por Among the main positive and negative aspects of the democratization of knowledge relevant is the fact that this practice in many cases promotes the development of various social groups thanks to easy access to information, but at the same time it is constantly changing, which can make it difficult to adapt to new scenarios.
The democratization of knowledge is the possibility that a large percentage of human populations can access information and knowledge at a low cost or for free.
Thanks to the technologies developed during the 20th and 21st centuries —such as the creation of the Internet— it has been possible to make knowledge accessible to almost all human beings.
Just a few decades ago, if a person wanted to acquire information on a specific subject, they had to find out with difficulty in libraries, where in many cases knowledge remained censored or restricted. Nowadays an individual can read, learn and know without having to leave his home or invest in expensive encyclopedias.
Likewise, this informational and communicational phenomenon has almost obligatory introduced new educational methods, breaking with teaching standards.
For this reason, institutions worldwide have had to adapt to the new requirements. One of the most important aspects that the democratization of information has implemented is the individual character of each human being, understanding that each person apprehends and processes knowledge differently.
It can be established that the democratization of knowledge has great advantages, since it allows every citizen to stay informed in order to develop a critical sense. However, it can also have negative consequences: in certain cases incorrect or false information is leaked that harms those who obtain it.
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Positive and negative aspects of the democratization of knowledge
-Positive aspects
One of the advantages of the democratization of information is that thanks to it, each person can individually decide what, how, when, where and with whom to receive knowledge.
In fact, thanks to the Internet, you can receive online courses in any discipline, such as learning another language or doing cooking activities.
In educational institutions
Within educational institutions, the democratization of knowledge allows each student and teacher to have equal participation in decision-making on the way in which classes are taught; They can also comment on the regulations and sanctions.
According to experts, through this educational phenomenon students can take ownership and be part of their education plan. In previous decades, students only had to obey and could not exercise any critical or evaluative judgment regarding the way in which knowledge was taught.
Thanks to these possibilities offered by the democratization of knowledge, it often happens that students attend classes with greater enthusiasm, in addition to feeling more motivated to participate in academic activities.
It has been possible to establish that there is a motivational increase in general, since the new teaching methods are more interactive and inclusive; As said in previous paragraphs, the democratization of knowledge appeals for the individuality of each person, so it adapts to the needs and ways of learning of each one.
-Negative aspects
Within educational institutions
One of the disadvantages of the democratization of learning is that it is a method that is still being developed, so some flaws may arise within the new system. In addition, as new technologies advance, this method must be modified, so it is constantly changing.
Due to globalization and the speed with which new information is generated, it is difficult for institutions to keep up with these methods and forms of teaching.
Similarly, this process needs to be tailored not only to individual needs, but also to the collective aspirations of the community. Therefore, the cultural aspect maintains a significant weight within the new methods, which means a challenge for those who wish to successfully connect the individual with their context.
Another obstacle that the democratization of knowledge must face is that it must reach all social strata, not just certain homes and schools with purchasing power. Although new technologies and new methods are often inexpensive, many communities do not have the opportunity to enjoy them.
The problem of the Internet and networks
Regarding the ease of accessing information, this can often cause conflicts of understanding; therefore, many insiders have proposed the creation of filters to promulgate a verifiable and valid set of knowledge.
Internet is considered as a giant and infinite library. However, most of the reliable sources are in English and require a subscription to be able to enjoy them; This is one of the criticisms that have been raised regarding the democratization of knowledge, since in the end there are certain limitations that reduce access to information.
Access to knowledge: educational projects
To combat this information inequality, certain projects have been created that seek to provide free and quality information in any language.
An ideal example of democratized knowledge can be seen on web pages such as Wikipedia, in which a group of people, through their wisdom, collaborate with content on certain cultural, scientific, and literary topics, among others. However, in order to take advantage of this information, digital literacy is necessary within the institutions.
This means that the new educational methods must impart lessons on the appropriate use of technological information. An average student must know from how to search for digital knowledge to recognize the veracity of a web page.
For example, in the United States, President Barack Obama enacted an initiative called ConnectED, which sought to provide equal access to digital educational resources.
In the same way, in Spain they also tried to collect funds so that all schools had high-speed Internet; This project was also accompanied by proposals to promote training and inclusion.
In other words, in order to overcome educational obstacles, institutions and organizations must set aside traditional teachings and adapt to new digital resources. In this way, the democratization of knowledge and information can be guaranteed in a healthy, didactic and updated way.
References
Halm, D. (2018) Democratizing knowledge: pending challenge in the information society. Retrieved on June 4, 2019 from El País: retina.elpais.com Ugalde, J. (sf) Democratizing knowledge and using knowledge: a scientist’s view. Retrieved on June 4, 2019 from Euskonews and Media: euskonews.eus Vallejo, S. (2016) democratize knowledge. Retrieved on June 4, 2019 from El Telégrafo: eltelegrafo.com.ec Vargas, S. (2018) Democratizing knowledge in the information age. Retrieved on June 4, 2019 from Eje Central: ejecentral.com.mx Asencio, G. (2013). The democratization of information, a contribution to social development. Retrieved on June 4, 2019 from The Fifth Estate: elquintopoder.cl