Week 7: Free Speech Online

Issue 4: Freedom Speech

Should the internet allow unregulated freedom of speech?
There are two basic thoughts involved when addressing this question. The first is to allow unregulated postings and the other is to employ a type of censorship. The main argument for unregulated freedom of speech on the web is that it is a sound ideology in a democratic society. Without it, we could be the subject of personal attacks, and we could face legal charges. Also, with unregulated freedom of speech, persons can express their views both positive and negative which can allow people to see both views of an issue.

Another main issue concerning regulation is who is going to do the regulating. What are the rules? What is appropriate? Do the regulators have a personal bias in the issue being presented? Who is held responsible (the website or the poster)? What are the consequences? I do not think anyone is saying that it should be a free for all without some type of user’s agreement, but most people agree that the poster should be the one held accountable. A good example of content taken out of context through regulation involved the Dutch photographer Maarten Dors. He posted an image of a young Romanian adolescent smoking a cigarette on Yahoo’s photo-sharing service called Flickr. According to Yahoo, it depicted a child smoking which is a violation of an unwritten ban on Flickr. They did not see that he was trying to illustrate the hardship young people face in Romania which was his intent (Jedanun, 2008). It is a fine line that must be drawn in order to instill creativity but yet not create a platform that will be harming or demeaning.

On the legal side of things, there have been a number of legal cases involving website postings, but according to a federal law implemented in 1996 internet service providers can not be held responsible for content placed on a website. This law makes a distinction between what is posted on the web and what can be published in print. Unlike newspaper and magazine publishers, the law was designed to protect the internet service providers, but it does states that the author of the defamatory material could be held liable.

Week 6: Textbooks or Notebooks

Textbooks or Notebooks

The number one question on most people’s minds, especially outside of education, revolves around the cost. The cost difference is getting better, but it is still a major concern. With the use of computers, costs are slightly offset because the publishing cost for printing supplies and printing press maintenance would be removed. But, the main issue surrounding the cost of the computers encompasses their issue of durability. The durability of laptops has come a long way with improvements made to their construction both internally and externally. A top distributor of laptops to schools has stated that they have developed a child-proof computer. A representative of the company trying to supply computers to Texas gave an illustration of this when he poured a glass of water on a laptop, and he told Texas lawmakers during his presentation that it could withstand the weight of a 250 pound person (Mendels, 1998). With these innovations being made to the manufacturing of computers, it seems that they have made some great strides in meeting the needs of schools.

There are a number of reasons persons believe laptops are superior to textbooks. One of those is the up-dated information they provide students at their fingertips which will provide a method of reaching a more diverse classroom make-up and style of learner. These students can be anywhere in the world covering almost every topic in seconds regardless of there abilities. The chairman of the Texas State Board of Education in 1998, Jack Christie, believes having computers replace textbooks will also level the playing field and diminish the effect of the digital divide (Mendels, 1998). The main things holding back the development of laptops replacing textbooks are the need for equipment, Internet access, and training of educators. The final reason being a main concern because teachers will not give up textbooks if they are not properly trained.

Technology can enhance a student’s skills to prepare them for the 21st century workforce, but some debate whether it develops the study skills of the students. Many believe the skills are still being developed only with a different media format. Students still have to reason and problem solve, but now, it will be done at a much faster rate with more accurate resources. With the use of technology, some of the students study skills can be enhanced at a much quicker rate because often times they can get immediate feedback concerning their level of competence.

In this ever changing world, we need dynamic tools to create this type of learning environment. Education is continually changing to meet the needs of our society. It sounds like it is a drastic change, but in looking at the evolution of how information has been presented, it isn’t that big of a stretch (Weeks, 2007). First, thoughts in the teachers head were given to students who would then write them down. Next, we placed those thoughts on print which students were then required to read, and now, we are developing an electronic format to present information. Below is a passage from Rae Niles’ site from an anonymous post that gives a pretty good indication of the significance of developing our student’s information literacy skills.

“Let’s have a little competition at school and get ready for the future. I will use a laptop and you will use paper and pencil. Are you ready…?”

• I will access up-to-date information - you have a textbook that is 5 years old.
• I will immediately know when I misspell a word – you have to wait until it’s graded.
• I will learn how to care for technology by using it – you will read about it.
• I will see math problems in 3D – you will do the odd problems.
• I will create artwork and poetry and share it with the world – you will share yours with the class.
• I will have 24/7 access – you have the entire class period.
• I will access the most dynamic information – yours will be printed and photocopied.
• I will communicate with leaders and experts using email – you will wait for Friday’s speaker.
• I will select my learning style – you will use the teacher’s favorite learning style.
• I will collaborate with my peers from around the world – you will collaborate with peers in your classroom.
• I will take my learning as far as I want – you must wait for the rest of the class.
• The cost of a laptop per year? - $250
• The cost of teacher and student training? – Expensive
• The cost of well educated US citizens and workforce? – Priceless
  

Other areas that make computers more appealing than textbooks are their attractiveness. Computers make the presentation of information cross-disciplinary. Students can learn not only the new knowledge, but they can learn how it applies to other areas they are interested in which makes learning more appealing. This connection also makes tasks more meaningful because it connects to the student’s everyday lives (Pratt, 2004). The varying formats of how the information is presented also makes technology a better resource. Information can be delivered in audio or video formats which can include pictures, speeches, and videos. These different forms of media make the process of teaching and learning more motivating and attractive to students, and this makes learning an exciting and more appealing experience for the students (Oak, 2008).

Don Bates











References:
Mendels, P. (1998, May 20). Texas weighs value of laptops vs textbooks. Retrieved October 3, 2008, from New York Times on the Web.
Web site: http://www.notesys.com/Copies/NYT20May98Texas.htm.

Weeks, T. (2007). LeaderTalk: Information vs textbooks. Retrieved October 3, 2008,
from the LeaderTalk blog.
Web site: http://www.leadertalk.org/2007/09/information-vs-.html

Oak, M. (2008). Textbooks versus computer teaching. Retrieved October 3, 2008, from
the Buzzle.com.
Web site: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/textbooks-versus-computer-teaching.html

Pratt, D., & Simpson, A. (2004, August). McDonald 's vs father christmas. Australian
Primary Mathematics Classroom, 9(3), 4-9. Retrieved October 3, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database.

Niles, R. (2208). Learning in the digital age. Retrieved October 3, 2008, from the Rae
Niles website.
Website: http://www.raeniles.com/page10/page10.html