Digital Divide:
According to Steve Kastenbaum, from CNN News, “The so-called digital divide has all but disappeared. But there’s a huge gap in knowledge of how to use that technology.”
Steve Kastenbaum believes that the digital divide is becoming less and less of an issue due to advancements in school systems; more specifically in schools located in New York’s Lower East Side.
Children in the Lower East Side of New York are finding it more and more normal to have classrooms filled with computers, even if they haven’t ever touched a computer at home.
Because of the digital divide and many Americans not being able to afford internet in their homes, children in our public school systems have minimal computer experience.
Even though schools are trying to do a better job in adding computers and Internet access to a child’s day-to-day schedule, I feel that the digital divide still plays a significant role. A child can only get so much internet and/or computer access when at school and if they don’t have that access at home, they hours they are on the computer at school just are not enough; therefore, the digital divide still stands.
Northwestern University professor Eszter Hargittai believes that bridging the gap is the key to creating a path out of poverty for students and I definitely agree, but how big of a role of internet within the schools is going to affect the child? Yes, the child will become more comfortable with a computer, but they will not be nearly as comfortable with it as a child who has a computer at their home; hence, the digital divide.
Though many schools that are “in the bad part of town” are doing their best to have their students get more aquainted with computers and the internet, I feel that they will never be as familiar with it as students who have the luxury of a computer in the privacy of their own home. Children who have computers at their houses probably don’t only use the computer for school work, they may play games on the computer, they may take part in online shopping, or even use social media platforms. Children who only use computers at school don’t have the ability to do those things, due to the use of their computers are only in a school setting, so doing these things at school is almost nonexistent.
The digital divide is still a huge factor in America, regardless of whether or not schools are adding computer use to the classroom.
http://cnnradio.cnn.com/2012/10/05/helping-kids-cross-the-digital-divide/
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Online Identity. Professor Tutt's class blog contribution!
Does having a different personality on social media lessen one’s integrity?According to Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, “Having two identities for yourself is an example of a lack of integrity.”
Having the ability to create a separate identity online can be both beneficial and hurtful. Many people believe that being able tocreate a completely separate identity online is controversial. On one hand, aperson as the ability to start fresh online, meaning that if they cannot fullyexpress their identity in real life, then they can do so online. But many look at this almost as a way of “false advertisement”.
Much controversy has risen lately with Google+ when they decided that all accounts would be deleted if the registered person did not usetheir real name, but then quickly changed the rules and allowed people to havetheir names be whatever they choose.
I feel that someone should be able to make whatever identity they wish when logging online. With the use of social media always increasing, I feel that the opportunity to make an online identity is always growing, also!
There are plenty of circumstances where someone does not have the ability in their lives to fully express who they want to be, and that is where social media sites have allowed these people to express themselves and find happiness.
There are plenty of circumstances where someone does not have the ability in their lives to fully express who they want to be, and that is where social media sites have allowed these people to express themselves and find happiness.
Even though Google+ originally did not allow users tohave a profile without using their actual names, I think that they quickly realized their mistake and transitioned back in a professional manner. I am a firm believer in accepting responsibility and admitting when a mistake as beenmade, so for Google+ to realize that they had made a mistake, I feel that they should be commended for it, rather than reprimanded.
In response to Facebook’s founder and CEO, I feel that just because someone has a separate identity online from their real-life identity,it does not put their personal integrity in question. Just because some people portray their lives differently online, than they do on a day-to-day basis, does not mean that they are putting their integrity on the line. There are so many different reasons and circumstances in which cause people to portray theirlives differently online and who am I to judge that? I feel that if someone wantsto act different online, then they have every reason to be, and if their followers don’t like it, then they can easily be deleted from their friend lists. After all, it’s their online identity, which means they can easily choose who can be a part of their online life.
The link added below is an interesting video of Doctor Mark Kossmann and Charlie Seymour Junior. I foudn this video on YouTube and it really helped me understand some of the different views of having an online identity!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VsWFTZdGIk&noredirect=1
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