Our kids, our communities and the "World Wild Web"

While the accessibility to information holds much promise in creating a global community and allow us to learn from each other, it also holds much danger. From on-line predators to cyberbullying, it has opened up a whole new landscape of digital peril.

Just what do our young people know? What do they need to know? What types of risky behavior are you seeing with our youth?

What roles do school administrations, teachers, parents and communities have to play in keeping our children and our communities safe??

Is Downloading Music Appropriate?

The advent of the Internet has made the sharing of information so much easier. This includes digital information like music and movies. Many people have taken advantage of this to share music and video without paying for it.

Is this appropriate, let alone legal? What should we be doing to educate our kids in this matter? Is it even possible to stop? Should we care?

Assistive Technology vs Enabling Technology?

Technology has helped many people lead successful lives - people who might otherwise have been subjected to a lower quality of life.

Newer technologies have even begun to assist people who do not have specific challenges. Some might argue that this is causing a tremendous dependency on the technology, to the point where people resist learning traditional skills - seeing them as unnecessary.

How much technology is too much? At what poing does technology cease to be assistive and instead become enabling? How can we use technology for it's tremendous benefits, yet maintain traditional skills. Or should we be more prepared to move past traditional skills in reading and writing and look to technology to do more of the basic tasks for us?

Are we "real" on-line?

More and more people are spending an increasing amount of time connecting with others in on-line environments. Virtual spaces are becoming more and more realistic, and our kids would rather text than call.

Other's have found that the identities they create in cyberspace have proved to have negative consequences on their life.

Are our on-line identities relevant to who we are off-line?

Is on-line even a REAL place?

Are we Alone?

Our kids love to chat on-line...mostly because it seems like they are away from prying adult eyes. But just how "alone" are they?

Do you feel like the Internet is private? Who do you think can / is watching us?

Post # 1: Is technology a necessary evil?

Technology is embraced by some who see it as a panacea for creating a global environment that liberates and democratizes. Others see technology as an evil that permeates our culture with filth and is fraught with dangers. Where does the truth lie? Is technology a necessary evil or a powerful tool for positive social change? Talk about this from your own experiences? What do you see in the community around you?