Net Neutrality and Equity in Education
I support Net Neutrality because I feel like it is essential that education and knowledge are easily accessible to all through the internet. Impeding on peoples’ access would negatively affect many peoples’ lives. I believe that no longer having Net Neutrality inhibits the “freedom of the press” in the U.S. Lately, less and less information is being physically printed. Even Newspapers are turning to digital subscriptions.
If we are limiting who has access to the internet or quick internet, we are limiting how fast the common person can share and receive information online. Once we start doing that, we are opening up our world to only being influenced by big companies or powerful governments. I deeply appreciate the impact of journalists in the United States and I believe they work with a “checks and balances system” to ensure governments and corporations are being held accountable. We need to rethink allowing large companies to charge ridiculous amounts of money for internet speed.
In the event that effective internet becomes more and more expensive, we must take action to ensure that our students from lower socio-economic statuses are not left in the dust regarding their education. This year, we already have experienced what it is like to struggle with students effectively learning through the internet as the result of slower internet access speeds. It would be devastating if learning online became the only way to learn and if only the rich could afford doing so. I believe many of the laws we currently have on Net Neutrality counteract the beauty of the US Education system that provides a free, public education service to all students.
We all know knowledge is power and we must protect our access to knowledge.
Digital Tattoos
When I search for myself online, I find information about my social media accounts, a wedding registry, and several newspaper articles. I am proud of and comfortable with what shows up about myself online when I search my first and last maiden name. I believe because I grew up in a world of technology with many people warning us to be cautious of what we posted online, I have made good decisions about what to share. When I search my new last name, nothing comes up. I am certain that with time the internet will find more about me, but for now there is nothing from the past year.
The search that concerns me is when I search my maiden name and my hometown. We find items about myself that are much more personal, including obituaries of close family members. Several permanent addresses of family members shows up, and as a result, I become more concerned with safety. In a way, I really wish the online telephone directories and address books did not exist.
Predicting Where Internet is Going
“The future of television is to stop thinking of television as television.”
~ Nicholas Negroponte, 1985
In his quote, Nicholas Negroponte is trying to communicate that the evolution of technology will lead to “television [being] more about displays” than about TV. During the past few years the way we, as a society, view television has dramatically changed. Once we had the ability to stream television with streaming services, like Netflix, on computers, tablets, and cellphones, all that was needed to watch “TV” was a display. The shift from TV being a device to being something easily done through the internet with a screen is officially evident. Recently, as Amazon tries to acquire MGM in a merger, the scope of the effect of streaming services in the market of digital entertainment becomes apparent. As I read more about the possible merger, I am shocked about how many view this as a turning point in technology.
As an educator in the past year, it has been commonplace for students to stream or join class virtually through any screen/ display they can get their hands on. The importance is no longer on a singular function of a device, but rather on whether it is a display that has access to the internet. I can apply this to my life currently because I frequently stream shows through my cellphone, computer, and TVs. In my professional career, we have a large TV in front of my kids that I use to teach on a daily basis. The TV provides a large display for my students and it is less effort than using a projector.
It is valuable for us to listen to others, reflect on, and be conscientious of how technology is advancing. I remember reading books in school which discussed dystopian societies where technology takes over, or where we burn books and don’t care for knowledge. We must stay diligent as we pursue knowledge, education and truth in the world we live in. We must work to protect knowledge and the knowledge our students will inherit.
References:
Lerman, R. (2021, May 27). Amazon merger with MGM bolsters its Prime ambitions. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/05/27/amazon-prime-video-mgm-streaming/.
Education with Meaning 