Thinking the Internet really got me thinking about the Internet--imagine that. It drew me in from the very beginning with the description of the college student...if technology has become such a part of our lifs that it is the same as getting on an elevator...then why don't we require a class like this one for graduation? Coe College requires you to take a writing emphasis course and I believe they instituted a speaking emphasis requirement...but what about a technology emphasis course? We require Oral Communication at UNI because you are going to need to know about how to speak and interact in the world, but how about in the virtual world? Something to think about.
Will the Internet Transform Education?
http://www.rand.org/pubs/reprints/2005/RP685.pdf
This article addresses some issues we have discussed in class--such as distance learning...
On p. 265 he actually states that many academics are inexperienced with on-line communication--yet they are the ones that our teaching and educating the future workforce--is that a problem we need to address? Almost any job you go to get involves a computer and communicating with it...
Many times when I read these articles they link back to instances in my own life and on p. 271 is an example. Sterne discusses the specific type of cultural studies that consider the Internet as one site among many--thus the Internet is just one of the technologies taht lends itself to cultural/political problems in society. He then points out as an example a study that showed how computer technology is changing design time, eliminating jobs and allowing a closer interaction between management and employees. I just heard an example of this this weekend and it is an area that should be addressed. I overheard an person saying to my friend, "Yeah--my boss just friended me on Facebook--what am I supposed to do about that?" A conversation ensued about if he didn't friend him then he would think he was up to no good, but if he did, the lines between work and social life would be blurred. How do you feel about technology being able to let your boss know that you went out on a date with the competition last weekend, etc.?
Another point for discussion that this article brings up through examples is that of gender and race/ethnicity online. We just had a discussion about this in my Oral Communication class, so it is fresh in my mind! Sterne discusses how it is problematic that there is a non-reaciality/enthnicity in cyberspace--but the question I would pose is...is that necessarily a bad thing? My students really thought it could be a benefit. Because the issue of race is not staring you in the face you are more likely to interact without stereotypes, prejudices, etc.
Race and Cyberspace: Interview with Lisa Nakamura
http://www.nettime.org/Lists-Archives/nettime-l-0405/msg00057.html
I would also like to address the section on Internet being a commodity. He discusses stories of people getting e-mail addresses for presitge and how it is a sought-after service that assumes access to computeres, software, etc. But as it is becoming more mainstream is that really the case? I would not assert that having an e-mail address is prestigious. An example I thought of was a group of lower income residents next to Coe College. Often, they could be found in the library using the computers. They had e-mail addresses and access to computers, yet they would surely be deemed lower class and many of their families were on food stamps...
And..this is for you Epley...!
Do you capitalize Internet?
By hal April 16, 2007
http://online-copywriter.com/wordpress/2007/04/16/do-you-capitalize-internet/
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