What To Do About Misinformation...?

What To Do About Misinformation...?

Social Media Is a Huge source of information - not all of it is GOOD information. Urban legends, myths, conspiracy theories and other types of false information are everywhere, and it can be difficult to determine what is really true. It's bad enough if this type of information would affect or even harm us individually, but we know that it can also affect us on a global scale, such as spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 virus.

Obviously, we have to learn how to identify information that might be biased or untrue - but what about those sources that host the information, such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube? What responsibilities do they have?

Watch the 60 Minutes video linked below It talks about YouTube and its policies regarding invalid or harmful information. What do you think? Should entities like YouTube, Facebook, etc. be responsible for blocking or identifying misinformation, or should it be the responsibility of the viewer to educate themselves about how to spot "fake news"?

(If you have trouble getting to this link, I've also attached the video to this blog assignment in Google Classroom.)

60 Minutes Video: "Is YouTube Doing Enough..."

The Skills Gap

The Skills Gap

After watching the 60 Minutes report, (link below), discuss the following in your post, and posted conversations during the week:

Despite the fact that the U.S. has a very high unemployment rate, there are some career areas where there are thousands of jobs available that can't be filled.  Why is this?

What can be done - who, according to the video, should have a greater role in this? Who do YOU think should handle the training - or the cost of the training?

As you've thought about what career path you might follow, have you considered the schooling or training that's required?

Be sure to discuss all of these questions, at least in your first post.

60 Minutes: "The Skills Gap"

March Of The Machines

March Of The Machines

Technology is making our lives simpler, and helping Industry to be more efficient, but is it at the cost of our jobs?

Everyone thinks about "what they want to be when they grow up". Do you have to take another look at what you've planned, or start thinking of a new career, because of advances in technology? If you think about it, it's a good thing that we've rolled out the ACP program, because it's important to be aware of what your talents, skill, and abilities are, and how they align with what's waiting out there in the world.

What is the job market going to look like when you look for that first job?

Discuss this idea. I've just given you a couple of questions to get the thought process going.

60 Minutes: "March of the Machines"

IoT: The Internet of Things

IoT: The Internet of Things

- The screen on your refrigerator tells you that your blood sugar is running low, so you grab some fruit. 

- While flying to your vacation destination, you realize that you forgot to turn the thermostat down at home, so you do it from your smartphone.

- Your car is about due for an oil change (using that fancy synthetic oil you like), and your mechanic is ready for you because he monitors your engine, as well as his supply of synthetics.

This might sound like the future, or maybe you've heard of one of these things already happening - both are true. They're examples of what things might be like with the "Internet of Things".

In the IoT, EVERYTHING is connected via the internet (cloud): cars, appliances, planes, security, hospitals, animals and.....yes, you. The idea is that everything will communicate, and, in the end, this communication will help us to lead better lives.

"The Internet of Things is the next generation of personal computing, whereby objects interact, potentially independently, with each other and with their environment,”

"The Internet of Things is the combination of sensors, actuators, distributed computing power..."

"Tiny detectors that can gather and relay data about location, activity, and health...", "The IoT makes it possible to monitor and control the location, condition, and behavior of objects, machinery, and devices through networks."

Here are some resources to look at that will help you understand the IoT. Take a look at them, and talk about what you think about the idea. Pros and cons.

Diagram: What kind of things are/will be connected?

We Need To Get The IoT Right

A Hacker's-eye View of the Internet of Things