Week 4

This past week was interesting to me because we talked about websites that I use almost everyday. We discussed "new" media like Twitter and Youtube. On Youtube, Amanda showed us what reliable videos look like. For example, when looking up "Libya Embassy Attack" she told us to pick a video. We then had to explain why we thought it was reliable or not. The video made by the Wall Street Journal was definitely reliable because there was evidence that the Youtube page was legitimate. "The Wall Street Journal" headed the Youtube page and the main page was linked with the actual "Wall Street Journal" website. However, a video on the same topic but involving a man named "Mr. Lawless" was not trustful because it was made by a random man in a paper mask. Anyone can post videos on Youtube but it is important to look for the reliable ones, sometimes made by major news producers. On Twitter, we learned that reliable sources have blue check marks next to their name. The Obama twitter page was an example of a trustworthy source. Tweets from that page can be screenshotted for reference to cite especially because any tweet can disappear at any moment. Opposing Viewpoints was another source showed to us that displayed current events. Towards the end of class, Amanda and Bonnie took us to the Media Commons. I am glad to know about it now because I never knew that that part of the library existed. It seems so simple to make a video for a class project. I know that place will come in handy.
On Thursday, the class had a group discussion. We talked about things that many don't know are copyrighted. The popular "Happy Birthday" song is copyrighted and is technically not supposed to be sung in public. Who would've known? We also talked about many other things like the article we read for class. Some classmates were torn on the subject that we use Google and other technology as a memory source. I think we do. Technology is helpful and other information is just too much for the human brain to handle. Google helps us recall almost irrelevant information that doesn't need to be stored in the human mind until we want to know it.
Overall, this weekend was helpful, useful, and informational. I learned things that I already thought I knew or didn't know.