Unit 1 Reflection

 In my Curated Source Collection, I feel that the quality of my sources is very well-founded and reliable. I have chosen my sources from The New York Times and TEDX Talks, which are highly ranked and reputable. The sources are also qualified for the topic of writing and technology because they represent how technology can be used in the future for learning and research. In the article, “A Pencil Shop, for Texting the Old-Fashioned Way," from the New York Times by Molly Young, I understand the pencil as a form of technology. While the modern-day representation of technology is any object with electricity, like computers, cell phones, projectors, and cars, pencils are a form of technology as well: the ability to take a person’s ideas and put them into a page. The article focuses on the different types of pencils and their uniqueness. In the article, “The ‘functional’ part of his reply is especially apt. Because pencils have a credible use, this single-minded store is able to transcend its novelty status.” Pencils have always been reliable and “functional” for all of time. Since pencils have elevated to different types of wood and build, the store allows that variety and each pencil to have its originality. Since each pencil has its ingenuity, a person can pick their respective pencil to reflect their creativity. This represents how technology can help enhance the uniqueness and special ideas of each individual. The other article, “OpenAI Unveils A.I. Tool That Can Do Research Online," from the New York Times by Cade Metz, represents the action of AI and people working together to engage in research. I thought this article was very interesting because, in most academic settings, AI is frowned upon and, in some cases, shamed. The idea of using AI to help create world-changing products is very close in the near future. The last source is “TED x KC Michael Wesch - From Knowledge to Knowledge" from the YouTube video as a Ted Talk, which focuses on the idea that students must go from knowledgeable to knowledge-able. I used technology to enhance my project by using Grammarly to help with any small grammar mistakes that I have made. I also used Google to help brainstorm ideas on how technology and writing could be integrated. Another common technology that I use is speech-to-text so I can say all of my ideas out loud and edit them afterward to refine them. I think that the quality of my sources is very strong, but I believe that more research can create a very powerful argument on the benefits of technology in writing. I also believe that more research can be done on how to use technology as a tool and not the main solution. I believe that I will use my second article in Units 2 and 3 because I love the argument that is made. The idea that AI can be used as a helper to create a better solution in situations can create a persuasive argument in Units 2 and 3. I challenged myself during this unit because I had to take a step back and look at the project from a different perspective. As a computer science student, I have always been interested in and surrounded by technology. In this assignment, I had to reflect on how technology can be used in more ways than the innovation of technology and how it can be used in writing. The common thought of writing and technology is “letting ChatGPT write a paper for you,” but there can be an expansion of ideas when AI can be used as a helper and not the solution.