Multiculturalism, Diversity and Technology.
Multiculturalism in its vague nature has to do with the difference in cultures. Diversity on its part has to do with the differences the makes these cultures. However, these words most often go together, especially in relation to technology. The development of technology is growing and changing at different rates, in different countries and with different peoples’ assimilation. Technology has changed a lot of manual functions to machine functions and is unavoidably finding and has planted itself in the library system among other systems. For example the manual letter writing and dictionary search has become an online think now.
Power S.M. (1995) tells us in his article that the use of interactive technology has entered instructional domains that have never before considered the use of advanced technology. One of these domains is the area of multicultural education and diversity training. Educational environments are the best instruments to merging multiculturalism and diversity especial with the help of technology which is becoming the main means of effecting pedagogy. With the change in technology today especially as it is becoming interactive we should ask ourselves these question; ‘Does multiculturalism exist online?’ From Garcia K.’s article ‘An online discussion on multiculturalism: a myth or a culture of silence?’ (2007), a case study examines a discussion about the myth of multiculturalism taking place in a moodle, a Course Management System(CMS). An international group participated in a six week collaborative learning experience with discussion including identifying the intrinsic worth of the virtual environment for facilitating communication, and viewing an online culture as a culture of silence. Before messages were passed by word of mouth, by letters and the phone. Also more class information had to be got and brought by teachers. But today the students find everything online thanks to the world wide web. There are online books, catalogs, databases and now blogs, wikis, MySpace facilities which make technology interactive. While people communicate online they do not have to know themselves first. Some of these friendships created online last a life time, meanwhile looking at physical contact most people association with “their kind”. That is people from the same country, who speak the same language, who have the similar reasoning faculties or who are even the same race. In libraries now patrons do not have to come to the library to acquire information, borrow books; they do these online. The librarians attend to both ‘virtual patrons’ irrespective of their origins. This is probably why Garcia terms the virtual environment as a culture of silence. Thus technology in its different forms has closed the gap that exists in multiculturalism.
Diversity on the other hand identifies the differences between cultures but does not indicate separation. With its link in definition to multiculturalism, Garcia (2007) as a result of online technology presents Ethnopluralism as a better term to convey the diversity of cultures from which online communication takes place. Diversity moreover, could take different forms. From difference in cultures and values, to age difference, gender difference, era differences to the point of haves and have-nots. our parents’ level of technology is nowhere near ours today, women are denied some technology jobs, some people can afford computers while others cannot. All of these however, have been suppressed by the world wide web and libraries alongside other public places with access to the internet. Which ever way we look at it technology is growing and changing by the day. Hou Mingliang’s (2008) article reveals the coming of an intelligent fault diagnosis system based on desktop virtual environments. This article tells of how to achieve 3D visualization fault diagnosis system for photoelectric tracking equipment based on open graphic library(OpenGL). From this we can see how fast technology is evolving. What is worth noting is the fact that Multiculturalism and Diversity is not noticed or alarmed by the different types of technologies or machines, which is why it can bridge the gap between the two. Moreso, our libraries have blended with is change and have with their print as well as online resources and collections joined technology to positively handle multiculturalism and diversity.
Just like any other concepts, multiculturalism, diversity and technology has its pros and cons. Teachers no matter their origin are train to use different forms of technology as a means of instruction. Also that the internet will equalize society. This is not the case because the society still has the haves and have-nots. Some families can afford computers while others can’t. To add is the fact that the warmth built from human relationships is losing its value. However, technology is only playing its part; making life easier.
Questions
1.) How is Technology in the library helping to bridge multiculturalism and diversity?
2.) Do you think technology through virtual environment brings about societal equity?
3.) What new technology do you know that helps bridge and dissolve multiculturalism and diversity? How does it work?
Resources
Research on 3D visualization of fault diagnosis system for photoelectric tracking devices. By Hou Mingliang Source: Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, v 6833, Electronic Imaging and Multimedia Technology V, 2008, p 68332JISSN: 0277-786X CODEN: PSISDG
An online discussion on multiculturalism, a myth or a culture of silence?Garcia,K. Source: International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, v 17, n 2-3, 2007, 146-59ISSN: 0957-4344 CODEN: ICELFQ
A qualitative examination of an interactive computer program on multiculturalismPowers, S.M. (Indiana State Univ., Terre Haute, IN, USA) Source: Proceedings of CSCL '95. First International Conference on Computer Support for Collaborative Learning, 1995, p 268-72
Technology and Diversity in Higher Education: New Challenges. By Yukiko Inoue (Sept. 29, 2006)(online)
Science and Technology in a Multicultural World. By David J. Hess (published 1995) - Columbia University Press. ISBN: 023110197X
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14 comments:
How is Technology in the library helping to bridge multiculturalism and diversity?
I think it is enabling more outlets to actually obtain information that most of us would not have regular access to without its implementation within the library system. Information about places around the globe can now be found with more updates than a book would directly provide by using resources such as the internet.
How is Technology in the library helping to bridge multiculturalism and diversity?
From an academic library/academic repository stand point it would be appropriate to say that technology has assisted in the growth of patron bases, and it has even helped to diversify them as well. Finding aids are incredibly valuable tools used by repositories to make their holdings available to any one who has internet access. From this new type of technology has come a changing patron base, who now with the advent of new technologies, can now look towards other sources to complete their research. Any one and everyone can access a libraries holdings online, and because of this, the traditional library patron stereotype is slowing being eroded with the help of innovative new technology. The ease of use, which is in my opinion the greatest justification for technology in libraries, has created a pantheon of new search querries, as well as new patrons. Granted there has been a shift from in-person reference to online reference, but the breadth of information that has been made digitally available enhances a high school student research as well as a researcher in China.
Technology itself is bridging multiculturalism and diversity by creating a much easier and faster way to communicate with people around the world. Technology in the library bridges diversity by itself bridging the digital divide. For some, the library is the only place they have access to the internet.
1.) How is Technology in the library helping to bridge multiculturalism and diversity?
Technology has helped immensely because we are able to view and learn about other cultures online. The more we understand each others culture the more we can relate to one another. I can look up various cultures online and learn. For example, if I looked up "Chinese" I can find out about Chinese traditions, Chinese dress, Chinese faith, Chinese language, Chinese history etc etc. Therefore, technology does help to bridge cultures and promote diversity. Understanding is the being of acceptance, and we can learn about each other so much by using technology.
This is a link to an amazing organization supported by Adobe, MS (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) that brings together kids in a community to share their voices through movies and then shares these movies via the internet cross-culturally. It is an amazing multimedia tool that could be used in both libraries and classrooms to introduce kids to other cultures. It takes the idea of diversity and multiculturalism and how fostering these ideals and understanding one another is inherent to our peace as a world.
To those who have (or those who don't, but do have access to) technology definately bridges the gap between multiculturalism and diversity. There is an infinate amount of information available out there on the web for people to discover. However, there's also information that provides biased information, so users must be careful. So provided that individuals take advantage of the accessability of the internet, technology aids in the bridging of diversity and multiculturalism.
In addition, I have a friend who works with hearing impaired children. I was shocked when she told me that throughout her education at Eastern, not one class was related to sign language. It seems that they rely solely on technology in the classroom. The students have special devices that they wear on their ear that's connected to a speaker system the teacher talks through. She aslo shared with me that in some instances, students have a computer screen in front of them where they recieve an image of the teacher's mouth to allow them to read their lips. It's amazing to me the advancements that technology has made in helping those with special needs.
"Don't wait for black history month to recommend a book about African American culture, or go looking native Americans at thanksgiving. Offer child balanced reading that incorporates books other cultures all year round." Michelle Y. Green.
I think that it is very important to include in the libraries’ collection a variety of materials that meet the needs of the diverse community like resources on African American, Arabs, Armenians.
I think that libraries should create programs for multicultural patrons but all community should participate not only diverse people, so that patrons can learn about each others.
How is Technology in the library helping to bridge multiculturalism and diversity?
I think the computers and the internet is a way to bridge the multiculturalism and diversity. There are sites that will translate items for you and one can click on what language they want when searching the web. A person can now use the internet in any country and simply click on the perfered language and begin.
How is Technology in the library helping to bridge multiculturalism and diversity?
I think that as patrons we are able to gain more knowledge of what is going on around us. We can find out quickly by just going on the internet.
Do you think technology through virtual environment brings about societal equity?
Through different programs we can connect with all different cultures without having to be with the person in the same place.
I think one of the great ways that technology helps us understand others different from ourselves is via the anonymity offered on the internet. When we see someone in person we tend to immediately judge them based on their appearance: young, old, black, white, tall, short, poorly dressed, etc. On the internet, often none of this information is available about a poster so we may only judge someone by their words. After a long conversation one may find out that the person they were typing to comes from a completely different background from them, and yet they both had a lot in common and were able to speak as peers. They may never have taken the opportunity to speak with each other in real life based on appearances. The one drawback here is that most people who have regular internet access are wealthier, therefore the lower classes have less input. So in the US internet users may not be as diverse as the rest of the population, but there is still the opportunity to communicate with someone very different from yourself.
I think that this topic is very interesting. Does technology erase the lines that divide us, the differences that create the ideas of multiculturalism and diversity. In a way it does erase those lines and whether this is good or bad is yet to be seen; however technology does leave space for one to express their individuality and identity through blogs and myspace, etc. Also, in an online environment people are able to be who they want...they can lie about their age or any other aspect of themselves. It also bridges the gaps between people economically. Regardless of differences someone who has access to technology has equal access to information.
I think technology has helped to bridge gaps between people. I have had some great conversations with people who live all over the world, because of technology. Using technology to communicate eliminates physical stereotypes that accompany most face to face meetings.
In a library I think technology helps to bring people together in a sense. People who may not ever visit the library can access a library's web page, post a comment on their blog, or pose a question. Maybe they even find a special event that brings them inside the library walls. I also believe that the library helps promote equality between the "have" and "have nots" by offering free access to technology.
How is Technology in the library helping to bridge multiculturalism and diversity?
I think that technology is a great way to bridge multiculturalism and diversity. The library is a place to come together for everyone. Having a library that has titles for all ethnicities would be a great bridge between the groups. Having online resources and materials that can be used to help people understand other races. Using book clubs could also be another way to do this. Choosing books that tell stories about other races to raise awareness about other cultures and ask questions about them. This would be a great way to for students to learn about diversity.
1.) How is Technology in the library helping to bridge multiculturalism and diversity?
Technology is helping bridge the gap in relation to multiculturalism and diversity because it makes you judge the person by thier content first rather than the outward appearance. I think technology is especially wonderful for people with speech impairments because it eliminates the communication blockage.
Also it is harder to judge people that you can not see, without a picture you do not know what the race or culture is of that person. You can only judge them based on the opinions and ideas that they share. I t is a better way for others to find out what you really have in common with others.
I have not been able to find any concrete authoritive research but I think that the internet has brought many people together which toherwise would have never talked to each other.
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