You have now gone over the differences between analog and digital media. In this activity, you will choose two media devices from the image below, one should be analog (older, physical media like tapes or radio) and the other digital (newer, data-based media like phones and computers). Take time to explore the web, whether through articles or videos about the devices, to compare them in a 300-word response.  This activity helps you understand how media has changed over time and how the technology we use today was built from earlier inventions. Here are some questions to help you along your exploration: 

• When was this device created, and who used it the most?
• Is it analog or digital? How can you tell?
• How did people use this device in their daily lives?
• What are some limitations of this device compared to what you use today?
• What is one thing this device could do well—and one thing it couldn’t do?
• How do you think this device changed the way people experienced media?
• Would you enjoy using this device today? Why or why not?

activity 2- A Day In The Life

We have talked a little bit about different time periods. In this activity, take time to explore the web, whether through articles or videos about out a selected time period. You will imagine what your life would be like in a different time period and write a 300-word short story about your day. You’ll describe how you listen to music, watch shows, and find information, using only the technology available in that time. Try to picture what things looked like, sounded like, and felt like. This activity helps you see that media is not just something you use—it shapes your daily experiences, your routines, and how you connect with others.

📻 Media Time Period Options

🕰️ Early Media Era (1900s–1950s)

“Shared & Scheduled Media”

• Radio, early movies, black-and-white TV
• Families gathered together to listen or watch
• No choosing what you want—everything happens at a set time

📺 Television Era (1950s–1970s)

“The Living Room Era”

• Color TV becomes popular
• Families plan their day around TV shows
• Still very shared, but more visual entertainment

🎧 Portable Media Era (1980s–1990s)

“Media Becomes Personal”

• Walkman, cassette tapes, VHS, early video games
• People start listening and watching things on their own
• You can choose what to watch (kind of), but still limited

💻 Early Digital Era (1990s–2000s)

“The Internet Begins”

• Desktop computers, CDs, DVDs
• Early internet (Google, email, basic websites)
• Media starts moving from physical → digital