Visitor vs Resident
Technology is just a part of our daily lives now. Even my 80+ year old grandparents text me and send money through Zelle. It has been interesting to reflect on how I personally use technology through the lens of David White’s Visitor vs Resident Model. White’s theory helps people see how they utilize technology. There are two categories discussed in White’s model. The first is being a visitor in relation to technology. A person is considered a visitor when they use an online tool for a specific purpose in a particular moment. An example of this would be searching for a recipe in order to make dinner. On the other hand a resident is someone who uses the internet as a means of communication. If we were using our dinner example again, a resident might blog about the food they are making, or comment on the recipe to engage with others. Throughout peoples days and lives they can swing between visitors and residents. Some people could also have a different online presence between their personal and professional lives.
My Digital Map
When discussing digital mapping with my husband, he chuckled at my assignment for grad school this week. He knows that for the last couple years I have shied away from having an online presence. He was worried I would have a blank map.
As you can see my map is not blank. I am ashamed to admit that I am that person that is not sure how they would survive without their iPhone. I feel like I use it all day for one reason or another.
Upon reflection, I quickly realized I tend toward the visitor’s side of White’s model in both my personal and professional lives. I utilize the internet and most of my apps to accomplish a task or answer a question.
In my personal life, this ranges from quick google searches to answer questions, to online banking, and checking on the score of my favorite baseball team (Go Guardians!). The only times I noticed I veer into the resident side was when I use the Tiny Beans App to post pictures of my daughter so my extended family can see them each day or text messages and facetime with family and friends. The only opportunity I take to personally post in a global setting is tracking the books I finish on Goodreads.
Professionally, the sites and apps I use tend more towards the resident side of my map. I interact with students on Google Classroom, email colleagues, and use shared Google documents to plan and communicate with my team. Since beginning EDU 776, I have also taken to Twitter and blogging. I have enjoyed using Twitter as a quick way to keep in touch with parents about what is happening in sixth grade.
What does my map tell me?
While in my personal life I don’t think I am ready to make any changes and am happy sticking in the visitor side of the map, I do think it is time for me to branch out more professionally. Taking EDU 776, is opening my eyes to the resources and networking opportunities available outside of my district. I feel like I have already learned from my classmates blogs, and I am simultaneously nervous and excited about my first Twitter chat. I am hoping this class gives me the confidence to put my ideas out there and interact with teachers throughout the world.
Personal Image
Resources
Iphone hand screen - free photo on Pixabay. (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2022, from https://pixabay.com/photos/iphone-hand-screen-smartphone-apps-410311/
Hi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your husband. I, too, thought my map would be relatively empty, or the icons would be so tiny that a person would have to zoom in to the max to see them. Like you, technology is a major part of my personal and professional life. Between having a digital or paper copy of anything, I choose digital most of the time (e.g., ebooks over printed books or digital planners over paper planners). I am also excited about the change of dipping my toes more on the resident side of my digital space that is not connected to my coworkers or classmates.
Another Goodreads user, Yay! My reading challenge is 50 books this year. My goal is usually more, but I knew I would be busy this year. I have read 42 books so far, so I should pass my goal. I am a member of a few discussion groups, but I am more of a visitor than a resident. Have you joined any groups, and if so, are you a visitor or resident?