As the course comes to its end, it is time for reflection about my experience and contribution. Starting this course, I had a limited knowledge about technologies and digital culture but a willing to learn as much as I could. Learning about cybercultures, community cultures and algorithmic cultures gave me a starting point to explore more about the world of digital cultures generally.
Through these 10 weeks, trying to find sources, to give reasoned answers and broaden my mind, I had to face the dilemma if the sources I found were reliable. I had to put myself in a researcher’s perspective which made me question myself in every step. However, I can definitely say that I have learned a lot and I can use the guidance I have received for the exploring I want to do in the future. What was very useful is the constant communication with the other students and the professor. A great way for feedback and self- evaluation and reflection. In cases like mine, where the previous knowledge is limited, talking with other people offers new resources and ideas that I could explore.
About the 3 blocks
Through my assignment and after the course, I would like to learn more about Artificial Intelligence. AI is a topic that triggered me and I would like to explore further. I believe that it will affect the education soon and I would like to be ready to use it as effectively as I can. It is still difficult to realise the rapid evolution of AI and what this could mean for the humans. But through the course, I gained the knowledge I need in order to base the rest of my research.
Through the 4 weeks of community cultures, I faced the reality that a digital community has the same power as the physical community. They have the same principals and the same dangers. By participating in a MOOC, I saw people talking about cyber bulling and human rights. As a researcher, I had to think carefully about how I used the data of the participants in my micro-ethnography without exposing them. How I can protect the rights of these people and of all the people that eventually will take part in another research. Also, there are other ethical issues that we need to consider not only as researchers, but as members of the digital community.
Finally, the algorithmic culture, brought me in front of a truth that I ignored; or I hadn’t given it much thought. Algorithms are everywhere around us. We know that they exist, but we don’t have an insight about them. However, they affect our lives and control our preferences and probably in the near future the way we live. Through these 3 weeks, I explored a small part of the theory linked with the algorithms and I found the need to learn more and understand what an algorithm is, how it works and what impact can have in our daily life.
Finishing the course, I realise that I have learned more than what I expected, but I also a totally new world has opened in front of me to explore.
