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Googly Moogly; My experience.

This section of my orientation regarding how to prudently conduct online searches is eye opening. I have engaged searches using the little knowledge i have learnt about advanced searches and it is quite impressive. I honestly didn’t know that there are deeper ways of refining searches using the usual search engines like Google other than the conventional way i have been used to do the searches.

My first reaction especially when i read the article on ‘advanced google searches every student should know’, was, how come i never knew this? 

Having tried the searches after learning the new ways of exploring advanced searches, I realize now I can do more with this search engine and it has made my searches simpler and more razor focused on the relevance i need to know about anything while searching. I feel enlightened. It feels great to learn new things.  I feel like….

 

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Finding U

Hassan Kibirango is a notable name, at least to his small community in Kigali on the different online search engines. He is highlighted on various social media sites mainly Facebook and Twitter. He is quoted in daily newspapers giving opinions on matters concerning the community especially in the area of faith. He also is an itinerant speaker so he features in a few speaking engagements via video. Hassan, is a local church Pastor in Kigali Rwanda and he is passionate about raising leaders in the local church to become Kingdom agents in their generation. Below are some of Hassan’s online photos and video links of him speaking in different fora. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl1_QZ9qkBc , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opWJL5cly0U,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h6dJhnyaDU

I have found that the internet keeps information about me every time either my name, pictures or videos features online and in the event I’m not wise in the choices I make in engaging social media, this kind of record keeping could be used to hurt me later on in life.

I have found traces of my work on the first search page on google. Some of my work as the CEO of a multi media company i sold 3 years ago before I became a full time local church pastor. I have also found quite a bit of my current work online, on social media mainly.

What is mostly online about me is a fair and cultivated representation of who Iam as a Christian and servant of God in his church and also what i believe.

My digital identity according to Bonnie’s description of self is the participatory self. Iam engaged online and social media quite a bit.

I have often had to block or remove content from my social media pages or interfaces if that content seems to contradict sharply with what I ultimately stand for as a value system.

I have read Kris’s 2 blogs about deleting 40,000 tweets and the other one on digital minimalism. the recommendations for me to consider channeling my energy on putting out content that matters and also consider de-cluttering my social media content if I’m a regular user is something i have never given thought. And also about digital minimalism, the idea of being less dependent on online content and not necessarily worry about de-cluttering is more realistic to me because, there’s a lot of content i have created but i don’t dwell much on it. So just relying on much less of all the content that I have put up over the years and creating content that matters for the future rather than feel the need to respond to everything folks post about  is liberating.

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Four Moves

It is embarrassingly amazing, how I have fed on tons of online content which is actually not factual but has been forwarded to the platforms i access online. What is interesting is how i have had little to no reason to doubt the authenticity or truth to some of these viral pieces of content. Just seen a screaming headline on four moves titled; “Children For Sale.”. I opened it to no content other than the photo itself. But as such headlines are meant to do, that is grip the attention of the reader, the above headline did grab my attention.

I’m still learning how to use Four moves to do effective fact checks on the authenticity of what i read online. I’m certain i will get the hang of it soon.

Hassan

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Digital Literacy

The world has experienced unprecedented connectivity because of the surge of technology. Communication has never been easier, faster and more widely distributed in short time spans than it is today. Right now, internet has become such a utility in my country Rwanda, it is being put in public transport systems and in certain hot spots around the main city of Kigali and other towns in the country. It has become a human right to have access to the internet. The double edged sword that technology carries is the ability to make our lives easier but at the same time the ability to cause so much pain and damage to our very live.

1. A friend i knew posted a photo of a work trip he had taken with colleagues out of the country. He was a married man whose ‘innocent’ pictures with female colleagues, not taken in any scandalous manner caused such a stir in his own home. His wife who was very insecure, used these photos to accuse her husband of infidelity and she filed for divorce. We had to intervene as the church to help them find a resolution not to end it simply because of pictures. Simplistic as it sounds, one post on social media could end a lot of things in people’s lives.

2. In February 2018 here in Rwanda, we experienced what became a nightmare in our day. Some people had created an anonymous twitter handle and were asking people who were victims of rape to name and shame their rapists online while keeping themselves anonymous. People took to twitter to give graphic and horrific stories of their ordeals. Because it was anonymous, others used the platform to get back to those they hated by fabricating stories.  Within weeks, powerful names came to light, homes were broken and a lot of irreparable damage was done. When the page was blocked after a month by the police, there was some relief because people had abused the platform. It also undermined real cases of victims of rape simply because of the way it was handled.

3. A few strategies I will use to ensure i don’t fall into this trap is to spend as minimal time on social media as possible. Secondly is to verify certain posts that concern me in a way without reflexively responding to an annoying post. Exercising some self control is key here. Thirdly is to know that not everything that is posted online is accurate and not everything demands my response, even when it concerns me particularly. Finally, I also personally keep a high sense of accountability online in that my wife has the passwords to all my social media and email pages, so she can access them anytime. In that way, I;m held accountable not to get out of line.

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Narrating U

I have created a new structure for my site by Organizing my menu. I have created my home page and put under it the different posts as well as the categories i created. It is a first for me to engage in this activity and I am learning with optimism that I will be able to acculturate myself to it.

The challenge is the complexities that come with getting acquainted with setting up a structure and menu. But I am open to learning and eventually getting good at using this platform.

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Annotations. Lessons

This is the first time i have actively encountered the word Annotation, let alone learning to annotate.

The annotation exercise was quite difficult to maneuver through, it being my first time. I however got the hang of it eventually. I’m sure i will get used it through practice and frequent use.

As a rookie here, i notice that annotation is  a unique way of reviewing existing writings and also an opportunity to give views as well as view other peoples views. I am thrilled to learn this new learning tool as i embark on this journey.

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Hi

Hello there,

My name is Hassan Kibirango. I’m a new student with TWU taking a masters in Leadership. It’s a joy for me to be part of this online community. I’m excited to share my learning with you but most importantly learn from you all.

Thank you.

Hassan