Media and tele communication has evolved in the last thirty years with the new technologies introduced. As a result, we need to be aware of these changes as we progress through our lifetime. This can become difficult when we are not exposed to these changes or do not have the required knowledge from school to understand them. For society to progress and continue on this journey, individuals must know what they need to know about media and telecommunication at a young age to participate in its evolution later in life.
Randy Douthit is a professor of Communication Studies at the University of Calgary and has been teaching this subject for over 10 years. Randy believes this has resulted in a need for more understanding amongst Canadians regarding the evolution of media and telecommunication. “It is very frustrating,” he said, “because as Canadians, we are expected to be competent in modern knowledge and all areas of life, but we sometimes have difficulties achieving this.”
Douthit believes that Canadians currently receive most of their information from television, resulting in a need for more knowledge about media and telecommunication. “Parents should inform their children about the importance of technology at an early age so they can share their experiences later on.”
Randy Douthit stated that television has become so accessible to us that we do not know how anyone can live without it. “You cannot live without water, but if you do not know how to use it, you are in danger of drowning. Our life is the same.” Knowing how to use modern technology, including media and telecommunication, is important.
In his paper entitled “Media and Telecommunication Education in Canada,” Randy stated that this proposed education should include understanding the communication process. “We must also understand communication principles, media content, Internet and other new forms of media,” he said. “If we do not educate people about these things then they will find themselves saddled with low quality information when they eventually become parents.
Randy believes that media is changing so rapidly that it can be difficult for Canadians to keep up with the changes if they have not received the proper education. “My iPhone has more computing power than a super computer from the 1980s did,” he said, “and yet I doubt that there are many Canadians who understand how it works.”
People must know how to use modern technology properly to share their experiences when they are older.