Exploring Technology's Impact on Emotions

Feb 24, 2025

Week 5 Lecture Summary - APD 5017

Key Themes

  1. Emotional Impact of Technology & Social Media

    • Understanding how technology and play affect emotional development.
    • Exploring the psychology behind social media usage.
    • Impact of design in technology on emotions and thinking.

  2. Design and Technology

    • Influence of gamification and design on user behavior.
    • Cultural impacts of technology use.
    • Investment of time in technology use and its effects on emotions.

  3. Technology in Learning

    • Integrating technology and social media into learning environments.
    • Various approaches to embedding social media and games in educational settings.

  4. Social Media and Identity

    • Exploration of social media’s role in creating personal identities.
    • Reflecting on social media biographies to understand interaction and bias.
    • Complexity of personal identities intertwined with technology.

  5. Social Media and Adolescent Development

    • Impact of social media on adolescent identity formation and agency.
    • Reflection on personal experiences with social media during adolescence.

Important References

  • NPR Podcast: "Would You Kill a Robot?"

    • Explores the role of robots in human lives and empathy.
    • Raises questions about human-machine emotional connections (e.g., movie "Her").

  • Clarke 2016 Meta-analysis

    • Comprehensive literature review on gaming and learning.
    • Useful for understanding game design’s impact on learning.

  • Turkey Article

    • Bridges gap between potential and implementation of digital games in learning.
    • Three pedagogical approaches: cognitive, social, cultural.
    • Important questions for integrating games into instruction.

  • TED Talk on Technology Design

    • Emphasizes the importance of design in maintaining engagement and flow.
    • Discusses three radical changes: persuadability, new accountability models, design renaissance.

Discussion Points

  • Use of robots in classrooms for empathy and emotional learning.
  • Identifying gaps in technology, play, and social media research.
  • Curation of technology content to aid adolescent development.
  • Digital footprint and its implications on privacy and data permanence.

Final Thoughts

  • Consider the role of robots in education and their utility in emotional assessment.
  • Reflect on potential research gaps in the interaction of technology, play, and social media.
  • Rethink curating social media content to support adolescent growth.
  • Evaluate the permanence of digital data and its impact on personal interactions with technology.

These notes encapsulate the key points discussed in Week 5. Focus on understanding these concepts and apply them to your final projects. Reach out if you have questions on assignments.