’s a display of someone’s thoughts and feelings at a particular moment in their life.  

On the other hand, AI-generated art is created through its access to pre-existing work. An AI does not feel inspiration or have emotions; it doesn’t get to experience the world the same way a person would. Instead, it has torely on the vast amounts of existing artwork and analyze their elements to make something new. Even though the product can be visually stunning, its missing the personal touch that person brings when creating art. Which raises the popular discussion: can something be considered true art if it lacks intention and emotion? 

But it would also be unfair to dismiss the value that AI can contribute to artists. AI can be used to assist artists in many ways; by helping with ideas to overcome mental blocks or to explore new techniques and styles they haven’t experienced before. When used as a tool to assist artists instead of replacing them in creative process, AI becomes a valuable and powerful collaborative tool that can help both current and aspiring artists. This collaboration between an artist’s creativity and AI’s technological capabilities can promote new forms of artistic expression and lead to new developments in both fields.  

Ultimately, the defining separation of AI-generated art and human art lies not in the final piece that is created but in the steps that lead to it. When a person creates art, it carries intention, emotion, and individuality, something an AI can’t quite replicate. When an AI creates art, it’s through patterns and access to data. But instead of viewing the two as competitors, the value in their collaboration might be a more productive exploration for art. AI should never take over the creative process of art, it’s the thing that gives true art its value. But that’s not to say that AI shouldn’t be involved at all; it can serve as a valuable assistor in an artist’s creative process and spark the creation of new arts. The real challenge lies in finding the balance between a person’s creativity and AI’s abilities that respects historical and contemporary artistic etiquette.  

Reflection 1: Sparked by the videos from week 3 featuring Jeff Hopkins

Generally, School systems are supposed to be designed to educate the youth and prepare them for adult life, yet many feel they fail to do this. Many school systems struggle because they rely on outdated structures, push standardized testing and grading over valuable learning, and do not always consider the diverse needs of students. The education system should empower individualism and strengthen society while laying the foundation for the rest of life and its challenges.  

One of the main reasons the current school systems fail is that its structure was designed during the industrial era and has not significantly progressed since. Schools generally operate using stiff schedules, a standardized curriculum, and expectations for students. This system assumes that all students learn the same way and at the same pace, which is rarely the case. Students have different interests, learning styles, and abilities, so when forced to conform to a system that does not support their learning, students inevitably fall behind or are discouraged.  

Another issue is the heavy use of standardized testing and grading. In western education systems, success is usually based on exam results and numerical grades. While some assessments can gauge progress, heavy reliance can lead to a shift in focus away from genuine, valuable learning. Students may only learn to memorize information for a short period of time just to pass a test rather than retainand really understand the content. This can lead to students passing with strong test-taking skills but not having a broader understanding of the subjects’ concepts and researching abilities that school is supposed to provide.  

Also, the curriculum and content of many schools do not feel relevant to students’ lives and future goals. Subjects are generally taught in isolation from outside, real-world applications. When students cannot see how what they are learning connects to their personal lives, interests, or career aspirations, they can lose confidence and feel disconnected from the environment. Education is most effective when students can understand and visualize how what they are learning connects to them beyond the classroom.  

Understanding the current weaknesses is an important step towards improving them. Education works best when curiosity is encouraged, unique learners are supported, and students’ personal lives are focused on, rather than exam scores or numerical grades. One of the reasons I enjoy this class is that it allows you to pursue your own interests and encourages you to be curious within a supportive network. It’s what more school systems should be structured like; to support students on a journey of their own inquiry, and to help them when needed, rather than conform them to an outdated system that does not prepare them for their future.