1. Technology and Communication Concerns
IPR B w Mrs. Terrell

2. Article: Is technology harming our communication skills
Article: Is technology harming our communication skills? Editorial Staff Northern-Iowan.org
Published: Thursday, April 8, 2010
Updated: Thursday, April 8, :04
We live in a world where communication through modern technology is prominent.  Everywhere you go, people are texting, ing, writing blogs, tweeting and using Facebooking.  It's hard to take two steps on the University of Northern Iowa campus without seeing someone using their phone or the Internet to connect with others. According to the 2009 Digital Future Report, 80 percent of Americans use the Internet.  The article also included that Internet users spend an average of 17 hours a week online.  The report noted "24 percent of American households have at least three computers. Not surprisingly, the percentage of households with no computers continues to decline; in the current study only 15 percent of homes in America do not have a computer."  That's a lot of people communicating online instead of speaking face-to-face.  How many times have you been sitting at home on your computer or phone instead of talking to your family or roommates? We have become a society that is completely dependent on our technology to communicate.  It is almost impossible for us to maintain our work life and social life without using some sort of modern-day technology to communicate ideas.

3. Can you imagine going a whole week without checking your Facebook or accounts?  Would you feel totally out of the loop?  Would you feel like you had no clue what was going on with your friends, family, classes or job?  Sadly, the answer is probably yes.  Of course this use of technology can be good — it provides us with faster and more efficient ways to communicate with others, but it is also harming our ability to communicate with people face-to-face, and sometimes, it impacts our ability to write properly. First and foremost, technological communication may be affecting our ability to express our ideas clearly.  When you are constantly using abbreviations and slang in texts and online chats, it is hard to remember to use proper grammar when writing formal s, letters or papers.  Technology can also harm our communication skills at work and in school.  It may be degrading our ability to speak publicly and write formally.  Think of how many professors or bosses have probably received a "cuz," "l8ter" or "cya" in an .  Technology can also harm our ability to deal with conflict.  These days, when you have a problem with someone, you can just send them an or Facebook message, rather than confront them face-to-face and tell them what's wrong.  Many people in society are beginning to take the easy way out when it comes to conflict.

4. Finally, technology can damage our personal relationships
Finally, technology can damage our personal relationships.  When we spend so much time on our computers and phones, we lose real connection with others. According to atechnologysociety.com, "we make calls on our mobiles and together send literally billions of text messages every year. We take the availability of others – and ourselves – for granted."     Instead of having a pleasant conversation with our family, friends or significant others, we are gluing our eyes to our computer screens. Sure technology has its benefits, but we need to take a step back and realize what it is doing to our skills and relationships.   

5. Answer the following questions in your journal or submit these slides on canvas
Identify 3 points that are being made in this article to support the decline of communication due to technology. 1. 2. 3.
Are there any benefits to today’s technology in the area of communication?

6. Look back through your social media, e-mail, twitter, or texting.
What accounts do you have?
How often do you use your technology accounts, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, seldom?
Who do you talk with the most using these accounts?
What words do you tend to abbreviate the most when responding by texting or twitter?

7. Do you see Facetime or Skype as staying around?
What will future verbal technology look like?
Do you feel they can be a substitute for face to face communication?
Some believe that the current generation has lost the art of “true communication” or being present in a conversation. Do you agree or disagree?

8. Design a phone message to the following contact concerning an inquiry about the following add in the newspaper.
Beautiful AKC Standard Poodle Pups, Championship bloodlines, white or cream, $750 Family loved and raised. Ready now
Hello…

9. You just heard that your best friend’s year long relationship has had a dramatic end. Describe how you will communicate with them your interest, frustration, and concern. Will you simply call? What will you start the conversation with? Will you tweet and who will you tweet? What would the tweet say? Will you text and if so how will you start the text? Describe your response.

10. Expressing frustration over an issue that you feel deeply hurt by is not always easy. Often we have trouble separating the facts from our opinions. Imagine the Kendallville is to do away with the Apple Festival and you personally have attended this event since you were a small child. Write a letter to the editor which express reason why this upsets you and reasons why this should not happen.

11. Business E-mail Protocol
has changed how businesses communicate with each other. As helpful as has become it has also created many issues. The following article list 75 hacks that make business a problem. Read through the list and make your own top 10 Business Mistakes. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
10.

12. More on s!
The video to the right is designed for college students. Simply move your mouse over the bottom of the video and click on the arrow. The video points out a number of helpful suggestions when writing a well structured . Watch the video and then compose an to concerning a question about a missing assignment you may have or telling me you have completed this e-learning activity. I will be giving you a grade on the proper format mentioned in the video.
This will complete the e-learning assignment.