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AI in Education
Social interaction is unparalleled. Virtual and physical environments need a human touch for people to feel engaged, cared about, and satisfied with their experience. However, artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming the norm. Robots with preprogrammed scripts and answers to questions are readily available on every website, generating a cost-effective option for personalized service. These computer-generated…
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Information Literacy: a Review of Assimilation Theory
I am passionate about information literacy. It is intricately related to media consumption, and most people do not understand how their comprehension of the legitimacy of the media they consume impacts their lives. For the first blog entry for INSC542, Social Informatics, I have chosen to write about how information literacy impacts society. It is…
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Bruce Bennett Sculpture Practicum Report
Winter/Spring 2023 Practicum ReportMargaret Allison RobertsWinter/Spring 2023Bruce Bennett Sculpturewww.brucebennettmarble.com INTRODUCTION This opportunity provided learning and relearning the inner workings of an online art business. The tasks involved were photographing and cataloging the art, setting up a website, social media, and an online store, and redesigning the website. The bigger vision was to take it to…
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Communication and Persuasion
Communication is transmitting or exchanging information. Beyond the initial exchange, we find many types of communication. Be it binary, visual, or audible, we use signals to decode, compile, formulate, and decide, making communication the most crucial aspect of living. Cialdini’s 2009 article illustrates the turkey’s mothering behavior as an example of the squeaky wheel, which…
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Spiral of Silence and Social Media
Margaret Allison Roberts University of Tennessee, Knoxville CMST 526 – Spring 2022 Dr. Michael Kottwitz May 6, 2022 My focus is on The Spiral of Silence and social media. Current communications studies investigate the tendency not to voice opinions if they are perceived as being against the majority publicly; this tendency is called “The Spiral…
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Resisting Persuasion: Nuts and Change
CMST 526: SOCIAL INFLUENCE, PERSUASION, AND COMPLIANCE-GAINING Resisting Persuasion Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut McGuire’s (1961) Inoculation theory reveals that resistance to future challenges to attitudes and beliefs has defenses against potential threats. In this motivational strategy, arguments must be strong enough to support current views but weak enough not to make the receiver…
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Thinking About Bats
One morning, while walking Otis, I was fortunate to have a group of bats setting in for the day. The formation was astounding. Their dance was chaotic and graceful as they swirled around, preparing to go in and rest as we were all just waking. It was a fantastic start to my day. When I…
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Blah, blah, blogging
I’m not particularly verbose. I’ve been thinking about things to write but not starting them and talking myself out of writing, thinking people won’t be interested or what I write is silly or naive. What do people like to read about? Do bloggers write for themselves or pick a topic others are interested in? My…