Contemporary Issues Notes

Rate of Change (1992-2018)

  • 1992:
    • Middle-class teenagers used computers in schools.
    • CDs were used for music.
    • Research required library visits and books.
    • Landline phones were the primary means of communication.
    • Limited awareness of international affairs.
    • Students in urban and rural classrooms, especially those with fewer economic resources and less accumulated wealth, were less likely to be learning to use a computer.
  • 2002:
    • Many teenagers had home computers with internet access (potentially slow connections).
    • MP3 players were common for music.
    • Cell phones were used to call friends.
    • Increased awareness of political situations due to events like the September 11 attacks.
    • The Digital divide existed, limiting poorer students' access to technology and opportunities.
  • 2018:
    • 95% of U.S. teenagers had access to smartphones; most had home computers.
    • The digital divide persisted with connectivity issues in some areas.
    • 96% of middle-class homes had computers, compared to 75% of poorer homes.
    • Digital divide is a global issue with limited internet access in some parts of the world compared to Europe, North America, and Asia.
  • Present:
    • Online classes became prevalent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • Access to smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops is common.
    • Significant time spent online for research, gaming, and social media.
    • Interaction with people in other countries is common.
    • Increased awareness of climate change-related disasters.
    • Teenagers join in or even coordinate worldwide climate action protests.
    • The human population has grown to more than 7.5 billion people.
    • Limited schooling in some parts of the world; girls forced out of school in some countries.
    • Income inequality is an increasing problem.
    • Poverty and injustice fuel extremist groups and terrorist activities.
    • Developed nations acknowledge damage to the planet, but few take drastic action.
    • Poorer nations face greater effects of climate change.
    • Quote by William Gibson: "The future is already here, it's just not very evenly distributed."

Understanding the Time and Place (1991 to Present)

  • Globalization has greatly impacted world events in the last three decades, touching virtually every aspect of human life.
  • Small businesses export globally via the internet; large corporations use technology for international communication.
  • Most of the world is increasingly interconnected.
  • International organizations have risen for governmental, societal, and business reasons.
    • The United Nations (UN) took on a new role after the Soviet Union breakup, coordinating peacekeeping missions and the International Criminal Court prosecuted leaders for human rights violations.
    • Some nations took unilateral military action without UN support.
  • International partnerships and trade blocs have developed.
    • The European Union (EU) is a confederation with a shared currency and joint policies.
    • Great Britain left the EU in 2020 (