“For Evil To Prevail…”
Tanya Byron has just completed an extensive exercise in the UK to review the safety of children when using the internet and video games.
The Byron report identifies the significant educational value that can be achieved from this form of technology. CDROM’s, DVD’s and the internet all have a place and should be encouraged as forms of educational games, educational toys and teaching resources. They certainly have a place at both ends of the learning spectrum. DVD’s exist to help babies from six months learn the alphabet, doctors are being taught heart surgery from educational DVD featuring exceptional graphics of the heart. And eminent university professors cite the growing role of educational DVD’s on the campus.
But we also have to content with misguided elements that misuse their obvious computer design skill to create mayhem and concern towards financial or status gain. Not so easy to judge the content by the title and graphics of on the packaging the Byron report urged the grading of DVD’s allowing parents and relatives to differentiate safe content from adult categories.
In the face of cries of the UK becoming a Nanny state from some elements the educational industry and especially keen2learn welcome the move. It provides safeguards from undesirable content and an effective risk assessment for parents. As Edmund Burke quoted “All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.” If only we could convert the skill of the miscreant towards good we would not need internet monitors, computer virus protection and grading systems. But we live in a real world.
