[Last modified: November, 24 2024 06:53 PM]
My project is about studying the effectiveness of digital devices for note-taking in college lectures. My political position in this research stems from my habits and the privilege of understanding English. I found this reflection on my political position helps me realize biases and the insufficient data in my research.
Personally, I have favored the traditional pen-and-paper note-taking devices. This habit derives from my educational background where I was immersed in the idea that all digital devices will negatively impact one’s study by distracting them. Therefore, when it comes to studying, I’ve made the automatic connection between digital devices and distractions. During my research process, which is sitting at the back of the classroom and sneakily observing what students are doing on their screens, I had the tendency to focus on those doing “distractive” tasks such as online shopping, chatting, and sending emails. And when someone looks up a term that was brought up by the professor, I tend to ignore or underestimate the positive efficacy of digital devices.
Additionally, my privilege of being able to study in an English environment in my previous education made me ignorant of the crucial role of digital translators for non-English native speakers. During my discussion with a classmate, she brought up a new idea to me that not everyone can understand English as well as I do. A laptop might be crucial for some students to understand the lecture. It’s also difficult for them to take notes directly during the class due to the difficulty of understanding class content.
Reflecting on my political position, I realize that my research should address the diverse realities of students from different backgrounds. Even though I personally prefer the pen-and-paper way of note-taking, this view overlooks how digital devices assist learning for those who face linguistic challenges.