This study explores lurking as a literacy practice and poses two questions: In what ways do so-ca... more This study explores lurking as a literacy practice and poses two questions: In what ways do so-called Facebook lurkers use neighborhood groups to engage in literacy practices? What gratifications are sought when individuals choose to lurk and engage in these literacy practices in Facebook neighborhood groups? A community mapping of the literacy practices of NYC suburban neighborhood Facebook groups was conducted by 203 participants, and 18 of those participants were interviewed. Through lurking, participants sought to gratify desires to (1) understand a divergent point of view, (2) verify information, (3) suppress the spread of information, (4) pivot to offline social action, (5) advance professionally, and (6) maintain quality of community life. The study also introduces the concepts of receptive reading, participatory restraint, and protective curation as ways of reading that individuals engage in while gratifying these desires.
Innovation is a trendy term in education today. Everyone from school administrators to parents to... more Innovation is a trendy term in education today. Everyone from school administrators to parents to edtech companies seems eager to foster the next generation of innovators- particularly among young women. Although most of their attention centers on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields, there is a growing movement toward reconceptualizing this term as STEAM, with the A referring to the influences of art and design. This emphasis on art opens up new ways of thinking about how young women innovate and how such innovations are portrayed in literature.The "problem" of women in technology fields is a growing concern because there are fewer women entering these fields today than there were 30 years ago (Gardner). In 1971, art historian Linda Nochlin famously wondered, "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?" Nochlin argues that it is both the concept of greatness and the definition of art itself that must be reconsidered to contextualize the r...
The primary goals of media literacy are laudable: active and critical thinking about the messages... more The primary goals of media literacy are laudable: active and critical thinking about the messages we receive and the messages we create. In practice, media literacy standardizes limited ways of knowing and normalizes built-in biases. Subsequently, its narrow emphasis on skill development, particularly the role of fact-checking, content creation, and independent research are all practices that can be exploited, oftentimes leading to the amplification of misinformation. Homogeneous media literacy also assumes that platforms are neutral – codifying a dominant, neoliberal, racist lens as a competency. Social media literacy in particular assumes the norms of proprietary algorithms, arming users with the skills determined by Silicon Valley’s corporate, individualist, white supremacist values. Contemporary high school curricula teaches students to ably brand and promote themselves; adept meme creators are rewarded for racial appropriation and fungible performances of Blackness; vanity metr...
Although mythologized as a fringe or deviant behavior, ‘lurking,’ or passive participation in an ... more Although mythologized as a fringe or deviant behavior, ‘lurking,’ or passive participation in an online group, has become a regular part of the way we lead our lives online. My IRB approved dissertation research, which will be completed by AoIR 2020, will examine ‘lurking’ in neighborhood Facebook groups. Through community mapping and interviews of Facebook users enrolled in the same neighborhood Facebook group, this study seeks to describe both the ‘lurker’ literacy practices of Facebook group users and to understand if and how the features of the Facebook social media platform encourage these literacy practices. Given that neighborhood groups are intended for people who live in the same geographic area, there is a likelihood that many members of the group may know one another offline and in real life. Since ‘lurkers’ are groups that are typically not included in academic studies, this research will have broad appeal to scholars across the social sciences. When scholars only examin...
Technology changes more rapidly today than in any other point in human history. These changes aff... more Technology changes more rapidly today than in any other point in human history. These changes affect the tools we use to perform day-to-day personal and professional tasks. Exploring Emerging Technologies for Lifelong Learning and Success (#EmTechMOOC) has been created to help adult learners with diverse backgrounds from across the globe discover tools and resources they can adapt to fit their needs in today’s fast-paced world. This article examines how the 4 Cs of 21st Century Skills: communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking are strengthened through #EmTechMOOC. Results from the pilot and the improvements that have been made are also addressed.
London School of Economics and Political Science, Mar 4, 2021
For many researchers, 2020 will have been the first year in which they have attended any virtual ... more For many researchers, 2020 will have been the first year in which they have attended any virtual academic events. In this cross-post Gina Sipley reflects on the advantages and disadvantages of virtual conferences and whether they may become a permanent fixture of the post-pandemic university.
This study explores lurking as a literacy practice and poses two questions: In what ways do so-ca... more This study explores lurking as a literacy practice and poses two questions: In what ways do so-called Facebook lurkers use neighborhood groups to engage in literacy practices? What gratifications are sought when individuals choose to lurk and engage in these literacy practices in Facebook neighborhood groups? A community mapping of the literacy practices of NYC suburban neighborhood Facebook groups was conducted by 203 participants, and 18 of those participants were interviewed. Through lurking, participants sought to gratify desires to (1) understand a divergent point of view, (2) verify information, (3) suppress the spread of information, (4) pivot to offline social action, (5) advance professionally, and (6) maintain quality of community life. The study also introduces the concepts of receptive reading, participatory restraint, and protective curation as ways of reading that individuals engage in while gratifying these desires.
Innovation is a trendy term in education today. Everyone from school administrators to parents to... more Innovation is a trendy term in education today. Everyone from school administrators to parents to edtech companies seems eager to foster the next generation of innovators- particularly among young women. Although most of their attention centers on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields, there is a growing movement toward reconceptualizing this term as STEAM, with the A referring to the influences of art and design. This emphasis on art opens up new ways of thinking about how young women innovate and how such innovations are portrayed in literature.The "problem" of women in technology fields is a growing concern because there are fewer women entering these fields today than there were 30 years ago (Gardner). In 1971, art historian Linda Nochlin famously wondered, "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?" Nochlin argues that it is both the concept of greatness and the definition of art itself that must be reconsidered to contextualize the r...
The primary goals of media literacy are laudable: active and critical thinking about the messages... more The primary goals of media literacy are laudable: active and critical thinking about the messages we receive and the messages we create. In practice, media literacy standardizes limited ways of knowing and normalizes built-in biases. Subsequently, its narrow emphasis on skill development, particularly the role of fact-checking, content creation, and independent research are all practices that can be exploited, oftentimes leading to the amplification of misinformation. Homogeneous media literacy also assumes that platforms are neutral – codifying a dominant, neoliberal, racist lens as a competency. Social media literacy in particular assumes the norms of proprietary algorithms, arming users with the skills determined by Silicon Valley’s corporate, individualist, white supremacist values. Contemporary high school curricula teaches students to ably brand and promote themselves; adept meme creators are rewarded for racial appropriation and fungible performances of Blackness; vanity metr...
Although mythologized as a fringe or deviant behavior, ‘lurking,’ or passive participation in an ... more Although mythologized as a fringe or deviant behavior, ‘lurking,’ or passive participation in an online group, has become a regular part of the way we lead our lives online. My IRB approved dissertation research, which will be completed by AoIR 2020, will examine ‘lurking’ in neighborhood Facebook groups. Through community mapping and interviews of Facebook users enrolled in the same neighborhood Facebook group, this study seeks to describe both the ‘lurker’ literacy practices of Facebook group users and to understand if and how the features of the Facebook social media platform encourage these literacy practices. Given that neighborhood groups are intended for people who live in the same geographic area, there is a likelihood that many members of the group may know one another offline and in real life. Since ‘lurkers’ are groups that are typically not included in academic studies, this research will have broad appeal to scholars across the social sciences. When scholars only examin...
Technology changes more rapidly today than in any other point in human history. These changes aff... more Technology changes more rapidly today than in any other point in human history. These changes affect the tools we use to perform day-to-day personal and professional tasks. Exploring Emerging Technologies for Lifelong Learning and Success (#EmTechMOOC) has been created to help adult learners with diverse backgrounds from across the globe discover tools and resources they can adapt to fit their needs in today’s fast-paced world. This article examines how the 4 Cs of 21st Century Skills: communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking are strengthened through #EmTechMOOC. Results from the pilot and the improvements that have been made are also addressed.
London School of Economics and Political Science, Mar 4, 2021
For many researchers, 2020 will have been the first year in which they have attended any virtual ... more For many researchers, 2020 will have been the first year in which they have attended any virtual academic events. In this cross-post Gina Sipley reflects on the advantages and disadvantages of virtual conferences and whether they may become a permanent fixture of the post-pandemic university.
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