CMST 301

PART 2: WEEK 1 DISCUSSION

WELCOME to the discussion for WEEK 1. Please respond in complete sentences for each question, unless directed to do otherwise, demonstrating in your reply that you have read the material in order to receive full credit. There are three topics in Part 2 (please respond to ALL).

Topic 1: Digital Media

This week, you watched Digital Nation: Life on the Virtual Frontier Chapter 1: Distracted by Everything and Chapter 2: What’s It Doing to Their Brains?

Discussion:
Professor Turkle believes that students are wrong to think that a “multitasking learning environment” will help them succeed as students. She believes that in order to learn certain things, we need to be still, quiet and focused on one thing at a time.
Question #1:
Do you agree with the professor’s opinion? Is it possible to 

learn
 while multi-tasking? Why or why not? 
NOTE: The focus here is 

learning and multitasking
 while using digital media.

Topic 2: Digital Media’s Impact on Society

Discussion:

This week you read “Intersection of American Media and Culture”, which explained how different technological transitions have shaped media industries.

Question #1: How has technological developments in radio, television, the Internet, 
OR newspaper (
SELECT ONE) influenced mass communication? Support your response. 

Topic 3: 
Digital Future
This week you read 
Digital Life in 2025 by Janna Anderson and Lee Rainie.

Discussion:
Anderson and Rainie summarized 15 theses about the digital future of which eight were classified as more hopeful.
Question #1: 
Which
 ONE of the eight ”
hopeful” theses do you see as the 
most hopeful? 
Explain your choice.

Minimum Topic Response: 
PLEASE RESPOND IN THREE OR MORE SENTENCES PER TOPIC.

NOTE 2: Please make sure you answer EACH item and LABEL each item (#1, #2, #3, etc) so that I can easily check that each item has been answered.


NOTE 4: 
After posting your response, please review it to ensure it is 
formatted correctly and is 
easy to read.

Please find below the content and items you need to read this week.

1.

Digital Life in 2025

 (web page)

2.

Intersection of American Media and Culture

 (web page)

3.

How Did We Get Here? The Evolution of Media

 (web page)

Please find below the content and items you need to watch this week.

4.

Digital Nation: Life on the Virtual Frontier – Chapter 1: Distracted by Everything

PBS Online Video Documentary Series – Chapter 1 (00:00 – 08:28 minutes | closed captioned)

5.

Digital Nation: Life on the Virtual Frontier – Chapter 2: What’s It Doing to Their Brains?

(PBS Online Video Documentary Series – Chapter 2 (08:29 – 16:05 minutes | closed captioned) 
Note: Start the video, then navigate to the 8:29-minute mark.

6.