Author: Nicholas E Ramirez

I.T.M.M.D. Texting

Nicholas E Ramirez

The story I choose to read is “Texting ruins Student’s Grammar Skills.” In many ways I agree with the writer because student are writing without pausing. The create acronyms for . words instead of writing them out.  As the writer states “Recently, the criticism has been articulated in a different way: Digital Technology is ruining student grammar.” While the are texting or posting they are not using their writing skills or articulating what they are writing. Students are not being careful with their grammar and are making mistakes intentionally. Students are butchering grammar harming the next generation and that is a problem. I remember my mom asking me what LMAFO, or ROTF meant and I laughed at her and she explained that the laugh was actually on me. She explained that it was a little careless to write that on a text because we must write as we speak. As explained in the article the author expresses that in so many ways grammar is slowly being deteriorated.

The author feels this is a bad idea because we are loosing the writing skills and explains how complex writing was  and how texting is putting a toll on the writing skills. I also agree with Williams opinion about writers and their expertise. He recognizes that texting and technology does put a toll on their writing skill, but also recognizes that many who have been ranting they are not experts because many rules of grammar lacks practical force.” This is very true because some famous and so call expert writers  fail to notice their own errors when they write. Who knows if the Sumerians created symbols for a reason, and when texting it is a short cut when I write in acronyms. It is not that it is difficult for me to spell, but it is quicker and faster. The Sumerians wrote with symbols and today we text with emojis. I do see a slight issue because some kids will write acronyms when writing but can you imagine a writing assignment with emojis and acronyms. That would most likely drive me insane. The writer makes a valid argument that critique and complaints about kids writing skills is not from now rather it has been an issue since the beginning of time.

What caught my attention when looking through the topics relates to children and their ongoing technological advancement. I laugh at my parents when they do not understand my messages. They get frustrated and correct me but they do not understand that texting just like writing can be just as time consuming and annoying. I also had my bias about texting and the younger generation but after this article I started to carefully analyze that this is generational and it is the new for of writing to communicate and the old timers must learn the new norm. It was a great read and informative as well.

2020-2021 and My social emotional roller coaster.

Nicholas E Ramirez

 

The year 2020 has been a difficult and confusing year since I was an understudy and was very much under pressure from multiple events taking place and deprived of a prom and graduation.  

 

  The Year that life became real…

 

In March 2020, the World Health Organization announced COVID-19 a worldwide pandemic in which I lost an aunt and two teachers I was really close to. Both teachers were great  and helped me grow from the ninth grade to the 11th. In light of Covid-19, numerous nations have applied severe social removing measures and a lockdown strategy. The pandemic genuinely affected schools, students, and educators. Students and educators were not permitted in school building, and most organizations have changed to a web-based instruction and learning approach, which was a roller coaster ride. Subsequent to being confronted with the truth of COVID-19, following measures presented by governments everywhere in the world, and different plans made by schools in consistence with these actions, students and teachers needed to roll out an intense improvement to the new customary educating and learning approach, working and gaining from home. The universe of educating and learning has changed significantly and we ended up depending on innovation to direct talks and other instructing learning exercises. Our universe changed drastically where we were basically forced to utilize innovation and learn programs quickly. Notwithstanding these changes, life goes on, and we need to live with this new reality which is personally alluded to as ‘another ordinary’. At numerous establishments, online contributions incorporated the transferring of learning materials onto learning the executive frameworks, acquisition of PCs for students who did not approach PCs, and the getting of free information to the class materials to guarantee that internet learning didn’t get restrictive to students and teachers as far as expenses. Students and teachers needed to change to this new method of conveyance. It felt as if we were rushing to learn how to speak a foreign language; from Google Meet, Zoom and Edgenuity which were all challenging at the beginning. Getting to know these programs overnight was a nightmare for all stakeholders. 

Advanced communications, including exercises, appraisal errands, commitment with students and virtual council gatherings have become ‘another typical’. As a result of COVID-19, computerized education and qualities that were already hard to address, are being cultivated to assist them with exploring the 21st century. The present circumstance makes learning on the web and mixed learning significantly more important than previously. The instructive issues and arrangements have been alluded to as Panic-gogy—for panic + pedagogy. Frenzy gogy implies understanding students’ pragmatic assets and issues, including the accessibility of gadgets and the web, family obligations, students sent home who need to track down another spot to live, and monetary imperatives. In any case, it likewise implies tending to the subject of how educators will move into this climate with their instructing approaches. The tensions between parents, (my mom was out of control), school administrators, and the chancellor grew strong. I mean what could we expect if those leading us couldn’t get it right.  My experience surfing the new norm was by far the worst experience ever, but the worst was my parents trying to help make the current situation better for my sister and I who were seniors, and a piece of our joy and laughter was stolen from us.

During this extraordinary time, I don’t figure we ought to permit the uncommon open door we presently must have the option to watch progressively what the impacts of social removal can mean for our emotional well-being. Prior to the pandemic, a large number of us were at that point participating in a type of social separating. Maybe not precisely the same way we are currently rehearsing, however, the innovation that we have created over ongoing years has prompted an emotional decrease in our social contact and abilities when all is said in done.

 

The discussion about whether we ought to stay isolated during this time isn’t a contention I am attempting to seek after. All things considered, I am attempting to urge us to see this occasion as an interesting chance to concentrate on what social separation can mean for individuals’ psychological wellness throughout an extensive stretch of time and with sensational outcomes because of the greatness of the recent concern. Despite the fact that Covid-19 is new and new to everybody, the disconnection and detachment we currently face are definitely not. For some, this kind of conduct has effectively been a direction for living for quite a while. In any case, the current circumstance we as a whole presently face has permitted us to acquire individual understanding into how that experience feels because of the current conditions. Mental illness continues to be a pervasive issue all through the world and consequently could be

Community Platform`

Nicholas E Ramirez

Growing up in a technological society where technology is the way of life and how we utilize it for resources, research purposes and the level of accuracy can be a bit confusing with so much information provided when surfing then internet.  I must admit,  that at time I find myself looking up information and clicking on the links in Wiki for guidance. As a kid I use to hear people joke during an argument about information and sarcastically they would say, “let me guess, your source is from wiki.” Meaning that Wikipedia was not always accurate. As a student, my teachers constantly reminded me not to use  Wikipedia because it was not a good resource and that some information was not accurate.  As explained in the article, “My premise for the first is that you are going to use Wikipedia as a source for writing assignments regardless of cautions against it, so it is more helpful to address ways to use it effectively than to ignore it (and ignoring it precludes some potentially beneficial uses of Wikipedia anyway).”  The rules are if you are going to use it regardless to the teachers advise, one should use it to our advantage. The article also explains that, Wipipedia is a good source and way of good writing practices.  As explained in the article  “Thus, this chapter proceeds with the assumption that it Wikipedia Is Good for You!? 207 is useful to consider Wikipedia as both a product (i.e., a source) and a representation of process (i.e., a guide to practices). It is good for you but one must proceed with caution.

As writers and researchers I understand the concerns that Wiki is not always a good source because it has changeability, and as stated in the article that we must be cautious when using wiki as a source. As a result, articles can display incorrect information. The explanation as to why teachers do not like Wikipedia is because the articles shared do not remain the same, anyone can  can write information on wiki without any educational background, therefore they believe that the information is not accurate. Another underlying issue  is that the articles are constantly changing and teachers feel that is not accurate.

Purdy explains the different ways that Wikipedia can be used as a tool to writing a research paper is by reading the information provided which can guide you into writing a good research project, one can make a change to the wiki article which can be beneficial to writing your research topic. It can also be a good tool to help us revise our work. Is WIKIPEDIA a good site I agree with the following quote, “I actually do think Wikipedia is an amazing thing. It is the first place I go when I’m looking for knowledge. Or when I want to create some.” —Stephen Colbert. This knowledge that he talks about is based on people constantly changing what is wrong about the information being shared.  It is a good source and after this article I will continue to use it as a way to guide me when writing my research topic.

 

 

Dr. Google’s Scheme to make us stupid

Nicholas E Ramirez

It is known that societies reliance on Dr. Google and the touch of a button has encouraged us to skim through text instead of carefully reading and analyzing the text without thinking for yourself. This speaks to what Carr states “that having access to infinite knowledge is making us stupid. We are not thinking for ourselves and relying on a machine.  We are not reading rather skimming through article, and books to get to the point of the story. The article specifies about Carrs experience of having focusing issues. Carr believes that it is taking him longer to read because he can’t stay focus.  He has an issue with the fact that we read more but not longer so focusing has become a major problem because of technology and Dr. Google.

Having immediate access to a search engine we loose our sense of thinking and reading process. The reader is not thinking the way they use to think. He states that while reading he no longer gets caught up in the narrative instead his concentration starts to drift after two or three pages. One looses focus and the way society once read a book, novel, article which used to come easy is now a constant struggle to stay focused. Although, Dr. Google has saved the life of our long day because we no longer have to go to a public library and sit there for hours it still making us stupid. Some of the pros is that we save time and it makes life easier to work from home.

It is known that Dr. Google knows it and as soon as you debate someone on a topic they immediately turn to Google to prove their point. However I believe that many people totally rely on a search button or link to gather information without the thought process. Carr argues that “speech is an innate ability that stems from the brain structure, reading is conscious and taught.” This is true because when we are reading we have to read for understanding and the use of google is just feeding us information while also monitoring the information they rendering to us. This s not that difficult to understand because they just want to keep us stupid and affecting how we think. Our brains need to be nurtured and not fed information. We need to learn to think and analyze for ourselves how and what we are reading. I for one rely on google for everything but recently have been reading more because I find that many people I know have even gone to the extent to self diagnose themselves instead of going to a doctors office.

While having access to the internet  as a secondary source is great, one should never rely on it as a primary source.  Many people (including myself) have become so dependent of the resources on the internet we are not realizing that the internet is actually making us stupid and slowing our brains. For example, Carr explains that Bruce Friedman who blogs regularly about computers and medicine says that google has “altered his mental habits,” and explains by saying “I now have almost totally lost the ability to read and absorb a longish article on the web or in print.” He blames the internet for his inability to read for a long period of time. I find that to be dangerous to our minds because we are no longer thinking for ourselves or reading for understanding. We must also understand that this is exactly what the media, technology, and the internet wants to do to us. How the internet monitors the information they render to us is harmful to our brains and keeping us stupid is googles every intentions.

To conclude, I want to say that google is a good form of resource and information, but we can not rely on google as a primary source. We must also nourish our brain by training it to think and staying focus for a longer period of time.

Nicholas E Ramirez

It is known that societies reliance on Dr. Google and the touch of a button has encouraged us to skim through text instead of carefully reading and analyzing the text without thinking for yourself. This speaks to what Carr states “that having access to infinite knowledge is making us stupid. We are not thinking for ourselves and relying on a machine.  We are not reading rather skimming through article, and books to get to the point of the story. The article specifies about Carrs experience of having focusing issues. Carr believes that it is taking him longer to read because he can’t stay focus.  He has an issue with the fact that we read more but not longer so focusing has become a major problem because of technology and Dr. Google.

Having immediate access to a search engine we loose our sense of thinking and reading process. The reader is not thinking the way they use to think. He states that while reading he no longer gets caught up in the narrative instead his concentration starts to drift after two or three pages. One looses focus and the way society once read a book, novel, article which used to come easy is now a constant struggle to stay focused. Although, Dr. Google has saved the life of our long day because we no longer have to go to a public library and sit there for hours it still making us stupid. Some of the pros is that we save time and it makes life easier to work from home.

It is known that Dr. Google knows it and as soon as you debate someone on a topic they immediately turn to Google to prove their point. However I believe that many people totally rely on a search button or link to gather information without the thought process. Carr argues that “speech is an innate ability that stems from the brain structure, reading is conscious and taught.” This is true because when we are reading we have to read for understanding and the use of google is just feeding us information while also monitoring the information they rendering to us. This s not that difficult to understand because they just want to keep us stupid and affecting how we think. Our brains need to be nurtured and not fed information. We need to learn to think and analyze for ourselves how and what we are reading. I for one rely on google for everything but recently have been reading more because I find that many people I know have even gone to the extent to self diagnose themselves instead of going to a doctors office.

While having access to the internet  as a secondary source is great, one should never rely on it as a primary source.  Many people (including myself) have become so dependent of the resources on the internet we are not realizing that the internet is actually making us stupid and slowing our brains. For example, Carr explains that Bruce Friedman who blogs regularly about computers and medicine says that google has “altered his mental habits,” and explains by saying “I now have almost totally lost the ability to read and absorb a longish article on the web or in print.” He blames the internet for his inability to read for a long period of time. I find that to be dangerous to our minds because we are no longer thinking for ourselves or reading for understanding. We must also understand that this is exactly what the media, technology, and the internet wants to do to us. How the internet monitors the information they render to us is harmful to our brains and keeping us stupid is googles every intentions.

To conclude, I want to say that google is a good form of resource and information, but we can not rely on google as a primary source. We must also nourish our brain by training it to think and staying focus for a longer period of time.

Ask Dr. Google

Nicholas E Ramirez

 

It is known that societies reliance on Dr. Google and the touch of a button has encouraged us to skim through text instead of carefully reading and analyzing the text without thinking for yourself. This speaks to what Carr states “that having access to infinite knowledge is making us stupid. We are not thinking for ourselves and relying on a machine.  We are not reading rather skimming through article, and books to get to the point of the story. The article specifies about Carrs experience of having focusing issues. Carr believes that it is taking him longer to read because he can’t stay focus.  He has an issue with the fact that we read more but not longer so focusing has become a major problem because of technology and Dr. Google.

Having immediate access to a search engine we loose our sense of thinking and reading process. The reader is not thinking the way they use to think. He states that while reading he no longer gets caught up in the narrative instead his concentration starts to drift after two or three pages. One looses focus and the way society once read a book, novel, article which used to come easy is now a constant struggle to stay focused. Although, Dr. Google has saved the life of our long day because we no longer have to go to a public library and sit there for hours, it is still making us stupid. Some of the pros is the click of a button and you get a wealth of information in a short period of time. With all this information we as a society are becoming stupid because although we are reading more we are not analyzing and thinking for ourselves.

The author believes that although we are getting information is good but it is harming our brains because we are not reading for understanding anymore instead we are reading to get information. He argues that “reading is conscious and taught” which is the reason why many believe that Dr. Google is stupid and is making people stupid as well. It wants us to maintain stupid without a level of conscious and thinking process and affecting human intelligence.This is dangerous because the internet is monitoring and watching how much information is being shared. An analysis that I would like to make is that the internet is affecting our brains in a negative way. Many people I know are self diagnosing themselves based on the information being rendered. I know teens believing that they have bi polar disorders because of the information they read on the internet. That is the reason why I call it Dr. Google because people rely completely on Google. As for me I am one of those teens but lately I have been trying to stay of the internet and watching what I allow my to process because thinking analytically is important and we nourish our brain with knowledge.

To conclude, I want to say that societies total reliance on Dr. Google is dangerous for us as a whole.  Google  just wants to keep us stupid by monitoring the level of information we receive. I agree that while it is helpful and saves time; it can also be harmful to our brains.

A Technological Revolution

Nicholas E Ramirez

 

 

 

It is a known fact that technology has invaded our social, academic and work life. Computers have taken the place of a teacher, book, processing, and thinking skills. Children are no longer reading and their writing skills are basic and minimal. We are seeing children writing less an less, or a well written piece of writing, many are not even writing an essay and when they get to college their writing skills and reading comprehension is that of a 5th grader. For example Litt explains that “Readers more accustomed to screens-web page; iPhone displays-will scan a page of text for its contents, rather than experience it in a gradual linear top-left to bottom-right way.”  The scanning effect will have a bad effect on sentence structure and proper grammar usage. Litt explain that they will not be equipped with proper grammar usage or even worse they will not be able to comprehend a book written by Henry James.  Most of these classic novels as Litt explains “are gradually ceasing to exist.”  Reading and writing as we know it has gone into exile by the technological evolution. The big question is wheather or not technology has really and truly put the novel into exile where people are no longer reading instead they are entertained by technology. Sitting in a coffee shop reading a novel has become a thing of the past, instead people are in front of a computer relying on a youtube video to explain or listening to an audiobook. Technology is hurting our society where many will not be able to read or write properly. Instead of moving forward with technology it almost feels as if we are not gaining the necessary skills to read or write properly.

Technology has effected many people of the technological revolution because many are no longer reading classical novels that enhance our vocabulary and comprehension skills we are just looking for answers on the internet. Many people I know turn to Mr. Google know to get answers to their comprehension questions, while others are in front of a screen all day playing video games. This has a major effect on society as a whole because we are no linger reading for comprehension or developing critical thinking skills that are extremely important.

This new technological error that has us learning behind a computer is by far the worst freshmen college experience ever. I prefer learning and sitting in a classroom, socially interacting, and learning from a Professor in a lecture hall. Although COVID has a positive effect on the advancement of  technology, I feel that this on line classroom was getting ready to explode internationally. If ever I am asked in the future about the effects of technology and online learning;  my response would definitely be how society became robots  and how we lost our thinking process and writing skills . I agree with Litt when he states that “In the future, all novels will invoke a kind of operative irony; post-whatever-comes-after-what-comes-after-Twitter.”  I thank my H.S. teachers who had us study Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet where we learned the content and the writing skills.  I see many younger students looking up answers instead of using their critical thing. I’m upset with the technological revolution because we as a society will definitely have nostalgia. As Litt stated, “Literature can accommodate nostalgia, but only as a houseguest; if nostalgia becomes the landlord, architect and psychoanalyst, literature will have to evict itself.”  That is serious in the educational process.

 

Our Changing World

Nicholas E Ramirez

We are living in a changing world where people must accept change without hesitation. In the article “The Way We Live Now:11-11-01; Lost and Found,” Colson Whitehead tries to express how your neighborhood changes and progress with you or without you. The author expresses change in NYC and how did it happen so fast. The places you loved are no longer there. Also,  the places you once loved and enjoyed throughout the years are no longer there. Lewis explains that in an ever-changing society people must understand and accept change. As we evolve we must accept the evolution of people and communities, and how we must change our mindset. The overlapping pieces in both stories are focused on sending a clear message that we must accept change in our neighborhoods, cities and states.   Places change and people change and so do communities and we must understand and accept that change is good for society and the people living in those communities..  Historically, Lewis has bared witness to prejudice, racism and injustice in America and he strongly advocated that we must not stop now that we must fight with all that we have. He was eager to relate the message about experiences in America especially as he states “When historians pick up their pens to write the story of the 21st Century, let them say that it was your generation who laid down the heavy burdens of hate at last and that peace finally triumphed over violence, aggression and war.” Lewis was proud of the people and their fight for survival. He sounded proud of his people and wanted to let them know although he is no longer there to witness change that we as a community must continue the fight. We as a generation go down in History as the generation that fought for social change. Similarly to Colson Whitehead, is also letting the reader know that change is ok and we must accept it because  we must remember that we were once “those new kids on the block, but let’s be patient and not judge too quickly.”

In many ways I can relate to both writers but mostly with Colson because change in the NYC I grew up has been inevitable. I live in a gentrified neighborhood where the people who are left are called the “has been.” The street I grew up in is no longer the same, the corner bodega is no longer there, and the neighborhood supermarket is a Whole Foods Supermarket. I related on so many levels as I read because my neighborhood has changed so much. Our neighborhood has been gentrified and we as a community did not see that coming. I can relate because every-time I take a walk in my neighborhood something has changed. The theater that my grand uncle once owned is now a high rise. The memories of my neighborhood and NYC will forever be there in what I consider my childhood memories because the NYC that I grew up in is no longer the same is a beautiful vivd memory of the “has beens.”

 

The Purpose of Education.

Nicholas E Ramirez

It is is known that James Baldwin writes about Black and Brown and the educational system and how oppress we are in the educational system. As a child in the flawed educational system that is designed to keep our minds caged up I was taught that Christopher Columbus was this great explorer who took

all he glory for the Columbus Exchange.  The educational system has taught our children to tolerate oppression, and suppress us through education and the lies history tells us. For example, Baldwin states, “One of the paradoxes of education was that precisely at the point when you begin to develop a conscience, you must find yourself at war with your society. It is your responsibility to change society if you think of yourself as an educated person.” (Baldwin 1) To me the knowledge we obtain is powerful and speaks in volume. Yes, the teacher holds some responsibility on the information we retrieve as children. Being raised in. community with both my parents and educated in a Progressive educational system I was lucky to have teachers who cared enough to teach us the truth about racial inequality, and curriculums that taught us our rights.  To me the educational system teaches young teens false perception of what we believe is true and the educational policies that manage what we learn and what can be taught in schools. A perfect example, Florida Governor Desantis is refusing for Race Theory to be taught in Florida Schools. How can someone be so ignorant to deny that there is racial inequality across America. Many minorities in Florida graduate from High School and accept minimum wage jobs and do not further their education because they are not taught excel. We pledge to the flag of the United States of America yet, we our alienable rights not protected.  

Black and Brown Education in America is so poor that “any negro who is born in this country and undergoes the educational system runs the risk of becoming schizophrenic” (Baldwin page 1) We are part of this country yet, we are taught that it is best accept that whites are better than us, and whites behave the way they do towards black and brown people  because they are taught that they are better than us.  The constitution that was designed to protect the rights of all Americans is faux. All our lives as black and brown children we had to accept that we were less than the dominant culture and we need to understand that the majority of teachers are given this curriculum to teach. Many are taught that Columbus, Slave owners were good men who fought battles and created the Constitution yet, they were slave owners. How inevitable it is for the educational system not to create a major mental health crisis among black and latinos.

Growing up in a diverse community I was taught that the area I lived in was considered “ghetto,” or as stated in the text where the authors explains how we are bred to believe as stated in the text, that “if he lives one of those housing projects of which everyone in New York is proud, he has at the front door, if not closer, the pimps, the whores, the junkies- in a word, the danger of life in the ghetto. And the child knows this, though he doesn’t know why.” (P.2).  Society has taught us or my black and brown brothers and sisters that we are “ghetto”, or low lives depending where you live, and the schools you attend. NYC school system that are among the worst segregated schools in America. As for me it is like the Allegory of a Cave; if you are caged up in a flawed educational system and not taught the truth about our reality then we will stay in that cave forever refusing to see that there is better for us and more to learn.

 

Cultural Appropriation

Nicholas E Ramirez

The topic I will am interested in for my Unit 2 task will be on Cultural Appropriation and how it is affecting the fashion, and entertainment industry. All that has been going on in America where people feel that it is fine to be culturally insensitive I feel that people need awareness. This has my full attention and many need to become aware on what is right and wrong when people are stealing or borrowing culture.  Ito inform want to touch basis on what is Cultural Appropriation, who does it affect and how offensive it is to steal and borrow culture. I want this paper to be both informative and educational.