From Papyrus to Cyberspace
The task of guiding students to lay claim to the title, “good digital citizen” can be challenging. As a teacher, I have been given the resources to teach students how to become effective digital citizens and engage responsibly in a networked society. Improved technology in the form of ipads, chromebooks, smartboard, etc… have made it easier for teachers to bring the community into the classroom. As easy as it is to help students connect globally and share ideas there are also some challenges that need to be considered. O’Donnell and Engell shed light on the costs and benefits associated with the changing frontier of technology and communication in the radio broadcast, “From Papyrus to Cyberspace”.
O’Donnell claims that new technologies have allowed people to recognize power of their voice. People who once felt voiceless now have the power to be heard, make connections, and share ideas in ways that have not been previous possible. He also recognized that there is a cost; with power also comes the opportunity for harm. O’Donnell recognized the possibility of isolation as a potential harm that can come with the pursuit of online discourse. Individuals risk isolating themselves from opportunities to connect with their immediate surrounding when choosing to instead to focus on connections made in cyberspace.
The power of voice has continued to evolve in this new frontier. Social media provides a fertile ground for expression of ideas and the creation of change. Outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube have given people a forum to connect and share their lives moment by moment. For many people, these platforms for communication have become an interwoven part of everyday life. They allow us to express our likes and dislikes and receive continuous input from others. Individuals banning together can now create a range of interesting movements. From casting a vote for your favourite singer on the program The Voice, to expressing anger of the shooting of Cecil the lion, the impacts can be both positive and negative.
What does this mean for teaching and learning? Knowing that the frontier for communication will continue to evolve and change, educators need to focus on teaching media literacy. A part of this includes the art of engaging in constructive and thoughtful online discourse along with an ability to discern and make sense out of what we see, and read on the internet. Students who are accustomed to connecting on social medial need support to learn how to cope with, navigate, and manage the messages their receive. They also need to learn to appreciate the power of the words and messages they share with others. I believe that the frontier for communication will never stop evolving. Changes will continue to pose new opportunities and challenges. Teachers have a unique opportunity and responsibility to help guide students on this journey.
Engell J & O’Donnell J. (1999). From Papyrus to Cyberspace. [Audio File]. Cambridge Forums.
“Teachers have a unique opportunity and responsibility to help guide students on this journey”
Thanks for your post Maureen. I like this particular line. And I like it because it is common to see people referring to this change of roles of teachers as a challenge more than an opportunity. Just to follow-up with your comment, this article: New TEL Environments for Vocational Education – Teacher’s Instructional Perspective, was published this year in Vocations and Learning. Here’s a comment of the article published in Science Daily. If you read it let me know what you think.
Great post Maureen! One message that really stuck with me from the “Papyrus to Cyberspace” radio broadcast was that the most important processing takes place between our ears before we speak. While it reflected a lack of perceived value in word-processing education at the time, it also stands true when speaking about digital literacy and responsibility today. The introduction of social media websites has provided us with a platform to share our knowledge and voice our opinions within vast social networks. However, this does not mean we should place less value on the content we choose to share- quantity of knowledge networks should never outweigh quality of shared content.
As trends continue toward digital communication that closely resembles face-to-face encounters, and the content we post is able to reach more people at a faster rate, the demands of media literacy will continue to evolve. I completely agree with you that teachers have an important role in guiding students, as they strive to keep up with such demands. I recently heard about the website https://www.periscope.tv, which allows users to stream live videos of themselves for others to access and view by searching for specific topics. While this new platform could certainly be highly useful within an educational context, it brings along with it a whole new set of concerns related to censorship, safety, and responsibility.
Although the Internet contains quite a bit of inaccurate and unreliable information, wide circulation of such content allows for a greater deal of quality control, as individuals and organizations that are knowledgeable on particular topics are able to curate and contribute valuable content. As you mentioned, being able to discern the “good” from the “bad” is incredibly important. I would like to think that the same principle applies to messages of negativity floating around online. Having such messages displayed on such a public forum has the potential draw greater awareness to prevalent issues and bring about positive and encouraging responses in large numbers. For instance, the story of Cecil the lion may not have gained as much attention and awareness as it did, had it not been for social media.
Interesting reflection on how communication continues to evolve in an ever-changing technological world, and the importance of engaging in constructive, thoughtful, online discourse. It is important to be self-reflective digital citizens. Developing critical thinking skills empowers learners to become more independent thinkers. Young people need to understand that their actions and the information they are sharing, both on and offline, impact their reputation. They need to know what they can do to control and protect their digital footprint. It is important that students are mindful of what they post because others can access their information. Their tone, content and imagery reflect their personal brand. They need to be professional, consistent, and smart about their posts. Recruiters and employers use social media to screen potential employees because social media is more revealing than a resume. People want others to interpret them as being competent, influential and likeable (O’Reilly, 2015). When people think about their online profile does it accurately reflect their face-to-face, in-person professional presence?
You stated that teachers have a unique opportunity and responsibility to help guide students on this journey. I would imagine that this would be quite daunting for some teachers, who are ill-equipped for the task, as they have little confidence or understanding of technology and social media themselves due to the generation gap.
I agree that some people who once felt voiceless now have the power to be heard, make connections, and share ideas in ways that have not been previous possible. In my experience working in the post-secondary system, students who might shy away from speaking in front of their peers in class, thrive in an online discussion forum that they interpret as being less intimidating.
O’Reilly, T. (Producer). (2015, June 13). Selling Yourself: The Art of Personal Branding [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/radio/undertheinfluence/selling-yourself-the-art-of-personal-branding-1.3106068