IV. Digital Nation: Life on the Virtual Frontier (~90 minutes) The 90-minute video is available online (broken up into multiple chapter clips) at pbs.org (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/view/). You need to watch the screening, answer these questions, and bring those answers to your next small group meeting. Failing to do so, will impact your SG #2 participation score. There will be exams questions based on the material covered in these screening questions on Exam #2. 1. Look for examples of statements about the Internet and digital communication that are shaped by utopian and/or dystopian perspectives. a. Utopian- the Internet is making us smarter. We can use the Internet to research things. b. Dystopian- Technology is making us less intelligent and unable to communicate with people face to face. 2. What does the existing evidence say about our abilities to multitask? a. We can multitask (college age students can especially well), however we are not doing activities the best we can while we multitask. 3. What does Douglas Rushkoff blame for the problem of distraction? How does hisview relate to technological determinism? a. He blames the Internet and the fact that we can access the Internet everywhere. He thinks that we cant go without it. His view relates to technological determinism because in this theory, the view is that people are shaped by technological innovation. He believes that the Internet distracts us as we can access it in so many ways, as it has gone from being available only on computers to being available on cell phones and other portable electronics. 4. How many hours per week do most kids spend with digital media? a. Kids spend on average 50 hours a week on digital media. 5. Why hasn’t there been more research into the effects of Internet use on our brains?a. It is not acknowledged as a major problem because research has been done on it, and images show that the brain is used in various ways while on the Internet. However, further research has not been done on why the brain is used in so many ways. There is no evidence that proves the Internet is making us smarter. 6. Why did the documentary producers travel to South Korea? What did they learn from that trip? a. They traveled to South Korea because South Korea acknowledges that people are addicted to technology. While the documentary producers were in South Korea, they realized that addiction to video games is a hugeproblem for some kids, and they even met a kid who was being treated at arehab center for the addiction. 7. How has South Korea responded to the problems caused by the Internet and digital media? a. They have taken steps to limit the use of Internet and digital media, and have established rehab programs for people that may be addicted to it. 8. The documentary presents conflicting views on what role digital media should play in the classroom. What are the arguments for using digital media in classrooms? What are the arguments of its opponents? a. Some teachers believe its bad because kids can get very distracted if they have it. Its opponents’ arguments are that we need the digital media as it provides a lot of recourses for the classroom and it is good for learning. 9. How does the experience of massive multi-player games like World of War craft differ from the experience of games seen in South Korean? a. World of War craft is more of an interactive, social game, where the people communicate. Often times the people even meet in person. The people talk into microphones online and communicate with each other. The games that South Koreans play is less interactive, as they don’t talk toeach other. They are also usually more violent. 10. What have studies revealed about how we respond to virtual reality? a. People who play World of War Craft believe that life is similar to the virtual games they play. Some people who play the game go to the events and even end up dating people they play the game with online. Studies are revealing that these games are making people believe these games are similar to reality. 11. How has the military begun to use digital technology and what do their critics say about such uses? a. The U.S. military is using virtual spaces for PTSD therapy and for flying drones in Iraq while based in Nevada. There is a disconnect between people who use this type of technology and their families, as its very stressful and they cannot talk about their