Unit 1 Reflection - Mia Norris

 Unit 1 Reflection

After finishing this curated collection, I feel good about the sources I chose because each one brings something different instead of repeating the same points.

• The New York Times pencil article focuses on culture and personal stories.
• The Wikipedia page about vinyl records gives background and history.
• The NPR health article explains why people might be drawn to more physical, offline experiences from a psychological and physiological perspective.And my own documentation connects all of that to my everyday life.

Together, they feel like they’re in conversation with each other. Each source looks at the shift toward more physical, hands-on experiences from a different angle, culture, history, health, and personal routine, so the project feels balanced and layered.

At the same time, I noticed some gaps.

None of my sources really explore who is actually participating in these trends. Is it mostly younger people? Older generations? People with more disposable income? A lot of the examples, such as buying specialty pencils, collecting vinyl, having time to unplug seems to assume a certain level of privilege. Not everyone has the money or free time to make those choices.

Another important gap is accessibility. For some people, digital tools aren’t optional, they’re necessary. Technology can be an essential accommodation for people with disabilities. The conversation often treats unplugging or choosing physical alternatives as something everyone can do, without recognizing that digital tools may be crucial for access and independence.

If I continued researching this topic, I would want to look into:

• Data about who is drawn to more physical or offline experiences

• How accessibility needs complicate the idea of simply “disconnecting”

• Whether these trends unintentionally reflect economic differences

Connection to Future Units

I can definitely see this project connecting to future assignments.

For Unit 2, I could write a persuasive argument that intentionally stepping away from screens should be part of digital wellness strategies. I would use the NPR article for scientific support and the pencil and vinyl examples to show what that looks like in real life.

For Unit 3, I might explore possible solutions, like whether schools or workplaces could create tech-free spaces or designated screen breaks. My sources already suggest that people feel overwhelmed by constant digital input and are searching for slower, more tactile experiences.

I also think my personal documentation could turn into a longer self-study. It would be interesting to track how intentionally adding more screen-free activities affects my focus, stress levels, or creativity over time.

How I Challenged Myself

One challenge was including myself as part of the research. At first, it felt less academic to document my own habits instead of only citing published articles. But I realized that studying your own routines can be meaningful, especially when the topic is daily life and technology. I started noticing patterns I hadn’t thought about before, like how I use music differently depending on what I need—motivation, comfort, focus, or relaxation.

Another challenge was avoiding a simple “technology is bad, offline is good” mindset. In the beginning, my research was leaning that way. I had to push myself to think more critically and recognize that the issue is more about balance and intentional use, not rejection. Technology isn’t the enemy, it just needs to be used thoughtfully.

I also stepped outside my comfort zone by including visuals and documentation instead of just text. Adding screenshots and organizing the post visually made me think more about how presentation shapes meaning.

Finally, I worked on going beyond summary. Instead of just quoting my sources, I explained why those quotes matter and how they connect to my main idea. That made the project feel more analytical and less like a report.

Overall, this project became more thoughtful and layered than I expected. Instead of just summarizing what others have said, I connected research to my own experiences and showed how these broader trends show up in everyday life.