Social Constructionism
Choose two of the historical resources (not the articles defining technological determinism & social constructivism) from the Required Learning Materials that interest you and then do the following:
Put full citations for both of the resources in MLA format at the top of your post.
For each resource, explain whether it takes the approach of social constructivism or technological determinism? Or is there a combination of both approaches? How do you know this? What specifics from each resource give you hints about its approach?
Determine which resource you think is most successful with its approach and explain why.
https://leocontent.umgc.edu/content/umuc/tus/humn/humn344/2232/week-2/social-constructivism.html
Sample Solution
The two historical resources that interest me are the articles “Technology, Learning, and the Human Condition” by David Beer (2001) and “A Case for Social Constructivism in Media Studies” by Joli Jensen (1996).
Beer`s article takes a more social constructivist approach as he argues that technology does not determine our behavior but rather it is shaped by us. He claims that how we interact with these tools is determined by our culture which in turn affects how we learn from them (Beer 2001). For instance, he notes how different communities have different expectations of what a successful online learning experience should be such as whether or not people should take part in discussions or if lectures are mostly one-way conversations. As such this suggests an individual’s perceptions towards technology frameworks depend on their own beliefs about its potential thus demonstrating that any use of technology is based upon socially constructed ideas and values.
Meanwhile, Jensen’s article explores social constructivism within media studies finding there is evidence suggesting this approach could help provide a more comprehensive understanding on how culture affects the ways in which individuals both consume and produce media. In particular she states there seem to be strong correlations between user-generated content – particularly those related with minority groups – and traditional press outlets as well as powerful relationships between these same users forming online communities where ideas are quickly disseminated amongst peers allowing for progressive discourse around certain topics (Jensen 1996). The implications of these findings imply a need for greater recognition about power structures present within society when assessing its relationship with different forms of media along with an appreciation for marginalized voices within a digital context who have often been excluded from traditional conversations.
Overall, both authors present compelling arguments regarding the relationship between humans and technology although each approaches this topic from slightly different perspectives; Beer suggests our usage of these tools reflects pre-existing cultural norms while Jensen emphasizes its role in creating diverse digital ecosystems thereby implying a combination of both technological determinism and social constructivism exists when assessing this issue further.
