Tag: digital

Digital vs Handwritten Notes

An important process in studying and learning is note-taking. Almost every student does it, and it is a practical requirement to pass a class. With the large amounts of information presented in each course, note-taking helps in encoding the information and thus makes it easier to remember. It also produces study materials to refer to later for exams and projects.

TYping (computer)

Typing is a fast and easy way to take the information presented in lectures and textbooks and consolidate them for reference later. But, due to its fast nature, this method leads to the least amount of information retained and will require you to study more later.

The organization is customizable

Limitless folders can be created almost instantly so sorting is as easy as ever. Tags can be applied to files for easy access, sorting, and searching. Each file has a name so it is clear what that file is, and those names can always be changed.

Easy to share

Rather than copying or scanning notes, computers have simple share screens to instantly share with anyone. People can collaborate on the same document like in Google Docs, or files can be emailed and/or texted quickly.

Typing is the fastest

Writing can be time-consuming, especially in a fast lecture. Typing takes the least amount of time so more information can be put on the page and reviewed later.

Import lecture slides

If someone does not want to type out all the information a professor teaches, importing lecture slides is very easy and can be stored on the device.

Backups

Although it is less likely anything bad will happen to a computer since it is more valuable than a notebook, computers can backup manually (or automatically) so that your notes are safe.

Digitally Handwritten (Tablet)

The tablet (and other devices that allow digital handwriting) is a happy medium that has both benefits of the computer and those of paper notes. Sharing and customization are easy and handwriting yields greater retention while the size makes tablets as portable as notebooks.

Portable

Not only is a tablet the size of a notebook (or smaller), but it also takes the place of all of them. All your subjects can be stored on a single device.

Simple and extensive editing capabilities

Handwriting allows you to write anywhere on a sheet and not be restricted by margins or spacing and there are a variety of pen sizes and colours to use. Photos and other elements can be placed anywhere on a page and text wrapping is not a concern. If you want your handwriting to be turned into text, many apps offer that ability.

The organization is customizable

Tablets, and other such devices, offer the same organization options (and sometimes more) as computers.

Easy to share

Sharing is just as easy as with computers.

High retention

Since you are handwriting the notes on the device, there is higher retention and mental processing of the information. This yield to better acquisition of the information and less need for studying later.

Import lecture slides

Storing lecture slides is just as easy and the same as with computers.

Backups

All your notes can be stored on the device or in the cloud. Same as computers.

Paper notes


The standard modality that college students have used for centuries. Paper notes are the most accessible way to take notes. Cheaper than the other two methods, many people utilize paper notes to record information for courses.

Natural feel

Paper is what we all write on. Many aspects of our lives include writing by hand on paper.

Portable

Notebooks are easy to carry and transport. Just so long as there are not too many.

Flexible

There are no restrictions. A page is very flexible in that you can write anywhere on it.

Cheap

Unlike the other options, notebooks can cost only a few dollars or less and pencils/pens are very cheap as well. This is a great option if you do not want to break the bank.

Highest retention

Since you must be very aware of what content you are writing down as well as that erasing is not as easy on say a tablet, there is higher retention of the materials compared to the other modalities discussed.

No distractions

Computers and tablets have notifications and if someone texts you or you get emails on the device, or your favourite game sends an enticing notification to try and get you to play again can cause distractions. This disrupts your flow of learning and breaks your focus. Do Not Disturb is an option, but for a true distraction, a free distraction-free is the best option.

Reference

https://guts.wisc.edu/2020/11/19/pros-and-cons-of-typed-digitally-handwritten-and-paper-notes/

Digital And Text Based Literacy

Meaning And Introduction

The field of literacy studies has made many of us take a deeper look into the similarities and differences between text based and digital literacy. It seems not only through the literature but also by observation as a classroom practitioner that there are certain elements and conflicts between digital literacy and text based literacy that need to be combed through by educators in the field.

One of the most powerful lessons we’ve learned through our work with schools is the importance of doing the work we ask our students to do. Nothing helps us anticipate misunderstandings or understand the strategic support our students will need as much as stepping into their shoes, and doing the reading, writing, and thinking they will do as part of upcoming instruction. The approach to these said instructions is what one may categorize into digital literacy and text based literacy.

Similarities And Dissimilarities

There are a number of similarities between digital and text based literacy, one of them being, both have a common goal, which is, to gather information and communicate effectively. Digital literacy means having the skills you need to live, learn, and work in a society where communication and access to information is increasingly through digital technologies like internet platforms, social media, and mobile devices. While, text literacy is the ability to gather information to communicate using text. The common goal in both the cases is clearly somewhat similar, just the catalyst is different.

From school to the workforce, digital literacy is vital in many areas of life — but simply, having it is an absolute necessity for anyone who uses the internet. Sometimes forms and applications are only available online, so you’ll need to be comfortable accessing and using them. In short, digital literacy is a necessary skill for navigating in our modern, digital world.

Advantages And Disadvantages

Text based literacy has many advantaged over digital literacy. Text based materials are available all the time, regardless of not being in a good internet zone. Text based materials are not as expensive, But its limitation says, they are not as interactive as digital literacy might be. Also, text based literacy works merely on facts and memorization and has zero scope of innovations and ideas, unlike digital literacy.

Cryptocurrency Heist

Programmers behind one of the greatest ever advanced coin heists have presently returned about all of the $610 million (generally Rs. 4,530 crores)-plus they stole, Poly Organize, the cryptocurrency stage focused on prior this week by the assault, said on Thursday. The stage, which was small known some time recently Tuesday’s heist, pronounced the programmer on Twitter as a “white cap,” alluding to moral programmers who by and large point to uncover cyber vulnerabilities, upon the return of the reserves.

Poly Arrange, which encourages peer-to-peer token exchanges, included that the tokens were exchanged to a multi-signature wallet controlled by both the stage and the hacker. The as it were remaining tokens however to be returned are the $33 million(roughly Rs. 245 crores) in tie stablecoins solidified prior within the week by cryptocurrency firm Tie, Poly Organize said.

The reimbursement prepare has not however been completed. To guarantee the secure recuperation of client resource, we trust to preserve communication with Mr. White Cap and pass on precise data to the open,” said Poly Arrange on Twitter. A individual claiming to have executed the hack said Poly Organize advertised him a $500,000 (generally Rs. 3.7 crores) bounty to return the stolen resources and guaranteed that he would not be responsible for the occurrence, agreeing to computerized messages shared on Twitter by Tom Robinson, chief researcher and co-founder of Elliptic, a crypto following firm. Poly Arrange, which permits clients to exchange or swap tokens over distinctive blockchains, said on Tuesday it had been hit by the cyberheist, encouraging the guilty parties to return the stolen stores

The still as however unidentified programmer or programmers show up to have misused a powerlessness within the computerized contracts Poly Arrange employments to move resources between distinctive blockchains, agreeing to blockchain forensics company Chainalysis. On Wednesday, the programmers begun returning the stolen coins, driving a few Blockchain examiners to guess that they might have found it as well troublesome to wash stolen cryptocurrency on such a scale. Later on Wednesday, the programmers said in computerized messages moreover shared by Elliptic that they had executed the assault “for fun” and needed to “uncover the defenselessness” some time recently others could abuse it which it was “continuously” the arrange to return the tokens.

At $600 million (generally Rs. 4.460 crores), in any case, the Poly Organize burglary distant surpassed the record $474 million (generally Rs. 3,520 crores) in criminal misfortunes that were enrolled by the whole decentralized fund (DeFi) division from January to July, concurring to crypto insights company CipherTrace. The burglary outlines the dangers of the for the most part unregulated DeFi segment, said crypto specialists. DeFi stages permit clients to conduct exchanges, more often than not in cryptocurrency, without conventional watchmen such as banks or trades.

Why digital multitasking is bad?

Do you also switch between two digital tasks at once? Like watching television and surfing Instagram feed or watching a Netflix show and watching some reels or maybe texting your friend while attending online classes on your laptop. A recent study showed how switching or multitasking your screen time can affect your attention span or memory. A survey showed how adolescents are addicted to their phones and the average screen time recorded was 7 hours and 38 minutes. But, with digitalization and pandemic, this screen time is much more increased to massive 10 hours and 45 minutes every day.

A research study performed at Stanford University proved how multitasking between two or more digital media affects both attention span and memory. The study was performed on the 18-26 age group and many memory-related tasks were assigned. An electroencephalogram or EEG was used for data collection. As frontal and parietal parts of the brain are involved in attention and memory, these areas were the principal focus.

The group which multitasked scored low in the memory tasks and increased alpha wave was observed with shrinking in pupils. In contrast, the other group which do not multitask scored higher in memory tasks and no such observations were recorded in this case. After the study, the researchers concluded that digital media multitasking and attention spans & memory are correlated.

Furthermore, multitasking or switching between digital media causes switch-gaps, which means it takes longer to take a task, and it also increases the number of errors in the tasks.

Putting in a nutshell in some way or the other, multitasking between digital media can affect your attention span and memory, so it is better to do one task at a time because a person who chases two rabbits catches neither.

Digital divide in vaccination

The second wave of Covid-19 has unleashed carnage in many states of India. As of the end of May 2021, India registered nearly 25.2 million cases and 2,83,248 deaths. Infections first grew in urban areas and then spread to rural areas. This pattern was mapped in both, the first as well as the second wave.

India’s rural areas cover 66.5 percent of the country’s population. However, nearly 60 percent of hospitals, 80 percent of doctors, and 75 percent of medical facilities are situated in urban areas. This shows the lack of medical infrastructure in the rural areas. The cause for concern is the fact that surge in registered cases and infections did not see a parallel rise of vaccination in these rural regions. This will result in rapid spread of this virus, and lesser number of inoculations to prevent the spread.

Many factors have contributed towards this divide between rural and urban areas when it comes to vaccination. One of the most important one being digital divide. Here are some statistics to show the wide disparity between the 2 regions in issues pertaining to digital knowledge.

When India has 450 million smartphone users as of 2019, only 25percent of it’s rural citizens had a device. Only 4 percent of Indians in rural areas has access to computers. Internet connections were not prevalent in all regions, in fact, only 34 percent of Indians have one.

Hence, it is understandable to assume that many people in rural areas do now know or cannot access the digital portal systems like Co-WIN and Aarogya Setu, which helps citizens of this country book vaccination slots and complete the entire procedure online. The inoculation drive is being pushed backwards.

This platform favors internet-savvy urban population with access to the advanced technology, further excluding less aware rural people with lack of digital know-how, out of the safety net. Such a digital divide has forced digitally illiterate people to either visit registration centers or book vaccinations on the app with the help of some facilitator or be left out of the vaccination process.

The requirements of this app are a phone or a laptop to open the particular website which is not available with all. Even if they do have a digital device, many people do not have data packages to browse and book the slots. Hence there are many obstacles for rural people in the inoculation procedure.

Further, the portal requires uploading the identification proof. For certain people-street vendors; dwellers of urban slums, and remotely inaccessible areas; people engaged in begging and the like-identification proof is hard to come by even during normal times, where they struggle to avail benefits from the social protection schemes introduced by the government.  Also, a few months back, the portal only published all the information in English language without taking into account the people who did not know this language,.

Also, for the informal work force, where every day’s wage is important for providing food and resources to their family on a daily basis, taking a day off is very difficult. The entire procedure of vaccination for people having all the resources may be considered pretty simple. But for the poor households, this is not possible. They cannot afford to forgo a day’s wage in such times, and perhaps even more if they are responsible for the vaccination of all the family members.

The Supreme Court states that India’s vaccine policy was against the rights of the poor and marginalized. They considered the policy as extremely disproportionate and not in terms with societal realities. Such problems should be addressed so that no more lives are lost at the cost of digital disparity.