Blog The Internet

The opinion below are the result of my professional experiences as an: historian, webmaster, master teacher, teacher's union vice president and president, parent and grandparent.

Internet and the Classroom Wednesday, June 11th 2014 Updated July 6, 2024

The Internet as part of computing is a new and exciting tool for our world's education, warfare, political development, news reporting, dating and a host of other pending uses. On the negative side it is increasing the world of crime through political manipulation, scams, malware, bullying, misinformation, disinformation on just plan lying.

Internet Internet Safety Cyber War Internet Scams/ Hoaxes Cyber Bullying Science AI and Robotics Education The 21st Century has brought new tools to current and future teachers, students, counselors, administrators and parents, politicians, military personal, medical personal, businesses and the general public. For educational personal there has been a great deal of discussion of the pros and cons of educational technology with the onset of whiteboards, IPhones, IPads, tablets, smart phones, desk tops, Facebook, Artificial Intelligence and other ways of gathering and dissemination of ideas, opinions and information they have made education truly a world wide experience. One can see a future in which textbooks will be a secondary source on information and the internet will be the unlimited path for resources, inspiration, information and advice on all levels. The teacher, counselor, parent and administrator must be the gateway, filter and guide for the information and materials being used by the student to insure the materials are accurate, informative and factual. A negative aspect of the internet, Artificial Intelligence , smartphones and social media is its use for personal information gathering, bullying, cheating and giving false information. Recent studies have encouraged the limiting use of Social Media in and out of school since it has a negative influence and  every politician, teacher, parent, librarian  and administrator must develop methods and guidelines to mitigate this growing trend. Other Uses of the Computer and the Internet 1. In law enforcement the internet and computer programs have brought new ways of investigation and enforcement and judicial review. Old laws need to be updated and enforced. New laws need to be enacted to meet new challenges. Perpetrators need to be fined and imprisoned. 2.The internet, computers, AI and drones has given new ways of warfare never seen before. It has shown new ways killing and of destroying whole cities, transportation systems, military installations, government offices and communications. 3. Business are relying more and more on the internet and the computer programs to develop and sell and price new products, and allow workers to work from home. 4. Medical personal are using the internet in diagnosing diseases and administering treatments. 5.The general public now has access to an unlimited supply of information, resources and ways of purchasing needed goods and services with out leaving their homes. 5. On the dark side bullies, spies, scammers, hoaxers and thieves have now found a new way of deceiving people and enriching themselves. My advice is to use the internet wisely. Don't believe everything just because it is on social media or other internet resources. Verify their origins, individuals and sources. Use more than one source for the information and don't be fooled by the coming of age of the AI! Artificial Intelligence The rapid rise and growth of Artificial Intelligence  has now become a concern of many intellectuals, educators, politicians and the general public. Are we to surrender our decision making, research, education and opinions to a national and or world wide computer system or are we going to rely on our own intelligence. The inherent dangers are mind boggling. Now is the time for people in power and influence to do the  legislative, industrial and personal actions to protect us. This is not a political issue, it is a vital human issue! Hopefully we will never face the ultimate situation in which a super AI will find humans an inconvenience. Stephen Hawking told the BBC “The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race….It would take off on its own, and re-design itself at an ever increasing rate. Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn’t compete, and would be superseded.”