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| World Digital Library |
Carol Forsloff---There are many organizations around the
world who contribute money and time to helping children and others
with Internet access. The American Association of Retired Persons in
Hawaii helps seniors learn the Internet at the local public library,
joining with others in support of the eGranary solution, Or
“Internet in a Box.”
The mission of this digitized method of
information development and storage is to bring educational content
to the poor and disadvantaged who otherwise might not have it.
The World Digital Library is supported by UNESCO and the Library of Congress. Its mission in providing access to information through digitizing is to promote cultural understanding around the world.
Therefore some information is directed towards education with specific classes while other information is more general in nature.
AARP was established specifically for
and by seniors, yet often the group offers its arms wide open to
service that helps people outside seniors. For example, in some
communities the food bank is a supported activity for everyone. At
the same time, Internet access is a targeted goal, and age
qualifications don't meet the individual with an expressed need to
master the computer.
On a larger, international scale,
organizations such as the International Monetary Fund
are stepping out to support internet access for everyone, especially
children. This is why this well-known group is involved: “The
problem in many developing countries is that governments lack either
the financial resources or the political will to meet their citizens'
educational needs.”
And
this help can come from local groups, community organizations,
international leadership and individual support.
A
writer for the World Bank blog outlines how the international
community, through this particularly large group, can be helpful in
the efforts to spread Internet access for everyone. The Digital
Library known as the eGranary solution is the means of “stuffing
the Internet into a box and then “shipping” it to some
underdeveloped country, supported by many as the ticket to knowledge
through the World Wide Web.
This
“Internet in a box” is possible because of the expansion of the
Internet in readable form through phones, tablets and an assortment
of devices with browsers that can access the Internet through a
wireless connection or a public or private network.
But
does this methodology of digitizing information alone, with its
various courses and book offerings, make for a well-rounded
education? The question is often asked in reference to home
schooling that has some of the same features. In both cases
interaction with an instructor, face to face or over the Internet, is
limited or lacking. What happens, for example, when a digitized book
offers information that may be contrary to science, such as occurs
with religious writers or pseudo-scientific psychological counselors
who maintain disease is all a matter of disordered thought as a way
to sell books. What happens to the individual's knowledge of issues
if there is no information that offers a balance within a particular
text or course to counter information that is slanted for personal or
political gain? The value of the teacher in this instance is
underlined by the nature of problems that can develop when there is
little guidance in the learning itself.
The
virtue of digitizing information and making it available to everyone
is to provide the wider possibility of that content reaching a world
audience. On the other hand, the role of the teacher, one might say,
is an important role, that should be maintained in the learning
process, even if it is limited somewhat by time and financial
concerns. Omitting the balance, perspective and input of someone
trained in learning may cause problems, while providing some level of
individual oversight along with the access to the information can be
economically sound and useful as it offers the helpful guidance the
learner needs.
Editor--There
are many organizations around the world who contribute money and time
to helping children and others with Internet access. The American
Association of Retired Persons in Hawaii helps seniors learn the
Internet at the local public library, joining with others in support
of the eGranary solution, Or “Internet in a Box.”
The
mission of this digitized method of information development and
storage is to bring educational content to the poor and disadvantaged
who otherwise might not have it.
The eGranary
solution has the intent of helping people throughout the
world have Internet access. The library of digitized material comes
from voluntary donations of books offered by certain authors from
publishers, such as Loving, Healing Press, along with OpenCourseWare,
the Khan Academy and Wikipedia.
AARP
was established specifically for and by seniors, yet often the group
offers its arms wide open to people who are not seniors. For example,
in some communities the food bank is a supported activity by AARP..
At the same time, Internet access is a targeted goal, and proof of
age is often not required to receive it.
On
a larger, international scale, organizations such as
the International
Monetary Fund are stepping out to support internet
access for everyone, especially children. This is why this well-known
group is involved: “The
problem in many developing countries is that governments lack either
the financial resources or the political will to meet their citizens'
educational needs.”
And
this help can come from local groups, community organizations,
international leadership and individual support.
A
writer for the
World Bank blog outlines how the international community,
through this particularly large group, can be helpful in the efforts
to spread Internet access for everyone. The Digital Library known as
the eGranary solution is the means of “stuffing the Internet into a
box and then “shipping” it to some underdeveloped country,
supported by many as the ticket to knowledge through the World Wide
Web.
This
“Internet in a box” is possible because of the expansion of the
Internet in readable form through phones, tablets and an assortment
of devices with browsers that can access the Internet through a
wireless connection or a public or private network.
But
does this methodology of digitizing information alone, with its
various courses and book offerings, make for a well-rounded
education? The question is often asked in reference
to homeschooling that
has some of the same features. In both cases interaction with an
instructor, face to face or over the Internet, is limited or lacking.
What happens, for example, when a digitized book offers information
that may be contrary to science, such as occurs with religious
writers or pseudo-scientific psychological counselors who maintain
disease is all a matter of disordered thought as a way to sell books.
What happens to the individual's knowledge of issues if there is no
information that offers a balance within a particular text or course
to counter information that is slanted for personal or political
gain? The value of the teacher in this instance is underlined by the
nature of problems that can develop when there is little guidance in
the learning itself.
The
virtue of digitizing information and making it available to everyone
is to provide the wider possibility of that content reaching a world
audience. On the other hand, the role of the teacher, one might say,
is an important role, that should be maintained in the learning
process, even if it is limited somewhat by time and financial
concerns. Omitting the balance, perspective and input of someone
trained in learning may cause problems, while providing some level of
individual oversight along with the access to the information can be
economically sound and useful as it offers the helpful guidance the
learner needs.
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(The present article replaces one where additional information was needed to update present data and organizations now supporting the Digital Library, including local groups as well as charitable efforts in Hawaii The original article is deleted, although its author paid to write it; but may at some time be replicated elsewhere. These updates may be helpful in establishing the thesis of the worldwide efforts on Internet access)