Advancing Technology & Digital Lifestyles: Facilitating a Group Independent Study

For my senior capstone project, I facilitated a group independent study (ISP) through Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies at Western Washington University called Advancing Technology and Digital Lifestyles. A small group of students and I critically and creatively analyzed our relationship with technology, and its impacts on the individual, interpersonal relationships, culture, and society. Prior to facilitating, I did research within the fields of cyberpsychology, social psychology, communication studies, and media studies. I am sharing my syllabus and facilitation notes, my final project (two short stories), an annotated bibliography, and a reflection on the group ISP and my process. Here is my course description: In this group ISP, we will be critically and creatively analyzing the relationship between humans and technology. We will be asking questions about impacts of technology and the digital worlds that we are a part of, and how that has affected our culture, our relationship with ourselves, and our relationships with others. Some of our focuses will include: the development of technology and the digital revolution, the ethical use of technology and surveillance, our progression toward a digital utopia or a digital dystopia, the consequences and benefits of engaging with technology, and how social media is influencing our perception of the self and reality.