Technology is a big part of my everyday life as a college student and future teacher. I use the internet to find information, complete assignments, and communicate with others. However, I never really thought about how much computer algorithms influence what I see online until reading Estee Beck’s article, A Theory of Persuasive Computer Algorithms for Rhetorical Code Studies.
Beck explains that algorithms do more than organize information. They can influence our thoughts and decisions by choosing what information we see. For example, social media apps recommend videos and posts based on our activity. This can be helpful, but it can also limit the different opinions and ideas we see.
As an education student, this topic is important to me because technology is becoming a bigger part of learning. Teachers and students use websites, videos, and online tools to find information and complete schoolwork. However, we should not assume that everything we see online is accurate or tells the whole story.
In my future classroom, I want students to learn how to think for themselves and ask questions about the information they find. I also want them to understand that technology can be helpful, but they still need to use their own judgment. Students should compare sources and think carefully before believing everything they read online.
Overall, Beck’s article helped me realize that algorithms have more influence on our daily lives than we may notice. Understanding how they work can help us make better choices online. As a future teacher, I believe it is important to help students become responsible technology users who can think critically and make informed decisions.
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