Holoda’s Weblog

This article (“Education Changing by Incorporating Technology”), was basically about the integration of new media in the classrooms and how great it is that students can integrate the internet, software, etc within their studies to enhance their learning, etc, etc, etc. But once again I think the discussion applies to specific audiences because, in reality, there are limited schools that can actually enjoy this privilege. Of course my experience with different school districts in California is limited, but I can speak for Yucaipa-Calimesa and Redlands School districts as I have had many opportunities to witness their access to technology first hand and talk with the teachers, my mom being one of them. It’s a great thing when a student is researching something and is able to use computers to enhance their research with pictures, video clip, etc, but what about the districts that can’t particularly afford this stuff? For example, in the Yucaipa school district many of the programs and software available to schools is not really feasible and completely overlooked because the schools don’t have the funding to use it, nor do they have enough technology. Then, if you consider the districts that get by with the bare minimum (like some LA schools for example), it’s really disheartening. It’s an interesting situation as we discuss the possibility of textbooks “becoming obsolete” because of the integration of technology in schools, yet many schools can’t even afford the textbooks to teach.

Here’s the link to the article….  http://post-journal.com/page/content.detail/id/502546.html?nav=5018

I finally got around to reading the Dibbell article (“A Rape in Cyberspace”), and I have to admit it was a little alarming. Although it was obviously upsetting to the ‘victims,’ I have a hard time feeling the degree of shock and empathy for these people in relation to the terrible reality of a rape in the material world. The author stresses rape as an “emotional act” and quotes a few of the MOO members in their “attempts to fine-tune the differences between real and virtual violence. ‘Is not the mind a part of the body?’ ‘In MOO, the body IS the mind.” Yet, “rape” is a horrible act that has seriously negative effects on the mind and body and it is hard for me to compare “cyber-rape” to real life.

ON the other hand, Dibbell brings up an interesting issue in regards to identity and how far it extends beyond our physical body. If we see these virtual identities/communities as extensions of ourselves, then at what point can we (should we) censor or punish (in Bungles case, banish), a member who steps outside of the “boundaries” of proprieties, cultural values, etc. And what are these boundaries? An extension of the cultural that exists in the material world? This article raises a lot of questions that are seemingly impossible to answer.

Something that was particularly odd to me was the community discussion to toad or not to toad Bungles, and the obvious factor that he could easily make up another character and continue to do the same things.