How has Digital Media influenced (or changed) the field of education? Include a historical (before and after the digital media) and global perspective (include discussion of the US and at least two additional countries). Include whether the change has been positive, negative, or both. Support your discussion with reliable data.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Digital Media’s Impact on Education: A Global Perspective
Introduction
Digital media has undeniably revolutionized the field of education, bringing about significant changes in teaching methods, access to information, and collaborative learning. This essay explores the historical context of education before and after the advent of digital media, followed by a global perspective on its impact, focusing on the United States, Finland, and South Korea. By analyzing reliable data, we will evaluate whether these changes have been positive, negative, or both.
Historical Context
Before the emergence of digital media, education predominantly relied on traditional methods such as textbooks, lectures, and face-to-face interactions. Teachers were the primary source of knowledge, and access to information was limited to textbooks or reference materials in libraries. Collaboration among students and educators was mostly confined to physical classrooms. However, with the rise of digital media, this landscape has undergone a substantial transformation.
Digital Media’s Influence on Education
Enhanced Access to Information: Digital media has expanded access to information by providing a vast repository of knowledge through online platforms, e-books, and educational websites. Students and educators can now access up-to-date information from anywhere in the world, breaking down geographical barriers.
Interactive Learning: Digital media has introduced interactive learning methods that engage students actively. Online quizzes, educational games, and multimedia resources stimulate critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This interactive approach enhances student engagement and understanding.
Personalized Learning: Digital media enables personalized learning experiences tailored to individual students’ needs. Adaptive learning technologies can assess students’ strengths and weaknesses and provide customized content and feedback. This individualized approach helps students learn at their own pace and improves learning outcomes.
Collaborative Learning: Digital media facilitates collaboration beyond physical classrooms. Students can collaborate with peers or experts globally through video conferencing, online discussion forums, and virtual learning environments. This fosters cultural exchange, diverse perspectives, and the development of essential teamwork skills.
Access to Diverse Educational Resources: Digital media allows educators to incorporate various multimedia resources such as videos, podcasts, and simulations into their teaching. These resources enhance engagement and provide multiple perspectives on subjects, making learning more engaging and comprehensive.
Global Perspective: United States, Finland, and South Korea
United States: In the United States, digital media has significantly impacted education. According to a survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 94% of public school teachers have access to computers in the classroom. However, disparities in access persist across socio-economic groups, with low-income areas facing challenges in technology integration. While digital media has expanded educational opportunities, concerns about screen time addiction and cyberbullying have also emerged.
Finland: Finland is renowned for its successful educational system. Digital media has been integrated into Finnish classrooms to promote creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. Finnish schools emphasize a balanced approach that combines digital tools with traditional teaching methods. While digital media has improved access to information and fostered innovative teaching practices, some argue that excessive reliance on technology may hinder social interaction and physical activity among students.
South Korea: South Korea has embraced digital media in education on a large scale. The country’s “Smart Education” initiative aims to digitize all textbooks by 2015. South Korean students are provided with tablets or laptops for educational purposes, and teachers use interactive digital content extensively. While this approach enhances accessibility and engagement, concerns about excessive screen time and its impact on mental health have been raised.
Evaluation: Positive or Negative Impact?
The impact of digital media on education can be seen as both positive and negative:
Positive Impact:
Enhanced access to information
Interactive and personalized learning experiences
Collaboration beyond physical boundaries
Integration of diverse educational resources
Negative Impact:
Disparities in access among socio-economic groups
Potential addiction and cyberbullying risks
Concerns about decreased social interaction and physical activity
Potential negative effects on mental health
Conclusion
Digital media has undoubtedly transformed education globally by improving access to information, introducing interactive learning methods, enabling collaboration, and providing diverse educational resources. While there are concerns regarding disparities in access and potential negative impacts on social interaction and mental health, the overall impact of digital media on education has been overwhelmingly positive. To harness its full potential, it is crucial to address these concerns while ensuring equitable access to technology for all students.
