Week Seven - Blog Post 3.
An understanding of how changes in technology impact on the way humans communicate, and the ethical issues that surround these changes.
Over the
years the reliance on technology has become increasingly evident as todays
generation struggle to put down their phone for even five minutes. I know for
myself I use my phone way too much, as if it is a habit, purely due to the fact
that it is the most accessible and convenient way to communicate with other
people. At family gatherings a new rule has been implemented – if any adult sees
a phone you are automatically nominated for dishes duty which majority of the
time isn’t enough of a deterrent to stop you from quickly checking Snap Chat,
Facebook and Instagram.
This
addiction to technology shows that ‘there has been a shift in the way we
communicate; rather than face-to-face interaction, we’re tending to prefer
mediated communication.’ (Booth, 2013). This shift will lead to many problems
in the upcoming future, as younger children are not learning how to interact
with others in person and are not learning about the importance of body
language.
Other
dangers of relying on technology as a main form of communication is that you
don’t always know who is behind the other computer screen, which can result in
potentially dangerous situations. Another issue of communication being online
is that cyber bullying can take place. ‘Cyber bullying is
bullying that is done through the use of technology. For example, using the
Internet, a mobile phone or a camera to hurt or embarrass someone is considered
cyber bullying. It can be shared widely with a lot of people quickly, which is
why it is so dangerous and hurtful.’ (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2011)
When faced with these hard situations it is easy to become a keyboard warrior
without thinking of the end result – everything that is posted online stays out
there forever, which can then impact future jobs.
All of
these negative effects that a reliance on technology produces can be reduced
through adequate cyber safety education. As a pre-service teacher I believe
that technology is a great tool to use in the classroom as long as it doesn’t
hinder a child’s ability to function without it. In my eyes balance is key!
An excellent post, Isabella. It's written academically, using the citations to support your perspective rather than personal experiences. Mentioning the ethical aspects, such as cyberbullying was accurate and well-measured. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog Isabella, this was a great read. You have covered all aspects of the question and I enjoy that you covered your ethical issue of cyberbullying quite thoroughly. This blog is written professionally using personal examples, numerous citations and talking about your teaching as a pre-service teacher. Perhaps incorporating an image that brightens up the piece and relates to what you have discussed would be a beneficial addition to an already excellent blog. Well done!
ReplyDeleteLove your work Isabella! I really enjoyed your take on the ethical issues you mentioned! Your writing was well thought out and provided a wide range of references. I especially enjoyed your take on the long term affects that technology will have! I also enjoyed how you made a personal connection with the question without crossing the boundary of a diary entry. My only criticism would be to add a phone in order to make the piece a little more vibrant!
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