I recently watched “Visitors and Residents” by Dave White, a professor at Oxford. I found this video quite interesting. White discusses the Visitor/Resident theory regarding how individuals use technology. On opposite ends of the spectrum lie visitors and residents. The visitor is one who uses the internet as a tool, to be accessed only when needed. The visitor goes online, does what he needs to do, and logs off; leaving no trace of a social persona online. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the resident who lives part of their life online. The resident has created an online identity and constantly develops it. This presence stays online even when the resident is logged off. Residents see the internet as a large community, and view themselves as part of it.
After viewing the video, I have come to the conclusion that I lie closer to the visitor end of the continuum because I use the internet as a tool. I use it in my personal life only when I need to. For example, I have a Facebook account that I use only to communicate with family and friends. I post pictures periodically but I do not provide much detail about my personal life. I like that White describes the visitor as no more or less technically adept than the resident. I know how to use the tools to enhance my online presence but I just don’t want to.
Before this course (EDSS 521) I had never thought about establishing a professional online identity. I also didn’t see value in social media sites (Twitter, Pinterest, etc). However now that I have entered the profession of teaching I have actually used these sites to borrow and share ideas for my classroom. I see great value in the ability to connect with fellow educators at the touch of a button. I see the web as a boundless community of teachers and students willing to exchange information. Am I a resident? Not yet. My professional online identity is a work in progress. I’m still a visitor but before long I hope to be a resident.
Source:
White, D. (2013, May 31). Visitors and Residents. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sFBadv04eY
After viewing the video, I have come to the conclusion that I lie closer to the visitor end of the continuum because I use the internet as a tool. I use it in my personal life only when I need to. For example, I have a Facebook account that I use only to communicate with family and friends. I post pictures periodically but I do not provide much detail about my personal life. I like that White describes the visitor as no more or less technically adept than the resident. I know how to use the tools to enhance my online presence but I just don’t want to.
Before this course (EDSS 521) I had never thought about establishing a professional online identity. I also didn’t see value in social media sites (Twitter, Pinterest, etc). However now that I have entered the profession of teaching I have actually used these sites to borrow and share ideas for my classroom. I see great value in the ability to connect with fellow educators at the touch of a button. I see the web as a boundless community of teachers and students willing to exchange information. Am I a resident? Not yet. My professional online identity is a work in progress. I’m still a visitor but before long I hope to be a resident.
Source:
White, D. (2013, May 31). Visitors and Residents. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sFBadv04eY