Issues in EdTech

❝Issues in EdTech❞

1. What do you think are the best emerging technologies in the field of ICT, eLearning and other relevant field and its implications to education?

- I think one of the best advancements in ICT and eLearning are the creation of platforms such as GoogleDocs which allows simultaneous sharing and editting of documents. This lets the students and teachers to give their inputs in real time even if they are not actually together. I also think that cellular phones, especially the ones with Android technology good in many different levels. One, it allows people to access the internet on the go, like other smart phones. The second one is, that it allows plugins that can be developed by different companies to work in one single platform. And since it is an open source technology, people are free to tinker with it and its plugins to their own needs and liking and therefore allows people to develop their own plugins that could potentially be used as an educational aide.

2. Being aware of the issues and trends in the use of technology for education, what action plan would you recommend to combat the following:

* digital divide -

As for the digital divide, constant education for those who are not very savy with technology is the best way to go. We are not born with "pre-installed" information on as to how technology works. We all had to start somewhere. And all it takes for those who are not very much into all the modern technology shebang is education/ Also, it would help if the gadgets and other ways to access technology becomes cheaper so as to reach a wider market

* Internet addiction -

Like all addictions, I believe that an intervention is needed for someone who is addicted to the internet. Maybe a week or two without the internet would make a change in someone's system. Also, introduction of other fun activities to divert one's attention would be helpful. But first of all, we, especially the person involved must recognize that he or she is actually addicted to the internet because there isn't much we could do for someone who isn't willing to help himself.

* plagiarism / copyrights issues -

First of all, we must educate people on what is plagiarism and copyright infringement and how grave an offense it is to the people they are "stealing" from. The reason why this is a tough battle is that most of the offenders don't really know when what they are doing is actually plagiarism or a copyright infringement. If we are all informed, I believe that there would be less problems in this area.

* cyber bullying -

Cyber bullying is a term that is muddy all around its edges. Just what exactly counts as cyber bullying? Maybe to stop cyberbullying we must all agree first on what it is and educate people about it. Honestly, laws aren't going to do much about cyber bullying as nobody ever takes what everyone else said in the internet seriously (supposedly). Maybe we shoul all just be reminded of common netiquettes that are long forgotten by this generation.

* other pertinent issues

I see that almost everyone sees porn as an issue. I am very ambivalent towards this issue. I believe that porn should just be regulated and not treated as cancer. Why? Almost every guy watches porn. Even I, a girl, watch porn every once in a while and it's nothing to be ashamed of as long as it's not child pornography and hidden camera kind of porn because that is clearly a violation of someone's rights. What we should do, again, is regulate what's going around. What's more alarming than porn itself are the virus that comes with them. Again, if we just regulate the porn on and make it less shameful, maybe viruses wouldn't be their side dish anymore.

As for the online dating issue. It's just the same as penpals and textmates. Whatever the media is, it is up to one's own better judgement to gauge the personality of whoever we meet. I've met (and sadly dated) someone in the real world who was a  potential axe murderer before. I also have best friends (a lot of them) who I wouldn't have met if not through the internet. So, again, it is up to each andd everyone of us to choose the kind of people we deal with and take precautions whether it be online or offline.
 

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