Blog 8: The ethics of cyberspace

You would think that just cheating on a test could be grounds for punishment in a classroom. But now, with the new technology age, we need a whole new set of rules to govern how we use and execute our privileges on the net and on the computer. According to our book, the ethics are outlined to include 1) unauthorized use of computers, 2) hardware, software, and information theft, 3) information privacy, 4) copyrighted materials, and lastly 5) the existence of objectionable materials on the internet. These rules are of course up to debate as far as how fair they actually are, but if you think about it...truthfully...they are like any other set of rules and regulations provided to individuals to best safeguard their safety and safety of others. More importantly, technology for educators can be detrimental to students if used in the wrong way. For instance, by using others' work, we are not giving credit to those who most certainly deserve it. I mean come on, at the end of the day, it's really basic ethics.

Of all the skills I have learned thus far in this course, the ones that I have acquired for the internet have been the most useful. I use to constantly load webpages within my current window, and that was becoming extremely tiresome. Now, knowing I can right click and select open in new tab, problem solved! This may seem to many as miniscule and well...kind of pathetic, but to me this is like hitting a gold mine of time saving! It really makes you think, what would we do without the tab feature in our web browsers? I'm glad that Internet Explorer caught up with the world and instituted the whole tab thing.

I know Facebook gets a lot of flack for...well...being Facebook, but seriously have you ever thought what the world might be without Facebook? Facebook, as problematic as it currently is, at the true basics is a great resource. it allows you to share pictures and videos with your friends now in lightspeed timing and it eliminates the task of sending (as well remembering your friends' e-mail addresses) everyone an e-mail. I hate Facebook now, but oh how great it was back in the good ole days. Isn't life funny like that?