This assignment started out by completing the unit 11 review sheet. After this, we had to continue working on our term project, and write a document explaining the work we have done so far on it. We had to include a screenshot of the journals for this unit. Finally, we had to upload both the review sheet and the term project document to canvas through an assignment link.
Per usual, the review sheet was cumulative, so I had to fill out the pages for units one through ten before tackling unit 11. However, once I got to unit 11, it first asked me to “Identify two positive effects of Internet use on cognitive, health, or psychological aspects of aging”.
My first effect I listed was that internet use showed a quantitative association with cancer-preventive behaviors, including CRC screenings, weekly physical activity, less smoking, and eating more fruits and vegetables. These type of behaviors can help maintain positive health and allow people to live longer lives! The second answer I included was that older individuals who use the Internet more have higher perceptions of self-efficacy than those who use the Internet rarely or not at all. So, they believe in themselves and in their abilities, which is a very important psychological strength to have!
The next thing the review sheet asked me was to identify two positive effects of Internet use on child development. My first answer was that according to the UNICEF abstract, digital technology can be beneficial for children’s social relationships. Moderate use can also have a positive effect on mental well-being. Having better relationships and feeling better about oneself are definitely bridges to more positive developmental outcomes! My second was that according to the Przybylski and Weinstein’s (2017b) article, they suggest that moderate amounts of screen time are related to increased emotional attachment to parents, as well as positive affect. Both of these are favorable outcomes and can lead to other positive things throughout their development.
Moving on to the term project document, I explained as usual that my term project is a daily journal in which I itemize the course content along with providing detailed reflections. It is an example of the whole course option, and I do this through the medium of a blog, on the Word Press website.
As far as the work I have done so far, I have created 64 separate blog posts. I make at least one post every day, and each post is specifically tied to an assignment we have. I usually go over what we were required to do, what I learned from the different materials, and how I felt about various aspects of the assignment.
Currently, I am fully caught up to where we are in the course. It is nice to know that all of my hard work has allowed me to finally catch up to the current unit and assignment! At the bottom of the document, I included a screenshot of the blogs I had done in this unit thus far.
Reflecting on this assignment, it was the same old assignment 6 I am used to. The review sheet is always a nice way to reflect on some of the key points from the current unit. It is also nice to brush up on some of the major information from previous units. I feel more and more confident each week that I will retain a lot of the information that is included in the review!
As for the term project document, this also holds the same structure as usual. It is a nice way to document all the progress I have made at least, because I really have put in so much work for it throughout each week and the semester in general!
I know that each week, my blog for assignment 6 seems to get shorter, but this is only natural. It is quite hard to come up with new reflections when the assignments are so identical. I do not mind the assignment each week, but it does not really leave me with anything new that I can share with anyone who is reading this.
Nicky's Blog 