Managing iCT Managing iCT
Is technology destroying society?
Not-for-profit
TrueTube is a free, web-based educational resource technology people use, it is almost certain someone about using a computer. she explains: “The amish
which promotes understanding by using real-life stories will find some way to abuse it. no technology is bad, decided not to go with electricity many years ago when
website TrueTube
and issues to encourage teenagers, and other hard- but technology can be used badly. he provides an it became available. They didn’t think that electricity
to-reach groups, to explore and debate the world of insight into just how far technology will advance in the was evil; they just thought that if they connected to those
morality, ethics, politics and religion. it brings the coming decades, adding: “You already have medical wires it would bring too many temptations and it would
has produced a
curriculum to life by using the language of today’s robots that are being used by surgeons to enable them deteriorate family and community life as they knew it.”
teenagers – short-form web-based video – and aims to to perform operations in a safer and more accurate way Meanwhile, Mathias Kolle reveals how technology
series of short
investigate complex topics. than before.” will help change our lives in the future for the good. he
it releases films on a different issue every two weeks, anna dee olson discusses growing up in an amish explains what nano-technology is and discusses what
films entitled ‘Is technology
and its latest hot topic looks at technology and science, community and how it compares with the modern the next big thing will be in nano-technology, and how
giving teachers the opportunity to delve deeper into world. she left the community aged 24, but talks about eventually people could be watching mini-televisions
technological advances. is technology getting out of how they were scared of modern technology, describing that can be folded up and put in a coat pocket, or driving
destroying society?’ Editor-
hand and becoming dangerous? should there be a code a computer as “the beast”, and how they did not round in nano-motors – small helicopters made out of
of ethics for scientists? or can it in fact save the world? have electricity or television. it was a molecules.
in-chief Erik van der
Robotics expert dr david challenge for her to learn to also featured are debates between science and
levy kicks off the debate, survive in a modern religion, the dangers of gM foods, and the growing
Schaft says they can help
discussing whether world, and she interest in designer babies.
technology is out felt scared By using these short videos in class, teachers can
educate about the benefits
of control. provide students with varied viewpoints on technology
according and science, for them to debate, discuss, or form
to him, no projects around. Teachers are supported through the
and the consequences of
m a t t e r topics by online lesson plans with suggested questions
w h a t and activities to aid lively debate.
modern technology
as well as technology and science, TrueTube
provides videos on moral, ethical and social topics, like
abortion, obesity and crime and punishment.
echnological advances can david Fetterol, head of religious education
T
undeniably help to enhance our lives, at st Philip howard catholic high school in
yet such improvements often bring a Bognor Regis, has been using TrueTube since
set of issues to tackle. society has been 2007 to start his lessons and catch student’s
credited with creating technology, attention as soon as they walk through the
but at the same time, technology is classroom door.
creating and shaping society. “i find the videos a great starting point. if
Today, learners have the opportunity to attend we are covering human rights, for example,
a virtual classroom, they have the chance to i can search the site for the relevant videos
create podcasts and blogs, and watch videos and my students get to watch real-life
online. This kind of technological advancement stories from all sides of the spectrum. We
within schools is of course very positive; it listen to one opinion, then try and find
engages students in the curriculum, another. The class find it jaw dropping – they
motivates them, inspires them, enables often get very agitated by some people’s
them to learn creatively, and prepares opinions, and want to voice theirs.” SecEd
them for the real world. however, it
is important to educate students • Erik van der Schaft is TrueTube’s editor-
on what technology means in-chief.
to the outside world as a
whole, and the affects
Further information
it has on society. visit www.truetube.co.uk
SecEd • September 11 2008 11
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