Part 1: How the Process of Globalization Affected Education
Globalization refers to the interconnectedness of human, economic, political, cultural, and informational resources across the world. Ever increasing global pathways and networks help speed up, intensify, and narrow down large-scale distribution and acquisition of local and national good and services. Nowadays, with globalization, the world became a “global village” wherein all sorts of individuals, companies, organizations, and governments perform a variety of activities (that is, online communication, distance and online education, e-transactions, etc.).
Some of the various aspects of globalization are evident in world politics, religious works, ecommerce, and education. Specifically, globalization has made possible the worldwide understanding among member nations (e.g., United Nations, World Trade Organization, etc.), interreligious communication, integration of economies (e.g., free trade), and online / distance education. On the contrary, there are terrorisms, cyber-exploitation, and widening gaps among developed, developing and less developed countries, to name a few.
In this essay, the focus will be on how the process of globalization affected education. Information communication and technology (ICT) has been the background of both distance and online education. In distance education, the media being used primarily are the postal services (snail mail), telephone, television, and other physical form of interaction. On the other hand, online education is linked with the use of the computers and the internet (that is, email, chat, teleconferencing, and live interactive videos). So, how exactly the process of globalization affected education?
The Process of Globalization
The process of globalization has a long history. When movement toward expansion of economic, political and social ties between countries started, the birth of globalization has also begun. From past to present, imperialists, colonialists, and capitalists states / corporations led the existence and continued presence of various economic, social, cultural, and political movements / changes. The word was made to shrink or to become flattened by these global phenomena.
Initially, there are territorial, religious and political conquests. Imperialists and colonial states conquered many territories across the world. There was the birth of empires, discovery of the New World, spread of Islam and Christianity, and so forth. Concomitantly, there were monopoly of power, exploitation of people through slavery, and exploitation of natural resources even in the name of development, progress, and religion.
In this modern era, the process of globalization remains the same, but with a twist because of technological advancements. There are now better transportation, communication and related systems. Because capitalist multinational companies and transnational corporations has expanded their reach at a global scale, more employment opportunities (e.g., business process outsourcing) become available and accessible to developing and less developed countries.
With globalization in today’s world, access to education that follows global standards (e.g., edX.com) has somewhat bridged the gap, especially in countries where student cannot afford to study abroad. Using a computer and internet connection, studying at one’s own pace and free of charge in these world-renowned educational institutions was made possible. Today, as ever before, individuals who have the proficiency and knowledge to become well-equipped in programming, sciences, and related disciplines, these edX institutions are just mouse click away.
The Process of Globalization and Its Effect on Distance Education
In today’s global setting, distance education has many unprecedented possibilities as an as it promotes various educational opportunities that bring knowledge closer to learners. It has become a well-known educational mode because learners can take classes at their own pace. In addition, there is no need to go in schools regularly. In most cases, students have the chance to learn from world experts who hail from abroad.
In former times, parents have to send their children in other countries just to learn and then return home to share what they learned to their fellow citizens. Postal services (i.e., snail mail) are used for students to receive announcements and lessons on a regular basis. Even for people who are already employed, distance education has become invaluable for those who want to be promoted. Workers learn new knowledge, techniques and skills which they use on their jobs.
Most countries across the globe embraced distance learning because of the emergence of new technologies (e.g., television). In order for some countries and universities not to lose their best students, they rather invite and/or hire foreign experts in their institutions. This way, students no longer have to go abroad.
Distance education has increase more in prominence because students get the most benefits than traditional classroom instruction. With the advent of advanced technological tools, students can attend classes either online or face to face. In times past, the lack of one-on-one meeting is an issue in distance education. It has been claimed that students have to work personally in a collaborative environment to construct knowledge. However, there are know better tools such as video-/teleconferencing, e-blackboards, chat rooms, etc.
The Process of Globalization and Its Effect on Online Education
Globalization continues to affect education. Previously, education has used to be within the four-corners of the school wherein teachers and students interact for teaching-learning processes to take place. However, because of advances in technology and continuing technological breakthroughs, new and better approaches, strategies, and techniques where employed in what has come to be increasingly, familiarly and accessibly known as online education.
Nowadays, students from all over the world can have access to quality education provided by educational institutions linked on the World Wide Web. The wealth of information for everyone seems to be virtually limitless. Any individuals who have the basic tools (i.e., computer and internet) can obtain their degrees online – whether from basic to higher education. Hence, people from different age range and economic bracket can simply browse the web in order to know more about online education.
In online education, students can view information that includes enrollment details, courses offered, flexibility of class schedules, fees and charges, and so on. Now, everything a person has to do to take an online course and even when looking for a financial assistance is to perform an online search. Thus, students who plan to earn a degree online from reputable schools convenient and easily find information over the internet as compared to the traditional mode.
Officially enrolled students, in an online environment, simply visit their classes online – either synchronously or asynchronously – depending on the mode of delivery of instruction and resource materials. In the event students have to submit their academic works (e.g., modular exercises, assignments, etc.), all they need to do is to accomplish, upload and send the files to their professors’ campus-based webmail account.
Online learning, too, helps students save money, time, and effort. Based on the flexibility of their class schedule, they do not have to leave their homes just to visit their classes. If they want to readily access free and cheaper paperless learning materials, all they need is their computer and internet. Most, if not all class resources, are sent over their email accounts, e-blackboard, chat rooms, etc. If they are working and have families to support, online learning offers most of the advantages. Learners are just click away from having an online degree.
With online education, students have access to information far beyond the total accumulated printed information for the last two millennia. In addition, the world wide web serves as a 24-hour repository of knowledge. Learners can search online information from encyclopedia, news sites, journal databases, and so on.
Some of the common advantages individuals hurl against online education are that students may not be able to adapt readily to the knowledge imparted to them by their online instructor. In addition, students work independently and at their own pace; hence, they are isolated and may feel lonely because there is no immediate social support. Moreover, learners do not see their teachers face to face and have to wait for another online class to make clarification. Although they can forward or post their queries to their professors anytime, there is a possibility that their questions had already been answered through their own initiative via the web.
Inferably, globalization and the advent of the internet has completely changed people view education, that is, in comparison to the traditional mode of delivery and acquisition of knowledge and skills. Although traditional classes still outnumber virtual classes, online classes are increasing in number each day. Distance/Online education is more appealing to home learners and working adults at the college and graduate levels. The main reason is convenience and flexibility via online media. Thus, more and more institutions are incorporating distance/online education into their curricula.
Part 2: How Globalization Has Been Affected by the Internet
Decades before the advent of the internet, globalization has been accelerated by world time standardization, global communication (e.g., telephone), and global competitions (e.g., Nobel Prize, Olympic Games). Then, newer information and communication technologies were invented (e.g., walkie-talkie, television). The end of the Cold War resulted in the collapse of communism. Additionally, the emergence of organizations (e.g., World Trade Organizations, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trades) lowered trade barriers, proprietary rights, and free flow of goods, products, and services, which all contributed to globalization.
Globalization, being the worldwide exchange of political, educational, cultural, economic, financial, and social resources, has made possible the creation of new networks. In today’s world, for instance, individuals, companies, and governments across the world interact to deliver and acquire goods and services. The internet made everyone to communicate instantaneously with one another via web conferencing, emails, chats, forums, etc. This interconnected has affected globalization as never before imagined.
The internet has changed even the global landscape wherein even dominant world powers feel its effects. Foreign investments, outsourcing and in-sourcing, and other forms of traditional transactions continue to be subsumed in this knowledge economy. Rapid global changes in e-commerce, currency exchange, etc. were evidently some of the impact that the World Wide Web has on every nation. The biggest trading platform today is web-based as people make exchanges or transact electronically.
Because of the internet, individuals and other entities make use of it for information seeking. Using search engines, people can find specific information or research topics accordingly. By means of the internet, consumers can sell and purchase products, and also deliver electronic services. Further, people can read reviews, news and other updates instantly at the click of their mouse. Moreover, individuals can meet new friends online through email, chat, and other social networking sites. Individuals can also relax or have a good time using the internet for info-entertainment. With the internet, too, the world has become a global community of online users, bloggers, programmers, professionals, etc. There is free trade, e-commerce, and other forms of electronic transactions. The internet has continued to narrow, intensify and speed up the process of globalization.
Negative Aspects from the Internet that Affected Globalization
Despite the fact that the internet has provided many advantages because it serves as the global information superhighway, it has without any negative effects. Through the internet, the world’s computer networks and telecommunications has connected everyone who has access to it. From world politics, economy, social networks, education, and other means of interconnectedness, the internet or World Wide Web increasingly grows in popularity from the first down to the third world countries.
In world politics, governments, whether neo-communist or democratic, state laws, statutes, regulations and other type of policies cannot totally control cybercrimes, pornography, illegal online gambling, etc. Internet users face the consequences of being maligned publicly (that is, through sex scandals), hence, damaging their reputation to live normal lives. In terms of hard-core images, anyone can obtain videos and photos of them instantly. Online gambling is also an issue where even children and adults can be addicted to them, thus, losing their monies in the process (esp. in case of frauds).
Although the government can exercise much control, prevention, and regulation of internet resources available to its constituents, virtual cross-territorial boundaries are hard to police. Even the public who are supposed to serve as the self-police to protect themselves and safeguard their children are also victims of cybercrimes because they also patronize in hideous ways these forms of online contents. Furthermore, internet service providers who are considered as the primary gatekeepers over the internet are not all pro-active and abide by the set cyber-laws and regulations.
Economically, the internet has affected the world. Multinational and transnational corporations dominate the global setting and market. E-commerce and e-trade have become some of the buzzwords over the internet as advertisements proliferate in every sites. There are also foreign currency sites, stock exchange sites, option trading, online stores, e-banking, name it. With the world’s current economic scenarios, capitalist organizations continue to exercise control over their less developed counterparts.
In view of the world’s economy, businesses worldwide would like to remain at the top of the competition. Because the world market continues to be so for the best market players, looking for cheaper labor and greater profits become the rule rather than the exception. The internet, for that matter, provides the best possible solution for them to date. Businesses outsourced offshore in order to always be at the extreme of competition and profitability. Even though these companies/corporations maintained that they help developing and third world countries, they are the ones that always win at the end of each day.
In social networking sites, individuals (whether adults and children) are not sometimes fully aware of their online privacy. Because of the presence of online crackers / hackers, there is a possibility that these peoples’ account may be sacrificed. When they do online transaction, their personal details may be stolen from them and then used by unauthorized users for malicious purposes. Even innocent individuals’ online creations (e.g., photos, videos, etc.) can be a target by anyone who may accidentally yet purportedly used them publicly.
When it comes to education, educators are fearful concerning the negative effects of the internet because they argue that face-to-face classroom discussions and interactions will decline; thus, causing quality education to be sacrificed for its learners. The reason for this worry is because the presence of too much information over the internet. With too much information comes the devaluing and inaccuracy of information. Many students cannot always distinguish between accurate and true information from illegitimate sources. Instead of using sources from reputable sites, there is a possibility, for instance, that they use information from non-reputable academic or scholarly websites.
In view of the preceding statement, there are teachers and students who use the World Wide Web as a productive resource and tool, but there are also those who may use copyrighted, patented and proprietary materials, which could be forms of plagiarism. Aside from the internet as a virtually limitless resource of information, many students use it only as a place to browse, email, chat, and play games. On the other hand, there are also learners who are not competent enough for self-directed and self-paced learning. They prefer to have face-to-face meeting with their teachers in the classroom. They feel isolated without the presence of other students. They find it hard to adjust to a virtual teaching-learning setting. Because of this, they still revert to the traditional form of instructions although there is the hybrid distance/online learning setup.
Even though it was envisioned that each student should have a computer, the cost of computer, internet, and related devices in every classroom is still expensive. This is not to mention the cost of maintenance for repairs, as well as, in paying electricity, computer instructors, and other experts (e.g., programmers). Likewise, the expense of training teachers to acquire computer knowledge for them to teach the subject to students is still expensive; worse, no budget is allocated for them.
Individually and/or collectively, peoples’ lifestyles are affected too by the internet. Around the globe, the internet is transforming how people spend their time. Personally, they find solace chatting with people online, uploading creations (e.g., images, videos), making online purchases, and performing other electronic transactions. In most cases, there are internet users who access for free plagiarized materials (e.g., movies, music, etc.). The worse scenario is when some families spend most of their time apart because of the internet.
Globalization continues to take its toll. The internet has become a medium that brought forth good as well as bad repercussions. Worldwide, individuals, companies and governments have used the World Wide Web to advance their interests and benefit from it. There are those on the other side of the global spectrum where the internet is mostly often used to generate much profit whether legitimately or not. Even individuals, in their own home space, benefit from the internet – one way of another. It is up for anyone whether they will use the internet for their own benefit or to take into account how each of us, in our own little ways, contribute to globalization.
Works Cited
edX. The Future of Online Education: For Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime. 2013. 25 April 2013.
Friedman, Thomas L. The World is Flat. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2006. Print.
National Geographic. Globalization. 2013. Web. 25 April 2013.
Wiley Desktop Editions. Globalization: A Basic Text. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2009. Web. 25 April 2013.
