Dear Readers ,
In this issue , we are dealing with a topic that is the reality of all of us : Digital Citizenship .
If we are talking about understanding the unknown , first of all , I would like to say that “ NOW WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF THE WORLD WE KNOW ”.
I guess you all have read “ Journey to the Center of the Earth ” or “ Around the World in 80 Days ” and you are familiar with their author , Jules Verne , the most important science fiction writer in history . He was a dreamer who saw the future .
The geographies he described inspired travelers . The machines he dreamed of inspired inventors . Jules Verne is the father of science fiction , who in his novels depicted ships navigating under water , planes in the sky , journeys to the Moon , and events taking place in the future when the concept of “ science fiction ” was unknown .
We were following the path that science fiction opened to technology and science with astonishment and curiosity . Even if it was not within our field of curiosity , it was enough for us to witness the innovations that make our lives easier . In our daily routine , our life was passing .
Today , however , science fiction books or movies no longer surprise us . Especially with the Coronavirus pandemic that we have been experiencing for the last two years , WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF THE WORLD WE KNOW , and THE DIGITAL WORLD IS NO LONGER A SCIENCE FICTION .
While we are counting the days of quarantine in our homes , many revolutionary changes have already taken place in the outside world . Education , work life , shopping , relationships , in short , online life has been tested on a world scale . Just in this process , we have experienced that acquiring the ability to use information technologies ethically , critically and safely is a must in this new life .
At this time when global human mobility stopped , even the way we think about life has changed . We started to diversify our possibilities and plans more . We have adapted to the digital world .
Dear Readers ,
We all have a homeland . We all have a country name written on our identity cards , but in fact , we are all digital citizens blended with different cultures and living on the same earth . We are just a click away from each other . Perhaps the important thing here is that our daily behaviors should be reflected appropriately in the Internet environment . In this world , we have to be conscious , respectful and good observers .
Do not forget , just as both of the oars must be used correctly to maintain speed and direction in a rowboat , in order to determine the speed and direction of change , you also need to learn to direct your behaviors together in a correct and balanced way .
When searching for the unknown and managing change , the thing you will need most is TIME . If you treat it well , it will surely reward you .
I embrace you wholeheartedly . Glad there is TED , and glad you are part of the TED family .
Selçuk PEHLİVANOĞLU Turkish Education Association President