EXCELLENCE & ETHICS

Note: The title of this post is not a rhetorical one. I am genuinely interested in learning more about your own “media diet.” Please share your reflections on your media diet as a comment on this post using the reply function, or email me directly at kbaker@excellenceandethics.org. If you email me, I won’t publicly share anything you write without your permission to do so.

Recently I’ve found myself being asked about my media diet with increasing frequency. There are all kinds of ways to define “media diet,” but what I’m most interested in are the “staples.”  In other words, “What online media and tools do you consume (read/use) on a regular basis?”

The Atlantic has been exploring this question with people of interest in recent months (see their Media Diet interviews on the Atlantic Wire by clicking here). With access to information increasing at a seemingly impossible rate, the question “What are you reading right now?” has evolved into a different type of beast altogether. While I count myself among the many who still cherish the practice of regularly reading print media (although considering the rapid changes that have already occurred, it’s much of a stretch to envision a child in the not-so-distant future pointing at a book on a shelf and asking “What’s that?”), much of my media consumption occurs within the digital landscape. If we were to sit down and assess the platforms in which our media consumption occurs, how much of that consumption would include online sources like websites, Facebook, Twitter, email, blogs, wikis, etc…?

Some online communities have even developed norms that regularly encourage the sharing of media diets, such as #FF (Follow Friday) on Twitter. In that spirit and in response to recent inquiries about my own media diet, and even more importantly in order to share some resources and start dialog (and hopefully sharing!) here are just a few “staples” that make up part of my daily media diet using the Culture of Excellence & Ethics Focus Areas as a guiding framework.

Build Positive & Productive Relationships (Consider the Perspective of Others)

The Staple: The New York Times

The Nutritional Value: Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking platforms would be the easy-out here, but instead I’m going a slightly different route. Reading the Times each morning (at least the online front page) gives me at least some sense of what is going on in the world, around the country, and in the region. My hunger to “learn it all” can be dangerous in the age of access, so the Times (along with several other city/region specific papers) gives me a quick glance at “what’s going on”, enabling me to engage in conversations with people of diverse perspectives and interests.

Communicating and Collaborating with Efficiency & Effectiveness (Assume Shared Responsibility for Collective Work and Value Contributions Made by Each Team Member)

The Staple: Dropbox+Google Docs

The Nutritional Value: Cloud storage and data syncing services like Dropbox have been game changers in almost every professional field. The ability to access documents from multiple locations and share a large volume of data with multiple users is a function that many of us can no longer imagine being able to operate without.

Google Docs takes the concept of sharing and pushes it into real-time collaboration. I myself have only just scratched the surface of what Google Docs can do, but the experiences I’ve had in which multiple people in different locations are viewing and editing the same document simultaneously have me convinced of the incredible potential truly collaborative online media can provide moving forward.

Managing Priorities and Reducing Stress (Utilize Time and Manage Workload Effectively – Use Productive Strategies for Reducing Stress and Anxiety)

The Staple: Action Method by Behance

The Nutritional Value: I’m busy, and if you’re reading this, my bet is that you are too. Without a system to put the Identify, Prioritize, Organize, Plan process described in the Time Commitment Tool, I would fall apart. My systems and structures for managing my time commitments are fluid; I’m always slightly modifying existing practices and trying new things in order to constantly strive for maximum effectiveness and keep my stress levels healthy and manageable. The element that has been the most significant addition to my productivity arsenal in the past year has been the Action Method. The Action Method suggests we look at everything as a project and break down information related to a project into three categories: References, Action Steps, and Backburner Items.

With synching between the Action Method’s web interface and mobile app, I have access to information that helps me identify the most urgent work that must be done on each project at any given time.

Of course, if you do find yourself stressed, resources like this can be infinitely helpful too.

Committing to High Standards and Continuous Improvement (Develop the Habits for Excellence - Utilize Effective Goal Achievement Strategies)

The Staple: Twitter

The Nutritional Value: I resisted Twitter for years. More accurately I was openly critical of its functionality and purpose beyond the vain sharing of personal exploits that should probably not be shared in the first place. After all, who wants to know where so-and-so goes to lunch in such-a-place.

Well, it turns out Twitter might just be the most powerful professional learning tool available today, particularly in the field of education. Being active on Twitter not only opens up immediate access to interesting information from media sources and individuals, but also allows me to connect with a “PLN”, or “Personal Learning Network” in a variety of ways from sharing resources to engaging in 140-character-or-less discussions to scheduling a coffee meet up, thus engaging me in a community that supports me by informing and inspiring me with the great work others are doing, and inspires me to do work that can help others as well.  Example:  I follow the Twitter account of at least one person from each of the websites listed in this post.

Oh…and sometimes I choose places to eat while traveling based on recommendations people post on Twitter…so I guess I’m the person that wants to know where people go to lunch.

Demonstrating Emotional Intelligence, Integrity, and Responsibility (Stand Up to Peer Pressure)

The Staple: gimme presence

The Nutritional Value: I’ve always tried to consistently develop reflective practices, but this summer while facilitating a number of workshops on “Standing Up to Peer Pressure” and “Creating a Safe & Bully Free Environment,” it became more apparent to me than ever how important reflection is to developing identity and learning to be in tune to our true authentic self. gimme presence offers a reflective prompt in instant-dose format, offering a quick thought that allows the reader to enter into a moment of mindfulness and develop the habit of becoming what in Jesuit spirituality is referred to as a “Contemplative in Action.”

Exhibiting Creativity & Innovation, Critical Thinking, and Problem Solving (Solve Problems Efficiently & Effectively)

The Staple: Brain Pickings

The Nutritional Value: A resource unlike any other, Brain Pickings is an eclectic collection of…well, all kinds of things really. In fact, on the about section of the Brain Pickings website it’s described as a “LEGO treasure chest.” I can’t think of a single other online resource (I view Twitter, Tumblr, etc. as collections of individual resources) that has introduced me to as many interesting, creative, artistic, and fascinating things as Brain Pickings has, a curation led by Maria Popova in collaboration with other contributors. Exposure to such an eclectic collection of information enables me to constantly, as Apple once prompted us to do, “Think Different.”

Leading and Serving Others (Demonstrate Personal and Collective Responsibility)

The Staple: Harvard Business Review

The Nutritional Value: I’m not aware of another resource as rich and valuable in the area of leadership and professional development as the Harvard Business Review. HBR’s website allows you to access current and archived articles from their printed monthly, but additionally includes an incredible number of blogs and resources on virtually any topic related to leadership, management, organizational culture, and development. Any time the writings of talented researchers and practitioners are gathered in place like they are on HBR’s website, thoughtful and provocative knowledge is bound to be dropped. The articles and blogs from HBR are so applicable to education, it comes as no surprise that the education and business departments at the university work in close collaboration.

Living a Balanced, Purposeful, and Healthy Life (Identify and Pursue Broad Life Goals)

The Staple: TED

The Nutritional Value: It’s a big world out there, so big there’s no way to know it all or do it all…but these beautiful, inspiring, dynamic, though-provoking talks presented as watch-em-over-lunch videos will keep you heading in a positive direction.

 

 

So….what are the staples of your media diet?