Weekly Reflections
Week 1 — Introduction to Digital Practices
This week reframed my assumptions about technology. Rather than treating tools as inevitable forces, the lectures stressed social shaping: technologies arise from specific contexts and, in turn, reorganise practice. I tried to read arguments, not hype, and to note claims, evidence, and limits. The main shift was methodological humility—trace situated use and avoid simple causal stories. Practically, I slowed down and focused on core concepts before touching tools. That approach made the material feel more manageable and honest.
Week 2 — First Steps in Web Design
As a beginner, web design felt intimidating. I reread the slides, skimmed the readings, and searched straightforward HTML/CSS explanations. Breaking tasks into small steps helped: semantic structure first, then a very basic layout. I did not build anything complex yet, but I can now read examples with less panic and more purpose. Conceptually, linking interface choices to power showed me design is more than aesthetics; it organises attention and encodes values. This steadied my confidence without overstating my progress.
Week 3 — Web Scraping & Responsibility
The topic of web scraping highlighted the design choices behind “found” data. I learned to ask what content is for, who owns it, and whether consent is implied. I did not implement a scraper; instead, I mapped possible sources, noted terms of use, and reminded myself to check robots.txt and sampling bias. Technically, the challenge seems less about code than about documentation and transparency. The takeaway: responsible extraction begins with clearly scoped questions, not with whatever is easiest to collect.
Week 4 — Data, Power & Scenario 1
Scenario 1 made “no raw data” concrete. Our initial survey questions were too general to capture how students actually use generative AI. After feedback that items lacked specificity and direction, our group met to discuss fixes. We agreed to focus on behaviours (tasks, frequency, course context) and to clarify time frames and response options. We have not piloted anything yet; the priority is tightening wording so any later analysis reflects meaningful, comparable constructs rather than loose opinions.
Week 5 — Refining the Instrument
We continued refining the Scenario 1 survey. I revised several vague items into single-focus questions and added brief examples to reduce ambiguity. We also noted clear limits (self-report bias, disciplinary differences) so expectations stay realistic. I am not designing visuals in advance; if data are collected later, I would start with simple distributions and cross-tabs. The overarching lesson remains: categories are consequential. Our choices should be justified, transparent, and easy to revisit as our understanding develops.