For today's blog concerning Internet as new media applied to education, I chose to write about facebook and how it has revolutionized the education industry. Being a college student myself, I have used facebook and its services to my advantage on more than one occasion. Having access to anyone imaginable on facebook has given students the ability to connect to one another outside of the classroom. This has not only allowed students to build relationships with their classmates but has also allowed them to consult with others on schoolwork. Questions regarding schoolwork don't always arise in the classroom. It is normal to have questions regarding schoolwork when at home and many students often do not have the resources to contact a classmate for assistance. Having facebook has provided students with the ability to locate classmates by knowing only their name. Searches can be narrowed down by colleges, age groups, and even hometowns. Thus, even if you know very little about someone, you can usually locate them on facebook, assuming they have an account. Having this ability has provided students with the ability to locate, connect, and engage in educational networking with their peers like never before.
Links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UPxf_TgkCU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embgWgjwybc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5G8whTbpJQ
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The Digital Divide
What is the impact on Marcella Morris and her family not having the Internet?
How do you feel about the free wireless internet access project in Charlestown, SC.
Who has benefitted from it?
What would you suggest that they do with the project?
The impact on Macella Morris and her family is not only unfortunate but hard to imagine for most middle class citizens and college students such as myself. The use of broadband Internet has become a way of life for most and its advantages have become somewhat taken for granted by those whoa re fortunate enough to afford its services. As time elapses many are thinking of new ways and innovations that will improve the Internet as we know it, while forgetting about those who are still behind the technology curve. People like Marcella Morris are not only being left behind as technology surges forward, but they are being put at a disadvantage in every other facet of life that relies on the Internet. I feel that instituting free wireless access for the housing project will help bring those like Marcella up to speed in terms of the Internet world. Using the Internet and adapting to life with the Internet can be easily accomplished by taking a hands on approach. However for those who can not afford broadband services, will remain at a disadvantage from the rest of society who can afford broadband. While many might look at this as unfare, especially those who currently pay for broadband, I feel that giving the intrnet free to the less fortunate will ultimately benefit society as a whole. Having the internet access means having the ability to information that might otherwise be unobtainable. Information that internet users currently take for granted can be provided to these people who otherwise couldnt afford it. Assuming that the less privilage use the internet as a resource and a tool, it can only better them as people while making their lives easier. I suggest they keep going with this project in hopes that people will catch on in a sense. Sudden change into the unknown is usually a slow process, but by having the internet available, people can slowly make the trasition into using it. In conclusion, if programs such as free wi-fi for the less fortunate is going to help society as a whole, then I believe these programs are more than beneficial not only to the less fortunate but to the world.
How do you feel about the free wireless internet access project in Charlestown, SC.
Who has benefitted from it?
What would you suggest that they do with the project?
The impact on Macella Morris and her family is not only unfortunate but hard to imagine for most middle class citizens and college students such as myself. The use of broadband Internet has become a way of life for most and its advantages have become somewhat taken for granted by those whoa re fortunate enough to afford its services. As time elapses many are thinking of new ways and innovations that will improve the Internet as we know it, while forgetting about those who are still behind the technology curve. People like Marcella Morris are not only being left behind as technology surges forward, but they are being put at a disadvantage in every other facet of life that relies on the Internet. I feel that instituting free wireless access for the housing project will help bring those like Marcella up to speed in terms of the Internet world. Using the Internet and adapting to life with the Internet can be easily accomplished by taking a hands on approach. However for those who can not afford broadband services, will remain at a disadvantage from the rest of society who can afford broadband. While many might look at this as unfare, especially those who currently pay for broadband, I feel that giving the intrnet free to the less fortunate will ultimately benefit society as a whole. Having the internet access means having the ability to information that might otherwise be unobtainable. Information that internet users currently take for granted can be provided to these people who otherwise couldnt afford it. Assuming that the less privilage use the internet as a resource and a tool, it can only better them as people while making their lives easier. I suggest they keep going with this project in hopes that people will catch on in a sense. Sudden change into the unknown is usually a slow process, but by having the internet available, people can slowly make the trasition into using it. In conclusion, if programs such as free wi-fi for the less fortunate is going to help society as a whole, then I believe these programs are more than beneficial not only to the less fortunate but to the world.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Who Am We
In a world that teeters on reality and a virtual perspective, it can become easy to fall into the trap of living a life based on a digital identity. With that said, we as people need to learn how to decipher between what is real and what is created. Having the ability to create and live a life that is based on a virtual or digital identity has become easy and more prevalent with growing technology. I can see how people can become so far engaged in their own digital identity that it starts to take president over their real life. I believe that this is a negative aspect of this new world, however if we as people can balance the virtual world with the real world then having a digital identity is not necessarily a bad thing. With any new technologies that allow a person to step outside the boundaries of real life and create a lifestyle of their own, we run the risk of loosing touch with reality. Nonetheless, we as people need to realize that this virtual world in not reality nor will it ever become a reality, thus embracing our real identity is a virtue. I believe that we should teach people how to balance reality with virtual world in order to understand that a very real diferences exist between the two. As long as people can comprehend that these differences exists then we can eliminate the threat of loosing our selves to the digital world. Our born identitie will always be the real one and should always take president over the virtual world, and as long as we realize this, having a digital identity can remain purely entertainment based.
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