My Prezi presentation is based on the premise that, as writers, we must constantly evaluate the information we encounter, questioning what it reveals about an individual, group, or culture, at the same time that we must recognize that our own interpretation is inevitably skewed by our own perception. As we respond to and share the information we encounter, we are moving in the direction of progress, though that direction is only one path of many that we have the choice to define.
I have included a cluster of Wordles that reflect the definitions of writing, technology, information, knowledge, and meaning. The purpose of the word clouds is to show how these concepts overlap (for example, “knowledge” appears prominent within the wordle for “information” and so forth). While these wordles illustrate the vastness of concepts associated with each term, we can also use the word clouds to see how associated concepts limit the significance of the terms through definition. My goal moving through the presentation is to show how our use of the technologies in class apply these terms in more significant detail.
Before we can understand why we approach technology as a tool for interaction and for writing, we must have an understanding of where we place ourselves in relation to the groups with which we identify. I have used my memory maps of Rowan to illustrate these groups, or communities, which extend beyond the university.
Next, I transition to my twitter items to discuss the perceptions that affect how I use this tool as a writer. In one respect, twitter moves me beyond the groups defined in my Rowan map by its placement on the internet. Twitter also challenges “traditional” ideas of writing and communication by its character limit and organization. Features such as the “re-tweet” (RT) reinforce our acceptance of characters as symbols as we look for ways around limitations and move forward in communication.
As writers, it is essential we question assumptions to reach new conclusions. I have incorporated quotes to show contradictory opinions across some of the authors we have read and included screenshots of technologies from my work that show how we can, in fact, maintain the social life of information.
While we need to internalize and question independently, collaboration is also essential. I have used the iaoc blog to show a different writing space than twitter, also reinforcing the movement of information as we extract information to support our own work, always with the understanding that readers will fill in the white space.
As a writer, I am always at the end of my current path, which is one without an end. Behind me is the trail of information I have collected and distributed. In front of me is an undefined space of endless possibility.
