Wk 5 Lecture

As I mentioned last week I wasn’t too happy that the last of the questions didn’t get answered but we were able to pick that question back up in the beginning of this weeks lecture. Should Network Literacy be focused on in early education? There were a few differing on this. Yes, it can be taught formally, but we’d have to change the whole structure of primary school learning and the way teachers teach. There are some schools that have looked into this already and are doing well in this changed method. The idea that primary school are scared of the mass that is the internet was also bounced around. The last point i wish to mention is the idea that Network teaches its own literacy, so does it need to be taught or is it one of those social laws that will inevitably be learnt, one way or the other.

The questions this week were about the internet, hypertext and consequences of not being network literate. To answer the first question: how is hypertext relevant to us as media practitioners? The immediate response was ‘how is it not’. Less then helpful but also putting forward a strong point. After more discussion it is relevant because it is the way most things, if not all things work within.

What predictions about network should we be aware of in the future? Well, that your weight scales will soon be able to talk to your phone and your fridge will count calories in it through the internet and tell you about it in your microwave. A little extravagant for the next step but it could be happening, you never know.

What are the consequences of being network illiterate? We get used. That is short answer, the example of Facebook came up. The general public use this to put up information about yourself and talk and find new things and we get paid nothing, yet the owners of Facebook are getting money through advertising because we are doing the ground work. Interesting. but really, what would we do without Facebook? . . . well we’d probably find some other way to share what we are eating and what we think of that person in front of you on the train.

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