Technology Blog #1: Developing a Connected Learning Model and why it applies to my major

Forever 21 and Zara are two popular fashion retailers, each with distinct approaches to online shopping and overall user experience. Forever 21 has a visually cluttered and difficult-to-navigate website. The homepage features too many options, with text and images competing for attention, which can overwhelm the user. The layout isn’t particularly cohesive, and product categories are often hard to find. The search functionality is subpar, making it difficult for users to quickly find specific items. Furthermore, the site has some issues with responsiveness, particularly on mobile devices, which can lead to a frustrating shopping experience. The checkout process can also feel clunky, with several steps and unnecessary fields that may confuse users. While the prices are generally affordable, the site’s poor design and user experience make shopping feel less enjoyable. On the other hand, Zara offers a much more polished and user-friendly website. The layout is clean and modern, with h...

Chapter 3 of The Connected Educator: Learning and Leading in a Digital Age is "Learning to Learn" and states that real change in education starts with conceptualizing oneself as a learner prior to conceptualizing oneself as an educator. Chapter 3 starts with anecdotes of how early, informal learning experiences sparked a lifelong passion for independent learning. It argues that knowledge cannot be trapped in old walls but is conceived as a free-flowing, ongoing process from love and curiosity. The main points argued are the necessity to construct knowledge, the need to "unlearn" previous assumptions, and the need to embrace new modes of thinking that are responsive to an interdependent, global world. In short, in order to be a successful 21st-century teacher, one has to first become an eternal learner. Applying this to the practice of college student affairs, Chapter 3's focus on learning is one that closely relates to the daily practice of student affairs prof...

GroupMe is a free group messaging app that allows users to create, join, and manage group chats via smartphone or desktop. It's commonly used for quick, organized communication in academic, social, and professional settings. GroupMe supports text, images, GIFs, polls, calendar events, and file sharing, making it a versatile tool for collaboration. Users can mute chats, react to messages, and create subgroups for more focused conversations within larger communities. As a student, I would use GroupMe to coordinate with classmates on group projects, study sessions, and assignment reminders. It serves as an informal, real-time communication channel that helps foster collaboration outside the classroom. As a higher education professional in college student affairs, I would use GroupMe to engage student leaders, share event updates, and maintain ongoing communication with peer mentors or orientation teams. It’s particularly helpful for reaching students where they are—on their phones—a...

  https://youtu.be/4jhaWVN6_YM?si=A_uyzLWijOXk5Qr8 Here is my video! I had to post as a youtube link as it was too long.