Final Reflections: Jolene Kirk

Hi, My name is Jolene. These are my thoughts and experiences with my Rhetoric and Civilizations class. Below you will read about my self-directed learning, my project, and my thoughts on the importance of communication. 

Who Are You in the Digital Age?

Our online identity deserves to be protected and made secure, and yet it is also a presence that we want to be seen. Where is the balance between protection and presence? We want to be involved in society while still maintaining our individuality. How can we be involved in the global identity without being swallowed by it? We have an opportunity to share opinions with the world, but we don’t want differing opinions to dissolve into pointless arguments. Where is the line separating crowdsourcing and fiendish feuds?

Securing Our Identities

More than ever before, our civilization uses digital technology for our most basic communicating needs. We are now creating WHO WE ARE online. While these wonderful ways of communicating online give us new means of creation, expression and individuality, we are being subjects for new dangers.


I believe that we have the right to have our online identities protected from unauthorized viewers.

Securing our Online Identities

Hi, I would like to introduce you to what I would like to cover today. Please click here.

Multiple Facets of Identity: 2nd Iteration

Our group has been considering the possibility of formatting our final project for the medium of a website. This website would be formatted simply, similarly to a blog, with all of our videos and posts available. Because we want to show how our ideas all connect, we plan to film multiple videos. One video will be an introductory video, in which we all briefly introduce our ideas. The remaining videos will show two of us at a time in a scripted discussion of how our topics pertain to each other. While we didn't have time over Easter weekend to film, the following script will be used for our introductory video. Please feel free to comment with feedback!

Returning to be Heard

This country was established so that every citizen within its borders would get to cast their voice in with others to choose their leaders. However, statistics show that only 60% of America is represented in the votes for leaders. With such strong roots for individualism, when did we let our voices fade away?

I will go back. That was my decision as I left the caucus tonight.

Identity: Who is Gideon Burton online?

Would you like to know who Gideon Burton is online??

Protecting Online Identities

Identity is important to develop, maintain and protect. When in person we are careful to reveal who we are until we can trust our audience. Online, the wall between private and public is abused to threaten, endanger, and expose many innocent people. 

We have the right to have our online identities protected from all unauthorized viewers. 

While doing this little video I realized that my claim was short and sweet.

I showed this video to my family. They mentioned how my claim was short but good. They agree that cyber security is important however to what degree should it be implemented. I got the idea to mention the Apple vs. Government debate and how that can relate to protecting iphone users' phones.

If you feel like it is too short or not sweet enough please go ahead and comment below! This will only help me improve.

Be Ware of What You Post (Revision 2)

Found on my Facebook Profile

In my Information Systems class this semester, we had a unit that covered cyber security. The assignment was to choose a partner from class and use social media to find every possible piece of information you could to exploit them. Things such as Name, Age, Birthday, Hobbies.

Just from my pictures found on facebook what can you infer? I graduated highschool, I studied at BYU, I served a LDS mission and I am now married.

Project Log: Jolene Kirk

My name is Jolene and this is where I will be documenting my progress on my personal/group project(s).

Be Aware of What You Post

Found on my Facebook Profile

In my Information Systems class this semester, we covered cyber security. Our assignment was to choose a partner in class and go onto every social media website you could to find every possible piece of information of their lives. Things such as Name, Age, Birthday, Hobbies.

Just from my pictures found on facebook what can you infer? I graduated highschool, I studied at BYU, I served a LDS mission and I am now married.

Our Society

When To "Post" Wolf :0

Chernobyl was a nuclear power plant in the USSR that exploded and released radiation in the air. This tragic accident caused the death of hundreds of people and affected others for the rest of their lives. This terrible accident was made known to the public way too late after the surrounding cities were affected.

Should have the USSR released the information of the crisis earlier so that other's could have fled? Or were they wise in attempting to control the problem before letting other's know?

There are effective tools that are available to give information to the public. Through news channels, online and through social media. Sharing information is easy and spreads like wildfire. Communicating ideas, crowd sourcing, and collaborating for projects are easier than ever. However who draws the line as to what information is pertinent to the public and what should remain secret?

Edward Snowden was a NSA consultant who lived in Hawaii. While working for the NSA he found certain classified information and programmed that was being implemented that seemed against the human rights stated in the first amendment.

Edward Snowden used the internet to publicly post all of the secret activity of the NSA that was violating the privacy of all American citizens. Was Edward Snowden ethical in his executive decision for the American citizen?

Should we all be more transparent and have free communication among people and organizations? Or should we all respect each other's privacy?

We care about others, is that bad?

My name is Jolene Kirk. As future inheritors of this world I believe that it is important to understand the involvement of the United States in other countries. This is what I think.