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OPEN ACCESS VERSUS PROPRIETY ACCESS – THE CASE FOR AND AGAINST – Response to Topic 5 question

WHAT IS OPEN ACCESS? MY POSITION ON OPEN ACCESS THE CASE AGAINST OPEN-ACCESS 1. Much more will be downloaded, much less will be understood Opponents to open-access would argue that academic research is a process – a process which universities teach (at a fee). Published findings and research are only partially a result of funding, research findings are made possible as a result of a history of human interactions which is invaluable. Continue reading →

“TO TWEET OR NOT TO TWEET? ETHICAL DILEMMAS FACED BY EDUCATORS WHEN USING SOCIAL MEDIA” – Response to Topic 4 Question

While social media offers educators the capacity to teach and innovate beyond the four walls of the classroom, it has also posed a number of ethical challenges for educators. Social networking and blogging sites, in particular, have been under the negative spotlight due to widespread cases of cyberbullying which have triggered a panic button among both the business and academic communities. (Green & Hannon, 2007). Continue reading →

“THE IMPORTANCE OF ONLINE AUTHENTICITY (Told From A Political Perspective)” – Reflective Summary on Topic 3

After reading many of classmates’ posts on the need of having an authentic identity on the internet, I cannot help but to agree with most of them. Among the arguments that were put forth, I especially like the arguments of Charmaine and Simon. Simon’s point on honesty being the best policy resonated strongly with my point on the need to be yourself and not be a fake, as an impersonator will eventually be exposed as a fraud. Continue reading →

“THE AUDACITY OF AUTHENTICITY” – Response to Topic 3 Question

1) Be audacious with your approach! Source: Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/pin/209487820140728605/ The very first thing that we must know is that audacity is required to cultivate authenticity! Be bold in introducing and describing yourself! 2) Be yourself and not a fake Remember Frank Abagnale? One of the most famous imposters in US history, Frank’s story was made into a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio in Catch Me If You Can. Continue reading →

“ONLINE IDENTITY MUST GO HAND IN HAND WITH ACCOUNTABILITY AND INTEGRITY” – Reflective Summary – Response to Topic 2 Question

My classmate Charmaine Marn used an interesting analogy to describe online identity in which she compared online identity to the likes of our given birth names with the slight exception that it is a chosen identity which we use to represent us when we go online. She also touched on the ‘non-repudiation’ aspect of the internet, i.e. Continue reading →

“ONE IS NOT ENOUGH” – Managing Online Identities – Authenticity versus Anonymity – Response to Topic 2 Question

Anonymity As to why people have multiple identities, many experts share the viewpoint that having several online identities does indeed offer a veil of anonymity. The use of anonymous handles/avatars and invented personas allow individuals to take into discussion the sensitive topics which they might otherwise not be able to discuss in a normal life situation. Continue reading →

“MOTIVATION IS WHAT MATTERS” – Reflective Summary – Response to Topic 1 Question

In my previous post, I mentioned that age, gender or generational divide is an inaccurate measure of online behaviour. I also touched briefly on White’s alternative concept Visitors versus Residents. Remember the diagram below? It is not always easy to identify who is in what category as the level of sophistication with which a Visitor might use any single service might well be greater than that of a Resident. Again, this is not a skill based distinction. Continue reading →