"Today's campaign managers know how to use technology to get their candidates elected. For example, no candidate's campaign is complete without a MySpace page, YouTube channel and a Web site that accepts donations........Technologically savvy campaigns are one thing, but we also need candidates who themselves have a basic understanding of how this stuff works. We need to elect the first tech president."
Imagine that, a president that understands the importance of technology even way down in the education system. This is when I think we will start to see changes happening. The article suggests that we should be asking about our presidential candidates views on the following:
- Declare the Internet a public good ("Treating it like electricity or water and enabling low-cost universal access")
- Commit to providing affordable high-speed wireless Internet access nationwide ("make sure the Net reaches every segment of the population")
- Declare a Net neutrality standard ("This would prevent ISPs from discriminating among content based on origin, application or type.")
- Make "Every Child Connected" our goal (major corporations are able to increase the productivity of their workers by equipping them with PCs, cell phones and Internet connections, we owe it to our children ")
- Commit to building a connected democracy ("Local and national government proceedings should be broadcast on the Internet so anyone can hear them anytime.")
- Create a National Tech Corps ("This group would respond to emergencies by reestablishing communications, networks and databases, and providing tech support for relief and recovery efforts.")
We need to educate our leaders about the 21 Century so they can do their jobs and work for us. Thank goodness the candidates have campaign managers that know what to do as far as making the candidates look good. Did you know that you can go online and post a video question to ask during the CNN/YouTube Debates next week, July 23rd to be exact. I hope that the candidates answer some of the 6 questions above. I will we watching or at least tuning in to find out the questions asked and the answers that were given. I'm also interested in seeing which candidates participate.
Issue: Government involvement in change
7 comments:
"Every Child Connected" What an idea!! I completely agree. I also agree that while the media guys that work for the president understand the importance of the Web, the actually candidates have limited understanding.
I find it interesting that you said presidential candidates should think about declaring the Internet a public good, however, Monica found an article that states
"the long term success of social networking sites depends upon their ability to retain the interest of their members". One of the ways to do this (according to the article) is to cut back on availability in order to make it desirable.
I didn't know we could post video questions that will be asked to the presidential candidates! I think that is awesome. Thanks for sharing!
"One of the ways to do this (according to the article) is to cut back on availability in order to make it desirable." Do you believe that is the real reason why they would be cutting back on availability? I think it might be to create a monopoly and raise prices?
What an idea. I mean really, if the teachers are required to keep up-to-date in order to educate the public. Shouldn’t prospective leaders of this country know a little about what is happening and how it is happening? Truly!!!
I'm with you, girl!!
Not only government leaders but education leaders. I believe that if the administrators at the board of education really understood the use of and value of educational technology, we'd have more access.
I agree that we need to fund the infrastructure and we need to have the government do it. In "The World is Flat" the authors explain that it was US companies that funded the tech infrastructure in other countries during the dot com craze. Now they are more connected than we are in the U.S.
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