Trends, Networks, and Critical Thinking in the

21st Century Culture

Saint Anthony’s Academy of Gonzaga Subject Teacher: DOMINICK S. SUBOC Quarter 1
S.Y. 2021-2022
LEARNING MODULE 1
Module 1: “Understanding Trend”
Email: domsuboc25@gmail.com FB account: Dominick Suboc CP #: 09651439012

Introduction
People of today’s generations are familiar with the term trend through the popular social media application,
specifically, Twitter. Based on usage, a particular hashtag is trending when it is frequently shared and/or popularly
talked about by other Twitter users. In this sense, trending may be understood to mean popular. From this, one can
infer that a trend is something that is famous or widely known. However, the actual definition of trend is not even
nearly associated with popular. In this lesson, the concept about trend will be discussed to improve your
understanding in our 21st century society.

STANDARDS
LEARNING COMPETENCIES
This module is designed for you to…
 Differentiate a trend from a fad
 Explain the process on how to spot a trend
 Point out the elements that make up a trend
 Describe the different characteristics of a trend

CONTENT STANDARD
The learner understands the emergence of trends and patterns.

PERFORMANCE STANDARD
The learner will be able to derive an idea from instances and present this idea through a 100-word essay, artwork,
and other graphic representations

TRANSFER GOAL
The learner will transfer learning by transforming a Fad product to Trend

LESSON PROPER/DISCUSSION
FAD VS. TREND
Fad
It is seemingly drastic swings in mass behavior without obvious external stimuli. Fads are something that people
are highly interested in for a relatively short period of time. It can be characterized as unpredictable, short-lived and
without social, economic, and political significance (Bikhcandani, 1992).
Karl and Sharpio (1985) described it according to the theory of network externalities, where the utility of a product
increases when more people use it. Life cycles of a regular product consists of four stages.
1. Introduction: The product is introduced to the market; sales
are still low and market share is still insignificant.
2. Growth Stage: The product is steadily rise and a significant
market share is achieved.
3. Maturity Stage: The producers aim to keep the market share
through innovations.
4. Decline: The market may dwindle due to competition or
lack of innovation.

A fad is often used interchangeably with the word trend. Although a fad is shortlived, what is important to know is
that fads can help predict trends.

Let us take our discussion to a product that has longer lifespan, shouldn’t we? Who doesn’t love long by the way.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/all-4-stages-of-the-product-
life-cycle-require-a-different-market-research-strategy-according-
tomarketresearchcom-blog-270294311.html

Please always observe personal hygiene!

 Trends, Networks, and Critical Thinking in the
21st Century Culture
Saint Anthony’s Academy of Gonzaga Subject Teacher: DOMINICK S. SUBOC Quarter 1
S.Y. 2021-2022
Trends
It is a pattern of gradual change in a condition, output or process, or an average or general tendency of a series of
data points to move in a certain direction over time, represented by a line or a curve on a graph.

It is a new item or a practice that stabilizes and transforms into a habit, a lifestyle, or an enduring product.
Some trends seek to innovate lifestyles and find practical ways to solve social issues and improve our well-being. It
could be a response to the problems that have confronted groups or societies. It also reveals the shape of the future.

A significant social trend is best understood as a series of related events that emanate from a range of causes,
manifests a continuity over a a period, and rebounds to significant social, cultural, economic and political changes.
Example of trends are rising of OFWs, changing roles of women, changing model of mobile phones, religious
fundamentalism as well.

Trends and Fads are sometimes used interchangeably. They are both important for organizations and people
to keep updated with the changing environment. However, as a member of society, it is important for us to
determine the difference between trends and fads using six elements to deepen our understanding of survival and
adaptability.
DIFFERENCE OF TRENDS AND FADS
TREND Elements FAD
Attractive to the People Appeal (Degree of Attraction) Attractive to the people
Endures with or without Result Hyped or advertised (if hype stops,
publicity (Impact) it also starts to disappear)
Caters and accepted by a Scope Caters and accepted by a limited
wide audience. (Extent of the Influence) group of people.
Supported by several Support
No clearly established support
fads/existing trends (Structure that enables to be sustainable)
Can be sustained for a long Sustainability Persists only for a short period of
period (Length of Time) time
Extensive Value (Usefulness) Limited

EMERGENCE OF TRENDS
How do we recognize that a trend is starting to emerge? The capacity to identify emerging trends is rooted in
our capacity to recognize patterns. Our encounter with patterns was facilitated by experience and processed by the
mind through abstraction and generalization.

According to Philosopher John Locke, there are no innate ideas. All of the ideas that we have are derived
from experience and that every complex idea we have in our minds can be traced back to a simple idea. It means
that experience is comprised of sensation and reflection. Locke points out that all active mental process such as
analyzing, criticizing, evaluating, and judging form part of the reflection of experience.

According to Duin and Pekalska (2007), pattern recognition is characterized by three stages, namely.
representation, generalization and evaluation. Adaptation, which serves as an intermediary stage is also involved in
the process.

Please always observe personal hygiene!

 Trends, Networks, and Critical Thinking in the
21st Century Culture
Saint Anthony’s Academy of Gonzaga Subject Teacher: DOMINICK S. SUBOC Quarter 1
S.Y. 2021-2022

Representation

Real world objects Adaptation

have to be
represented in a Generalization
It represents
formal way. learning Evaluation
methodology or Inference
Observations must be
integrated with the problem statement The mind Estimates how the
existing knowledge. to enhance the abstracts the pattern recognition
final recognition. general idea from performs on known
Largely influences the a pool of existing
success of the stages training and validation
representations.
to come. Unsatisfactory:
Previous steps have to
be reconsidered.

Our ability to recognize patterns enables us to see and analyze to identify emerging trends. There are internal factors
that influence such emergence. These are human needs, historical forces, globalization and digital cone activity, and
social media.

FACTORS SHAPING TRENDS

Understanding factors that shape trends can provide us insights into how to predict trends, how they are
developing, and how they are sustained. The following terms are just some of the factors that shape a trend:
• Human Needs
Humankind will instinctively tend to its needs. Our desire to build a better world or improve
the quality of life compels us to discover, invent and explore new technologies, products,
services, forms of knowledge and skills. In meeting our needs, we enhance our intelligence,
creativity, and social skills that in turn, increase our chances for survival.
• Historical Forces
Humankind creates responses in social issues. The response varies how the government
impose its power while the citizenry can act on its own. The role of the government is to
formulate policies to response societal needs, but when polices are enforced, behaviors change
and become trends that are practiced by citizenry.
• Globalization
The global exchange of goods and services increased the interaction between states and
societies. The globalizing world integrates information through global advertising using
technologies. Thus, trends and innovations are also carried on a global scale, ensuring the
resilience of the products.
• Digital Connectivity and Social Media
Social Media continue to expand and grow. For example, Facebook has grown into most
popular social networking site, catering businesses and entrepreneurial initiatives in the
Philippines. Products gain mileage because of the advertising using this platform.

Social media’s use of trending is not exactly how trends are defined in this lesson. For example, twitter declares the
topic as “trending”. These topics could be a local or global event that had just happened, a developing news story or
perhaps a call to action. The trends that it establishes is often unpredictable, it can rise based on popularity given a
short period of time, which could be hours or a few days.

I hope you were satisfied with that LONG we talked about 😊

REFLECTION Write you answer on the answer sheet provided

Please always observe personal hygiene!

 Trends, Networks, and Critical Thinking in the
21st Century Culture
Saint Anthony’s Academy of Gonzaga Subject Teacher: DOMINICK S. SUBOC Quarter 1
S.Y. 2021-2022

What Anthonian Attribute can you develop from this module?

ACTIVITY 1 “TreAd (TREnd and fAD)

Direction: Read each question carefully. Differentiate fad and trend with the guide questions below. Write
your answer on (venn diagram) answer sheet provided.
1. How will you determine if a product is a Trend and a Fad?
2. What are the challenges in sustaining a trend?
3. How is a fad illustrated through a life cycle of a product?
4. What are their similarities?

ACTIVITY 2 “TRENDing”
Directions:
1. Inside the box on your answer sheet, draw an important product or item you regularly use.
2. Add extra features to this item that you think could turn it into a trend.
3. Provide a brief explanation of the innovation that you have made.

Here's what you need to

remember: EVALUATION
Directions: Read the following items. Write IN if you consider this as
• A Trend is a Trends in the society and OUT if Fads. Write your answer on the answer
pattern of sheet provided.
gradual 1. Shoppee
change in a 2. Increasing number of OFW
condition, 3. Tiktok
output, or 4. Yoyo
process, or 5. K to 12 Education Curriculum
an average 6. Taking Selfie
or general 7. Covid-19
tendency of 8. iPhone
a series of 9. Ice Bucket Challenge
data points 10. Facebook
to move in a
certain Congratulations! You finished your 1st module
direction for this course!
over time.
• Fad is
something
that people
are highly
interested in
for a
relatively
short period
of time.
• The elements
of a trend
and fad are
appeal,observe personal hygiene!
Please always
result,
scope,
 Trends, Networks, and Critical Thinking in the
21st Century Culture
Saint Anthony’s Academy of Gonzaga Subject Teacher: DOMINICK S. SUBOC Quarter 1
S.Y. 2021-2022
Answer Sheet
Fad SIMILARITIES Trend

ACTIVITY 1 “TreAd (TREnd and fAD) Total Score = 15 Points

Direction: Read each question carefully. Differentiate fad and trend with the guide questions below. Write
your answer on (venn diagram) answer sheet provided. 3 points each item; 3 points for the Venn Diagram.
1. How will you determine if a product is a Trend and a Fad?
2. What are the challenges in sustaining a trend?
3. How is a fad illustrated through a life cycle of a product?
4. What are their similarities?

ACTIVITY 2 “TRENDing” Total Score = 15 Points

Directions:
1. Inside the box on your answer sheet, draw an important product or item you regularly use.
2. Add extra features to this item that you think could turn it into a trend.
3. Provide a brief explanation of the innovation that you have made.

Explanation

5 Points drawing
5 Points additional feature 5 points

Reflection: The emoji that best describes my learning is, _____________ because________. The Anthoninan
attitude I developed from this module is ______________________________.

EVALUATION
Directions: Read the following items. Write IN if you consider this as Trends in the society and OUT if
Fads. Write your answer on the answer sheet provided.
1. Shoppee IN
2. Increasing number of OFW IN
3. Tiktok IN
4. Yoyo OUT
5. K to 12 Education Curriculum IN
6. Taking Selfie IN
7. Covid-19 IN
8. IPhone IN
9. Ice Bucket Challenge OUT
10. Facebook IN

Please always observe personal hygiene!