When I first heard the term Digital Mapping, I am not going to lie, I was not sure how this was going to go. First I looked up some examples and videos about digital mapping. I also found that this video was very helpful when trying to design my own digital map. I also thought that “I don’t use technology that much”. WRONG! I used several apps throughout my day for personal usage and professional usage. When I was writing down all of the apps I was using and for what purpose over a few days, I could not believe the apps that I was clicking on for professional use and then personal use.
Image Source: Deanna Mulay, https://mulaydtechnology.blogspot.com/2020/09/digital-mapping.html
Personal Use:
Diving into my personal use, most of my apps that I use to watch videos, movies, or TV shows, such as Netflix and YouTube, I am a visitor because I do not post any videos. I am also a visitor when it comes to searching topics on Google and even buying products off of Amazon, and even using PayPal for other products that I buy off of the internet. As I was looking at my apps, I really was not surprised that I am a visitor or that I use these apps on weeknights or weekends. I am busier in the day and most of these apps do not relate to my professional life, so that is why they are not in the professional quadrant.
I was also not surprised that my emails (Gmail and Yahoo), messaging apps, and Snapchat were in the resident quadrant. I am very active when using my emails. I do look at my emails, but oftentimes they need a response or I am the person sending out emails. This also holds true with text messages and Messenger. I respond and send messages to others. I use all of these apps daily. I also would consider Snapchat as a messaging tool for myself. I really only send out messages to a few friends. I use Snapchat less than all of the other apps on my phone, however I still use it about 4 times a week.
The apps that I was in between a visitor and a resident were Facebook and Instagram. I post to Facebook and Instagram daily with photos of my dogs or my family. I also comment on other people’s posts and add likes to their photos. When I first started to do my digital map, I thought for sure I was a “full-time” resident, but I realized that some days I will just scroll on both apps and visit, while other times I am an active participant. When I visit, I am looking for a recipe or for new articles. I also found that I am more active on both Facebook and Instagram more on weeknights and weekends as well.
Professional Use:
When I first started thinking about the apps for professional use, I thought to myself, “There’s going to be so many! It’s going to be hard to squeeze everything in the quadrants.” I quickly realized that I do not use as many apps professionally as I do personally. Again I began to think about visitor and resident for my professional apps. I was not too surprised at Google, the Google Docs, Slides, Spreadsheet, Forms, and Pinterest that I was a visitor on. For me, I use Google to research different lesson plans/ideas as well as using Pinterest. Google Docs, Slides, Spreadsheet, and Forms are used by the administrators to send out information to us, but I have never used it because I am a Long-Term Substitute (I forward those types of messages to the classroom teacher).
I was actually surprised how much I use Twitter now because I recently downloaded it. I did not realize how quickly I became a resident. I really thought that I was more of a visitor on Twitter. I tend to focus on the teaching sources on Twitter than any other app on my phone. I retweet those articles and also make comments. It is rare that I go on Twitter just to read an article, I found that I go there to share and be active with different topics. I also now use Blogger more than I have ever used it before. Sharing my ideas with others has really helped open my eyes to the world of teaching, but I also look to help other teachers who would like to learn more about different topics. I have also been using SeeSaw, especially with Covid-19. I am a resident because I send the students an assignment and I am able to write directions, expectations, model for students, etc. When the students post their work, I am then able to respond to them using the text feature or sending a voice comment.
One app that I have found that I use for work and personal use is YouTube. I look up videos to show students, but I also use it for my own enjoyment. Though the two ways that I use this app are very different, I find that this app allows me to search for answers for questions I may have and it also allows for fun and engaging videos for all ages.
Lately, I have been using Zoom for meeting with the students, but also going to staff meetings as well. I also use Gmail professionally as well. Both of these apps I put in between visitor and resident. I am a visitor on Zoom and Gmail because I go to staff meetings for information and other staff members send me information through Gmail. I am a resident on Zoom because I am teaching the students and doing most of the talking rather than listening. I also respond to emails on Gmail, but I also send out emails to parents and other teachers to ask questions, give updates, etc.
I loved mapping out my digital space in four quadrants. It gave me a new perspective on how I use the internet and how many times I use it as well. Overall, I thought I was balanced between the visitor and resident sections of my digital map. While I was looking at the apps that I use on my phone over a few days, I found that I was more active at night rather than the daytime, including weekends. I am not too surprised at my digital map. I am more surprised that I did not have more professional apps that I use. My digital map has helped me become aware of the apps I use and how often I use them. It has also helped me realize that I need to start paying attention to apps that will help me grow as a professional.
