How Digital Media has influenced the field of education
Digital media has significantly influenced the field of education. It has changed the way instructors teach and how students learn and complete their assignments. It has facilitated distance learning classes, where students enroll for a particular degree program and complete them online. Notably, digital media encompasses different forms, including email, photos, videos, slideshows, and websites. Initially, the learning process was exclusively within the school compound, where teachers and students would interact face-to-face.
Books were the only source of information, some of which were outdated. It was challenging to capture and maintain student engagement for a long and have consistent communication with them. However, the development and adoption of digital media in education has enhanced student-teacher interactions, made teaching and learning easier, increased access to varying and latest educational materials, and facilitate understanding of difficult topics.
Higher education institutions in the United States have adopted digital media in all aspects of learning, ranging from accessing and delivering learning materials to the interaction between instructors and students as well as among the apprentices. Students access various and latest learning materials in digital forms from online library databases using computers and mobile phones (Paul & Lal, 2018). They no longer need to be in the library to read more about a particular concept they learned in class.
Digital media, including social media, has improved collaboration among students. According to Ansari and Khan (2020) approximately 90 % of students are consistently using the Internet, of whom more than 75 % utilize online networking sites to facilitate their e-learning. Additionally, students in various universities in the US, including the University of Central Florida, use social media and electronic devices to create, edit, and share educational materials in the form of videos or textual content, which enhances corroborative learning.
The use of digital media in education is evident in both developed and developing countries. It is increasingly becoming an instrumental tool for learning for students in higher education institutions. For instance, students at the University of Mortar, Bosnia and Herzegovina use social networking sites such as Facebook and others for educational purposes, including sharing digital learning materials, communication, and e-learning (Ansari & Khan, 2020).
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland, developed a digital platform, Grasp, for facilitating the sharing of educational content and collaborative learning among students. Application of the Grasp in Tongji University and the University of Geneva showed that students are increasingly using digital media to create, organize, and share educational content (Ansari & Khan, 2020). Indeed, digital media is revolutionizing the field of education and has both positive and negative impacts.
Notable positive impacts of digital media in education include increased access to the variety and updated learning materials, enhanced student engagement, improved understanding of different concepts, and effective collaborative learning. Students can concentrate more when reading content from an electronic gadget than when using books (Paul & Lal, 2018). Additionally, they can understand what is challenging better when instructors videos. They do not need to be present to participate in group discussions. Nevertheless, the use of digital media in education can distract students from learning since they can be tempted to access social sites. Additionally, apprentices without access to the Internet, computers, or smartphones can be disadvantaged.
How Digital Media has influenced children of this generation
Digital media have significantly influenced a contemporary generation of children in developed and developing countries. They are being born in an environment dominated by digital media, ranging from television to video game gadgets. Parents introduce their children to digital media immediately they are born when they take photos or videos of their newborns to post on Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms. Before society has embraced digital media, children learned from parents, siblings, and teachers how to live. Their bond with their parents was strong since they could spend much time together when free from work and school.
However, the connection has been disintegrating as families increasingly own more digital gadgets such as computers and smartphones and become linked with the Internet. Byrum (2015) notes that computer ownership and access to the Internet in the United States increased from 8.2% to 75.6% and 18 % to 71.7% between 1984 and 2011 and 1997 to 2011, respectively. The rates correspond with access and use of digital media among children in the modern generation.
The impact of digital media differs from one country to another depending on such factors as Internet connection and use mobile devices. Notably, parents used of the Internet increase the possibility of children to access digital content with both positive negative impacts. The percentage of the Internet users are more than 66.6 %, compared to that of 93.3 % in Japan and 5.4 in Tanzania (Taylor, 2016). Therefore, children in Japan are more vulnerable to the effects of digital media than those in the US and Tanzania.
The impact of digital media on American families, especially children, is significant. They can watch videos, movies, play video games, and access Internet content using their laptops and smartphones. They spend much of their time watching their favorite TV program and watching playing video games (Nierengarten, 2018). Parents use their mobile devices to play music for their babies as a soothing option for them to sleep. They even allow children to play with their phones to appease them when they are unhappy. Undeniably, digital media can be detrimental to the social interaction between children and their parents as well as their siblings and friends.
Digital media can positively and negatively influence childhood development. Some digital media content is not suitable for young children to view. For instance, a child may be present when their parents watch a movie with increased incidences of violence. In such a case, children can learn that violence is the best way of addressing the issue. They may trouble in developing values such as empathy and compassion.
Spending much time on TV and playing video games can also inhibit the development of social skills such as effective communication and strategies for solving conflicts (Nierengarten, 2018). Additionally, they can have trouble improving their vocabulary and poor sleep patterns linked with long duration of watching digital media. Therefore, parents need to regulate what their children consume from digital media to minimize the negative impacts.
Some digital media content can have a positive impact on the development of a child. Various digital device applications offer well-designed ranges that improve growth outcomes. Materials from such apps as Between the Lions, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Sesame Street, and Blue’s Clues are helpful to children (Nierengarten, 2018). For example, preschool children’s social-emotional capabilities, including anger control and ability to calm down, enhance their view of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood with their parents. Video chats between children and their parents when not together ensure that they stay connected. Thus, selecting appropriate digital material for children can facilitate their psychological and emotional development.
How Digital Media has influenced the field of e-commerce
Electronic commerce or e-commerce is a business transaction that involves using the selling of goods and services through computer telecommunications networks. The Internet is the primary medium that facilitates e-commerce, which consists of business-to-business and business-to-consumer commercial activities. The development of digital media has accelerated e-commerce worldwide since its inception. According to Kabugumi et al. (2016), the history of e-commerce can be traced back to the 1970s when standard electronic data interchange (EDI) across computers was published.
The introduction of the World Wide Web and the adoption of the Internet in 1991 supported the growth of e-commerce. The rise and spread of digital gadgets and increased access to the Internet internationally have positively influenced digital commerce. Its processes have moved from offices to mobile devices such as laptops, smartphones, tablets, and wearable. Undeniably, e-commerce has significantly impacted everyday life as well as government and business operations.
The emergence and growth of e-commerce in the United States are linked with Amazon and eBay. Amazon developed a full-scale online retail business model in 1995 and sold the books in different states and other countries in the world (Santos et al., 2017). The company created a consumer-oriented site that allowed customers to browse products by categories. In 1997, the organization went public and expanded its inventory beyond books to include other products such as clothing, movies, electronics, and others (Santos et al., 2017). eBay was started the same year as Amazon, facilitating online selling and buying products for all individuals, including tech experts, entrepreneurs, and average persons.
E-commerce penetration in the country has been increasing steadily, and it rose from 6.4 % in 2010 to 16.0% in 2019, whereas spending was approximately $601.75 billion in 2019 (Young, 2020). E-commerce penetration is also advancing in other countries, such as the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-commerce total retail sales in the two nations were about 4.2% and 3.8% in 2017, which is significantly lower than in the United States (“E-commerce in MENA Opportunity beyond the hype”, 2019). The increase in the adoption of e-commerce is associated with the upsurge of digital media.
Digital media has positively influenced the growth of e-commerce across countries. Consumer-oriented digital marketplaces and consumer-to-consumer sale platforms such as Amazon and eBay, correspondingly have expanded operations to every corner of the world (Santos et al., 2017). They have presented end-users with different choices of products they can buy. Buyers can search through these online markets for what they need and order goods that match their financial capability and needs. They have user-friendly mobile applications that allow customers to order and pay for products online in their homes’ comfort.
Social media sites such as Facebook and websites are essential components of digital media, which have been supporting the growth of e-commerce. They are instrumental tools for interaction between sellers and buyers and for marketing products and services. Businesses use these platforms to introduce their goods to potential consumers. Facebook allows the consumer to promote and sell goods to their friends on the forum (Santos et al., 2017).
Indeed, e-commerce will continue to grow as more people own smartphones, laptops, and other digital gadgets and get an Internet connection. Nevertheless, there has been a concern regarding the security and credibility of business transactions through digital platforms. A possibility is that one can be conned when buying products through social media platforms such as Facebook. Malicious people can claim to advertise certain, which they do not have, and switch off their mobile phone after receiving money. Therefore, consumers need to evaluate potential sellers and make an informed decision to avoid regrets.
How Digital Media has influenced the culture
Culture is an important aspect that defines a person or group of individuals. It is characterized by shared values and views about something as well as the way of doing things, including rituals and businesses. The most crucial factor which has been impacting culture is communication. Digital media development and growth have affected political, social, and business culture across the world. Initially, political activities were implemented through rallies and confined to a particular geographical region (Rancea, 2019). Additionally, it was challenging to learn and understand the social beliefs of different communities.
There was a distinct line between cultures for one area and another. People described such factors as the way they dress, communicate, worship, and the food they eat. Business transactions required individuals to travel kilometers to assess the quality and quantity of products and negotiate prices. However, all that has been changed by digital media.
The effects of digital media on culture is mainly influenced by use of social media. Notably, the rate of social media usage varies from one nation to another depending on the Internet connection individuals with digital devices such as smartphone. Approximately 73 % of Americans use Facebook and YouTube compared to 77 % of Canadians and 23 % of citizens of Indonesia (Digital Marketing Institute, 2019). Therefore, political, business, and social culture of Indonesia is less impacted by digital media than in the US and Canada.
Historically, democratic institutions have been struggling to accomplish equality. Global politics are dominated by power and money such that individuals without the latter cannot sell their political manifesto to the public (Rancea, 2019). Nevertheless, the masses have a medium through digital media to express their views. Politicians do not have to conduct expensive rallies to reach their audiences. They can use social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to communicate with their followers. Additionally, they can utilize digital media for crowdfunding to alleviate the possibility of being hostages to political donors (Rancea, 2019). Citizens use digital media to have directly participated in political and decisions that affect their country.
Digital media has reduced the world into a global village. Before the adoption of digital technologies, one could spend years without seeing or communicating with people from other countries. Things are different today because interaction with individuals living in every corner of the world is possible every day (Rancea, 2019). Person chat, discuss businesses and politics and learn more about one another regardless of the distance between them.
It is easier to learn how to prepare, for example, Chinese food, their family structure, and even their language through a digital platform such as Facebook and YouTube. Consequentially, it is easier to know and appreciate other individuals’ cultures, disintegrating the issue of cultural stereotyping. Digital media is transforming the world into a society with an unrestricted flow of information. Undeniably, it is increasingly introducing a global culture, which accommodates everyone.
Business operations and personal entertainment cultures are no exception when it comes to the impacts of digital media. Increased use of computers, laptops, smartphones, and Internet connectedness is accelerating the growth of e-commerce (Rancea, 2019). Organizations are becoming more customer-oriented to guarantee their sustainability and profitability. Conversely, people do not need to visit theatres to watch the latest movie. They can stream movies through their mobile devices, play songs on versatile music players, and access different social media sites. Video games are increasingly becoming a new option for entertainment for all individuals, regardless of their age (Rancea, 2019). Therefore, digital media increases positively change the business and entertainment culture.
References
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