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Reading Reflection Number 3

Cognitive Surplus by Clay Shirky

1) The general theme of the book was talking about how previously, the majority of people spent their free time watching TV while now that has shifted a bit. Now, people are spending portions of their free time online collaborating with others whether it be a meaningful collaboration or not. These types of collaborations are creating what is called a cognitive surplus which addresses the excess productivity that happens outside of one's work. 
2) I think that the book showed how someone might come up with an idea for a business venture. If you are constantly working on small projects with friends over the internet, it is very possible that one of those ideas could bee feasible and created to make money. 
3) If I were to design an exercise based on the book I would make it a collaboration assignment. I would like for two to three students to work together to either fit together their venture ideas that are already in progress, or if that is not practical, come up with a new venture idea together. I think that this would bring together a few students at a time and really help them work together and see things from another person's perspective, much like what people are doing online today. 
4) While it may not be a big deal in terms of the entire book, to me I was surprised to learn how much free time the world spends watching TV and how that time could be used for other more productive things and things that could be more rewarding. I knew that people watch a great deal of TV but I did not know that it was to this extent, this has really made me think about my life as well as the life of others and wonder what all we could accomplish if we watched less TV or no TV at all. 

Comments

  1. Jenny KimApril 19, 2020 at 6:26 PM

    Hi Riley,
    I really like your post! You did a great job in explaining each part of the question and I have a much better understanding of what the book is about. I also think that the collaboration assignment is a good idea and a great selection to come up with a new venture idea as a group.

    ReplyDelete

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